INTRODUCTION There is an old saying that "Child is a chip of the old block." What does that mean?
Does it refers to person's heredity traits. Does that means he looks or behaves like a parent (old block refers to
grand parents or some other ancestor).
DEFINITION
Heredity: It is the transmission of characteristics or factors (now called genes)
from parents to off springs.
Genetics: It is a branch of biology dealing with heredity and the law governing it. -
Encyclopedia. It is a science that deals with transmission of genes from generation to generation, their
behavior and function. The branch of biology which studies heredity and variations.
Variations: The minor difference that exist among the offsprings, of the same parent are called variation.
Heredity or environmental variation are raw materials for evolution of new species. Genes undergo changes
called mutation which are inherited. This leads to formation of new species over generations.
II. GENETIC THEORY
A. FATHER OF GENETICS
Gregor .Johann Mendel consider as the father of genetics. He laid the foundation for the study of
genetics-
Mendel was born in a poor farmer's family at Czechoslovakia on 21 July 1822.
He had his basic education and could not continue further due to poverty. Later he
went to Vienna where he studied science and mathematics. After his education, this
Austrian monk was put on a teaching job at a monastery at Brunn. He was interested in experimental
biology. And conduct experiments on pea plants in backyard of monastery for I4 years. He selected pea
plants for his work because the exhibited contrasting features, breed true, self pollination and cross pollination
could be done, easily to cultivate.
Mendel selected 7 pairs of contrasting features for this experiment. E.g., tall and short plants, round and
wrinkled seeds form, color of the seed, coat etc. He cultured the above features separately. He maintains
pure lines as these pea plants and cross pollinated them to desired character.
The offspring of these cross were called the first filial generation or F1 generation. Subsequent generation
were called F1, F2, F3 & so on. He analyzed the results and based on these results he drew some important
conclusions which have been known as "Laws of Heredity". He published it in a scientific journal "Annals of
Proceeding of the Natural History of Brunn 1986.” The journal had a limited circulation. Unfortunately, his
work was unnoticed and Mendel was disappointed by this. He died in 1884.
Mendel's work was rediscovered by three European geneticists in 1900 namely Correns of. Germany,
Hugo de Varies of Holland and Tscher Mak of Austria. They were working independently on similar lines end
came across Mendel's work while looking for previous literatures. They re-wrote his work and published it
under the title "MENDELIAN LAWS_OF PRINCIPAL’'. It exp the principles of segregation and principles of
independent assortment. Mendel is now regarded as the "Father of Genetics".
B. BIOLOGIC AND GENETIC PRINCIPLES
Genetic counseling is a process of communication which deals with the human problem associated
with a genetic disease in the family & informing the individuals or families about various options for
safeguarding from recurrence of such a disorder.
Genetic counseling:
Definition Genetic counseling is a communication process by which personal genetic risk information is
translated into practical information for families. Genetic counselors are health care professionals with
specialized training and experience in the areas of medical genetics and counseling. Genetic counselors are
able to assist families by: