Principles of Genetics

About this book

The cover shows many facets of genetics. Top row Left: The DNA double-helix here imaged in a scanning tunneling micrograph is central to all genetics research. Right: Experimentation has shown that some social behaviors such as nest cleaning by honeybees is under genetic control. Second row Left: Inherited disorders such as albinism manifested here in a bullfrog have provided many insights about the genetic control of metabolism. Right: Gregor Mendels 19th-century work with pea plants elucidated the basic principles of inheritance. Third row Left: Efforts to combat HIV the virus that causes AIDS depend on knowing how the virus expresses its genes inside the cells of the immune system. Right: The fruit fly is ideally suited for studies on the genetic control of embryonic development and organ formation. Fourth row Left: The identification of mutations that cause unregulated cell division facilitates the diagnosis treatment and prevention of breast cancer. Right: HeLa cells derived in 1951 from Henrietta Lacks a woman who died of cervical cancer thrive in the laboratory and are used in research worldwide. Bottom row: The replication of chromosomes (left) is a prerequsite for cell division (right).