Genetics

by Andrew Solway

Overview

It was less than 50 years ago that a fundamental discovery-the structure of DNA-made possible the modern scientific fields of genetics and molecular biology. Since then, scientists have found novel ways to apply this knowledge and are thus continuously pushing back the frontiers of medicine, archeology, botany, and agriculture. They have even learned to transfer genes from and one organism to another, making it possible to "build" an organism with chosen characteristics. This volume looks at the principles of genetics and the opportunities created by its exploration.

This book contains

Clear text, photographs, and diagrams to explain the basics of genetics and molecular biology

Sidebars explain the relevance of concepts to the science curriculum

Many glossary terms explained on the page

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781933834733
Publisher:	Brown Bear Books/Joe Hollander
Publication date:	01/01/2010
Series:	Curriculum Connections: 21st Century Science Series
Pages:	112
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.40(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

Table of Contents

Introduction 4

Units of Life 6

Inside the Nucleus 10

Tracking Down Molecules 12

Making the Messoge 15

Passing on the Messoge 17

Bacteria and Viruses 19

Proteins and Amino Acids 22

The Genetic Code 25

Translating the Code 28

Switching Genes On and OFF 31

Programming Development 33

The Limits of LiFe 36

Sexual Reproduction 38

Determination of Sex 41

Reproduction without Sex 44

Mendel's Breakthrough 47

Mixing the Genes 50

Evolution by Natural Selection 53

Genetic Drift 56

Variation and Survival 58

Strategies for Survival 61

The Rise and Fall of Species 64

Species and Other Kin 67

Shared Evolution 69

The Record in the Rocks 72

The Earliest Life Forms 75

An Explosion of Life 79

Life Moves onto Land 82

Winners and Losers 85

The Evolution of Humankind 87

Engineering New Life 90

Finding the Genes 93

The Human Genome Project 96

Living Factories 98

Cloning 101

The New Farming Revolution 103

Glossary 106

Further Research 108

Index 110