When you see a dominant trait, the underlying genetic make-up can still be ambiguous. See how researchers use test crosses to find out the genotype behind the phenotype.
Researchers have used distinct markers from human subpopulations to trace back to our common African root in a giant human "tree." However, a “trellis” model might be more appropriate.
What can Gregor Mendel’s pea plants tell us about human disease? Single gene disorders, like Huntington’s disease and cystic fibrosis, actually follow Mendelian inheritance patterns.
A century after Down syndrome was first described, scientists discovered that the root cause of this disorder is a condition called trisomy 21. What strides in research have been made since then?
Since genes are packed into chromosomes, abnormal chromosomes can actually cause genetic diseases. What methods have scientists invented to study these abnormalities?
Imagine reading this warning on a cigarette package: Smokers with a particular mutation have a dramatically higher risk of developing lung cancer. Would you get tested for this mutation?
Can you stop LCA, a form of blindness caused by a change in a single base pair, simply by injecting a viral vector with the right nucleotide sequence? Unfortunately, gene therapy is not this simple.
For disorders that are preventable or treatable, most people agree that genetic testing makes sense. But for diseases with no preventative measures, would you want to know if you were affected?
If you could save lives by producing vaccines in transgenic bananas, would you? In the debate over large-scale commercialization and use of GMOs, where should we draw the line?
How ethical is it to keep a database of convicted felons' DNA profiles? Can we rely on DNA fingerprints for conviction? Many ethical issues surround the use of DNA in forensic technology.