What makes every person unique? Part of the answer is in our genes. A gene is a basic unit of heredity, the means by which traits get passed from one generation to the next, and genetics is the study ...

For more than a century, Mendelian genetics has shaped how we think about inheritance: one gene, one trait. It is a model that still echoes through textbooks—and one that is increasingly reaching its ...

Gregor Mendel described his experiments with pea plants and proved that genes are transmitted in discrete units, with certain ...

The genetic bases of the seven pairs of contrasting traits in the garden pea that were described by the ‘father of genetics’, Gregor Mendel, have long puzzled scientists. The discovery of the genetic ...

An individual’s genetics and their environment both shape their personality. However, opinions differ on the degree to which each of these factors influences personality, and how they contribute to ...

The human genome may have been sequenced, but we are still learning about how it works. One of the features of the genome scientists are still deciphering is epigenetics, which refers to the various ...

Recent discoveries in the field of epigenetics, the study of inheritance of traits that occur without changing the DNA sequence, have shown that chronological age in mammals correlates with epigenetic ...

Genetic inheritance is a bit like a giant cocktail where nature has fun mixing the ingredients to create a unique result: you. But did you know that some traits are exclusively transmitted by your ...

A monastery garden in the mid-1800s became the birthplace of genetics. Gregor Mendel, a friar, studied pea plants. He ...

A random mutation in a gene can alter its function and bring about a new characteristic that can pass down for many generations, but this may not be the only way that organisms can inherit a trait.

Rare genetic traits are features that are uncommon within the general population. They can lead to different observable features or to rare physical abilities. Rare genetic traits are typically ...