Basics of Human Genetics

Welcome! I am so excited to help you explore the incredible blueprint that makes you who you are.

Before we dive into the wonders of DNA and how traits are passed down, could you tell me a bit about your background in biology or genetics, and what brings you to this topic today?

I took some biology in school but want a solid refresher.

It is great to have you here! Since you have already taken some biology, we can skip the absolute bare basics and focus on connecting the dots to give you a really rich, cohesive picture of how everything fits together.

Your path

Principles of Inheritance

Genetic Variation and Disease

Modern Applications

The Instruction Manual of Life

To kick things off, let's look at the ultimate molecule of identity: . You can think of DNA as a massive, highly secured library containing the master blueprint for your entire body.

Inside this library, the text isn't written in English. Instead, it is written using an alphabet of just four chemical "letters" known as : Adenine (A), Thymine (T), Cytosine (C), and Guanine (G). It is the specific order of these letters that spells out the instructions for building you.