Chapter 1

GENETICS:
AN INTRODUCTION

This material is for exclusive use of BIO 121 (General Genetics) students
under the Science Department, CNSM, Mindanao State University-General
Santos. Unauthorized use of this material is prohibited.
 Learning Outcomes
• Learn about Genetics as a
specialized field in biology
• Gain knowledge about
how genetics impacts all
organisms thriving in the
biosphere
• Gain insight into the
influences of genetics to
human well-being and
during disease
Primary References
Levine M, Watson JD, Baker TA, Gann A, Bell
SP, Losick R (2014). Molecular Biology of the
Gene,Published by Pearson (September 3rd
2013) - Copyright © 2014
Klug W and Cummings M (2009). Concepts of
Genetics. 9th ed. Prentice Hall Inc.
Weaver RF (2012). Molecular Biology. 5th ed.
McGraw Hill Co., New York
 GENETICS

(from Greek word GEN meaning to become or to grow)

▪branch of biology that deals with the principles of

heredity and variation in all living things
▪core of biological science
▪impinges on other natural and behavioral sciences
APPLICATIONS OF GENETICS
• Plant and Animal Improvement
• Medicine
• Genetic Counseling
• Legal Applications
• Genetic Engineering
– Transgenics
– Legal, Social, Environmental and Health
Implications
– Ethical Issues in Biotechnology
APPLICATIONS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

PATERNITY
TESTING

FORENSICS
 GENE CLONING
ATBP

DOLLY (1996-2003)
CC ( carbon copy)- Dec 22, 2001

Tissue cultured
Wollemi pine from
Australia ; date from
Cretaceous period
and was thought to be
1st cloned calves (Japan 1998) extinct 50m yrs ago
• Insulin for diabetes

• Interferon for treating

cancer

• Hepatitis B vaccine
 Using living
organisms to clean
the environment
Bioremediation using Biotechnology
GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS ( GMOS)
THE BT
TECHNOLGOY
Frost-resistant tomato with an antifreeze
gene from a cold-water fish

The genetically modified

strawberries still taste exactly
the same but are a rich blue
colour like blueberries.

NON-TEAR ONION
THE QUEST TO UNDERSTAND HUMAN ORIGINS
Human Beginnings
Gene Therapy
Genome Editing
Crispr-cas9 to end Malaria
Epigenetics- Turning Genes
On and Off
 Astronaut's gene expression no longer
Scott Kelly's Year in same as his identical twin, NASA finds-
Space Changed His CNN
Gene Expression

NASA says Astronaut

Returns to Earth With
Different DNA
Films demonizing Science and
Biotechnology
Science, Technology and
Society
The COVID Phenomenon
Field Performance of Bt Eggplants (Solanum melongena L.) in the
Philippines: Cry1Ac Expression and Control of the Eggplant Fruit and Shoot
Borer (Leucinodes orbonalis Guenée)
Desiree M. Hautea,1,* Lourdes D. Taylo,1 Anna Pauleen L. Masanga,1 Maria Luz J.
Sison,1 Josefina O. Narciso,1,¤Reynaldo B. Quilloy,1 Randy A. Hautea,2 Frank A.
Shotkoski,3 and Anthony M. Shelton4