Genetiku

Genetiku, or genetics, is the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in living organisms. It examines how traits are inherited, how genes influence development and health, and how genetic variation arises and is maintained in populations. The field encompasses molecular genetics, population genetics, evolutionary genetics, and medical genetics, as well as applied areas like breeding and biotechnology.

Historically, genetics began with Gregor Mendel's experiments on pea plants in the 19th century, which established the basic laws of inheritance. The mid-20th century identified DNA as the genetic material and decoded the double-helix structure of DNA by Watson and Crick. The subsequent decades led to the development of molecular genetics, genome sequencing, and modern techniques that allow precise manipulation of genes.

Genetic information is stored in DNA, organized into chromosomes. Genes are transcribed into RNA and translated into proteins, with regulation at many steps determining when and where genes are active. Variation arises through mutations, recombination, and gene flow. Inheritance follows Mendelian patterns in simple cases, while many traits are influenced by multiple genes and environmental factors, yielding non-Mendelian inheritance patterns.

Genetiku informs many applications, including medical genetics, pharmacogenomics, genetic testing and counseling, gene therapy, and agricultural breeding. Technologies such as DNA sequencing, CRISPR genome editing, and genome-wide association studies enable research and practical uses, but raise ethical, legal, and social issues, including privacy, consent, and potential discrimination.

As a dynamic field, genetiku continues to integrate biology with computation, statistics, and ethics to understand life at the molecular level and to improve health, food security, and biodiversity.