Why It Is a Mistake to Believe That Characteristics That Are Influenced by a Gene Can Not Be Changed
This paper is an attempt to show why it is a mistake to believe that characteristics that are influenced by genes cannot be changed except by modifying genes. Key terms will be explained
Genes are how living organisms inherit features from their ancestors; for example, children usually look like their parents because they have inherited their parents' genes. Genetics tries to identify which features are inherited, and explain how these features pass from generation to generation.
A feature of a living thing is called a "trait". Some traits are part of an organism's physical appearance; such as a person's eye-color, height or weight. Other sorts of traits are not easily seen and include blood types or resistance to diseases. The way our genes and environment interact to produce a trait can be complicated. For example, the chances of somebody dying of cancer or heart disease seem to depend on both their genes and their lifestyle.
Atkinson defines Genes as “basic units for transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring or the basic unit of hereditary transmission localized within the chromosomes “. (Atkinson C. 1990). Genes are made from a long molecule called deoxyribo nucleic acid (DNA), which is copied and inherited across generations. DNA is made of simple units that line up in a particular order within this large molecule. The order of these units carries genetic information, similar to how the order of letters on a page carries information. The language used by DNA is called the genetic code, which allows the genetic machinery to read the information in the genes in triplet sets of codons. This information is the instructions for constructing and operating a living organism Chromosome may be defined as Rodlike structure found in pairs in all the cells of the body, carrying genetic deters (genes) that are transmitted from parents to offspring. Characteristic is defined as a quality or feature of something or someone that is typical of them and easy
Genes are how living organisms inherit features from their ancestors; for example, children usually look like their parents because they have inherited their parents' genes. Genetics tries to identify which features are inherited, and explain how these features pass from generation to generation.
A feature of a living thing is called a "trait". Some traits are part of an organism's physical appearance; such as a person's eye-color, height or weight. Other sorts of traits are not easily seen and include blood types or resistance to diseases. The way our genes and environment interact to produce a trait can be complicated. For example, the chances of somebody dying of cancer or heart disease seem to depend on both their genes and their lifestyle.
Atkinson defines Genes as “basic units for transmission of characteristics from parents to offspring or the basic unit of hereditary transmission localized within the chromosomes “. (Atkinson C. 1990). Genes are made from a long molecule called deoxyribo nucleic acid (DNA), which is copied and inherited across generations. DNA is made of simple units that line up in a particular order within this large molecule. The order of these units carries genetic information, similar to how the order of letters on a page carries information. The language used by DNA is called the genetic code, which allows the genetic machinery to read the information in the genes in triplet sets of codons. This information is the instructions for constructing and operating a living organism Chromosome may be defined as Rodlike structure found in pairs in all the cells of the body, carrying genetic deters (genes) that are transmitted from parents to offspring. Characteristic is defined as a quality or feature of something or someone that is typical of them and easy