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| h1 Featured Content | h1 Featured Content |
| (http://www.nature.com/scitable/topics) | (http://www.nature.com/scitable/topics) |
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| h1 Essentials of Genetics | h2 Essentials of Genetics |
| (http://www.nature.com/scitable/course-cover/Essentials-of-Genetics-8) | (http://www.nature.com/scitable/course-cover/Essentials-of-Genetics-8) |
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| h2 Unit 1: What Is DNA? What Does DNA Do? | h3 Unit 1: What Is DNA? What Does DNA Do? |
| What smaller elements make up the complex DNA molecule, how are these elements arranged, and how is information extracted from them? This unit answers each of these questions, and it also provides a basic overview of how DNA was discovered. | What smaller elements make up the complex DNA molecule, how are these elements arranged, and how is information extracted from them? This unit answers each of these questions, and it also provides a basic overview of how DNA was discovered. |
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| - Introduction: What Is DNA? | - Introduction: What Is DNA? |
| - DNA Is a Structure That Encodes Biological Information | - DNA Is a Structure That Encodes Biological Information |
| - Discovery of the Function of DNA Resulted from the Work of Multiple Scientists | - Discovery of the Function of DNA Resulted from the Work of Multiple Scientists |
| - Cells Can Replicate Their DNA Precisely | - Cells Can Replicate Their DNA Precisely |
| - The Information in DNA Is Decoded by Transcription | - The Information in DNA Is Decoded by Transcription |
| - The Information in DNA Determines Cellular Function via Translation | - The Information in DNA Determines Cellular Function via Translation |
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| h2 Unit 2: How Does DNA Move from Cell to Cell? | h3 Unit 2: How Does DNA Move from Cell to Cell? |
| The passage of DNA from one cell to another is the basic means by which genetic information — and therefore biological characteristics — can persist relatively unchanged across millions of generations of organisms. The mechanism by which DNA is passed from one generation of cells to the next is a combination of DNA replication and cell division. In this unit, you will learn how DNA is first packaged and then passed on to the next generation during cell division. You will also explore the unpredictable ways in which DNA can change during this process. | The passage of DNA from one cell to another is the basic means by which genetic information — and therefore biological characteristics — can persist relatively unchanged across millions of generations of organisms. The mechanism by which DNA is passed from one generation of cells to the next is a combination of DNA replication and cell division. In this unit, you will learn how DNA is first packaged and then passed on to the next generation during cell division. You will also explore the unpredictable ways in which DNA can change during this process. |
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| - Introduction: How Does DNA Move from Cell to Cell? | - Introduction: How Does DNA Move from Cell to Cell? |
| - Replication and Distribution of DNA during Mitosis | - Replication and Distribution of DNA during Mitosis |
| - Replication and Distribution of DNA during Meiosis | - Replication and Distribution of DNA during Meiosis |
| - DNA Is Constantly Changing through the Process of Recombination | - DNA Is Constantly Changing through the Process of Recombination |
| - DNA Is Constantly Changing through the Process of Mutation | - DNA Is Constantly Changing through the Process of Mutation |
| - Some Sections of DNA Do Not Determine Traits, but Affect the Process of Transcription: Gene Regulation | - Some Sections of DNA Do Not Determine Traits, but Affect the Process of Transcription: Gene Regulation |
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| h2 Unit 3: How Is Genetic Information Passed between Organisms? | h3 Unit 3: How Is Genetic Information Passed between Organisms? |
| Heredity, or the continuity of traits between parent and offspring, is powered by the physical transmission of DNA between cells during reproduction. In this unit, you will learn about the origins of our modern understanding of heredity, as well as the basic rules that determine how parents’ traits determine the traits of their offspring. | Heredity, or the continuity of traits between parent and offspring, is powered by the physical transmission of DNA between cells during reproduction. In this unit, you will learn about the origins of our modern understanding of heredity, as well as the basic rules that determine how parents’ traits determine the traits of their offspring. |
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| - Introduction: How Is Genetic Information Passed between Organisms? | - Introduction: How Is Genetic Information Passed between Organisms? |
| - Each Organism's Traits Are Inherited from a Parent through Transmission of DNA | - Each Organism's Traits Are Inherited from a Parent through Transmission of DNA |
| - Inheritance of Traits by Offspring Follows Predictable Rules | - Inheritance of Traits by Offspring Follows Predictable Rules |
| - Some Genes Are Transmitted to Offspring in Groups via the Phenomenon of Gene Linkage | - Some Genes Are Transmitted to Offspring in Groups via the Phenomenon of Gene Linkage |
| - The Sex of Offspring Is Determined by Particular Chromosomes | - The Sex of Offspring Is Determined by Particular Chromosomes |
| - Some Organisms Transmit Genetic Material to Offspring without Cell Division | - Some Organisms Transmit Genetic Material to Offspring without Cell Division |
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| h2 Unit 4: How Do Scientists Study and Manipulate the DNA inside Cells? | h2 Unit 4: How Do Scientists Study and Manipulate the DNA inside Cells? |
| Although DNA is so extremely small that we are not able to see it with the naked eye, scientists have developed laboratory techniques to track DNA and even modify it. With these techniques, scientists can assess how active gene transcription is, and what conditions can change it. Scientists can also ask fundamental questions about multiple genes at the same time. In this unit, you will learn what these techniques are, how they are performed, and what they achieve. | Although DNA is so extremely small that we are not able to see it with the naked eye, scientists have developed laboratory techniques to track DNA and even modify it. With these techniques, scientists can assess how active gene transcription is, and what conditions can change it. Scientists can also ask fundamental questions about multiple genes at the same time. In this unit, you will learn what these techniques are, how they are performed, and what they achieve. |
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| - Introduction: How Do We Study the DNA Inside Cells? | - Introduction: How Do We Study the DNA Inside Cells? |
| - The Order of Nucleotides in a Gene Is Revealed by DNA Sequencing | - The Order of Nucleotides in a Gene Is Revealed by DNA Sequencing |
| - Scientists Can Make Copies of a Gene through PCR | - Scientists Can Make Copies of a Gene through PCR |
| - Scientists Can Analyze Gene Function by Deleting Gene Sequences | - Scientists Can Analyze Gene Function by Deleting Gene Sequences |
| - Gene Expression Is Analyzed by Tracking RNA | - Gene Expression Is Analyzed by Tracking RNA |
| - Scientists Can Study an Organism's Entire Genome with Microarray Analysis | - Scientists Can Study an Organism's Entire Genome with Microarray Analysis |
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| h2 Unit 5: How Does Inheritance Operate at the Level of Whole Populations? | h3 Unit 5: How Does Inheritance Operate at the Level of Whole Populations? |
| Because DNA passes from parent to offspring, there is generally significant genetic similarity between the organisms in a population, provided that the members of this population have descended from common ancestors. For example, although human beings have existed for 200,000 years, there is a less than 0.1% difference (called genetic variability) between the DNA of even the most dissimilar human beings. Nonetheless, the collective genetic makeup of entire populations can change significantly over time. The study of how this happens among both humans and other organisms is called population genetics. In this unit, you will learn how the underlying genetic variability of a population emerges, as well as how and why the collective genetic makeup of a population can change. | Because DNA passes from parent to offspring, there is generally significant genetic similarity between the organisms in a population, provided that the members of this population have descended from common ancestors. For example, although human beings have existed for 200,000 years, there is a less than 0.1% difference (called genetic variability) between the DNA of even the most dissimilar human beings. Nonetheless, the collective genetic makeup of entire populations can change significantly over time. The study of how this happens among both humans and other organisms is called population genetics. In this unit, you will learn how the underlying genetic variability of a population emerges, as well as how and why the collective genetic makeup of a population can change. |
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| - Introduction: How Does Inheritance Operate at the Level of Whole Populations? | - Introduction: How Does Inheritance Operate at the Level of Whole Populations? |
| - The Collective Set of Alleles in a Population Is Its Gene Pool | - The Collective Set of Alleles in a Population Is Its Gene Pool |
| - The Variety of Genes in the Gene Pool Can Be Quantified within a Population | - The Variety of Genes in the Gene Pool Can Be Quantified within a Population |
| - The Genetic Variation in a Population Is Caused by Multiple Factors | - The Genetic Variation in a Population Is Caused by Multiple Factors |
| - Genomics Enables Scientists to Study Genetic Variability in Human Populations | - Genomics Enables Scientists to Study Genetic Variability in Human Populations |
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| | h1 Topic Rooms |
| | (http://www.nature.com/scitable/topics) |
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| | h2 Genetics |
| | (http://www.nature.com/scitable/topic/genetics-5) |
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| | To better inform our decisions at the doctor, the grocery store, and at home, it is crucial for us to know something about genetics. As we cultivate this understanding, we need to explore the evidence that supports our modern knowledge of genetics. |
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| | h3 Available Articles |
| | - Women in Science Forum |
| | - Barbara McClintock: The Secret of Maize |
| | - Cells Can Replicate Their DNA Precisely |
| | - Discovery of the Function of DNA Resulted from the Work of Multiple Scientists |
| | - DNA Is a Structure That Encodes Biological Information |
| | - DNA Is Constantly Changing through the Process of Mutation |
| | - DNA Is Constantly Changing through the Process of Recombination |
| | - Each Organism's Traits Are Inherited from a Parent through Transmission of DNA |
| | - Francis Crick: The Secret of Life |
| | - Frederick Sanger: Method Man, Problem Solver |
| | - Gene Expression Is Analyzed by Tracking RNA |
| | - Genomics Enables Scientists to Study Genetic Variability in Human Populations |
| | - Gregor Mendel: A Private Scientist |
| | - Inheritance of Traits by Offspring Follows Predictable Rules |
| | - Introduction: How Do We Study the DNA Inside Cells? |
| | - Introduction: How Does DNA Move from Cell to Cell? |
| | - Introduction: How Does Inheritance Operate at the Level of Whole Populations? |
| | - Introduction: How Is Genetic Information Passed between Organisms? |
| | - Introduction: What Is DNA? |
| | - James Watson: Genetics Impresario |
| | - Linus Pauling: A Lifetime of Science |
| | - Maurice Wilkins: Behind the Scenes of DNA |
| | - Nettie Stevens: A Discoverer of Sex Chromosomes |
| | - Replication and Distribution of DNA during Meiosis |
| | - Replication and Distribution of DNA during Mitosis |
| | - Rosalind Franklin: A Crucial Contribution |
| | - Scientists Can Analyze Gene Function by Deleting Gene Sequences |
| | - Scientists Can Make Copies of a Gene through PCR |
| | - Scientists Can Study an Organism's Entire Genome with Microarray Analysis |
| | - Some Genes Are Transmitted to Offspring in Groups via the Phenomenon of Gene Linkage |
| | - Some Organisms Transmit Genetic Material to Offspring without Cell Division |
| | - Some Sections of DNA Do Not Determine Traits, but Affect the Process of Transcription: Gene Regulation |
| | - The Collective Set of Alleles in a Population Is Its Gene Pool |
| | - The Genetic Variation in a Population Is Caused by Multiple Factors |
| | - The Information in DNA Determines Cellular Function via Translation |
| | - The Information in DNA Is Decoded by Transcription |
| | - The Order of Nucleotides in a Gene Is Revealed by DNA Sequencing |
| | - The Sex of Offspring Is Determined by Particular Chromosomes |
| | - The Variety of Genes in the Gene Pool Can Be Quantified within a Population |
| | - Thomas Hunt Morgan: The Fruit Fly Scientist |