Genetics are an amazing thing, inside every animal or plant (living thing) there are cells, each of these cells make up our genes.  Genes can be described as instructions for our bodies make up, they determine all sorts of things, like what colour hair we have, what colour our eyes will be, our skin colour, and this is the same for plants and animals.  For a plant the genes will determine how many leaves it will have and how tall it might grow for example.

It is usual for living things to have pairs of chromosomes – these are made up of one from each parent.  For example the fruit fly has 4 pairs of chromosomes and humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes.  Each of the genes is made up of four different, long combinations of nucleotide bases that determine everything about a living being.  The four nucleotides which make up these genes are called, thymine (T), guanine (G), Cytosine (C) and adenine (A).

As everyone’s DNA structure is unique and belongs to only them, it has been possible to solve crimes using peoples DNA.  Breakthroughs in technology and medicine have allowed scientists to be able to pinpoint a DNA sample, even when more than one person has touched a surface.  It is thought that this breakthrough could lead to tens of thousands of cold crimes being solved.  People can often be eliminated from crimes by DNA evidence, and previous convictions have been overturned because of DNA.

It is genetics that allows scientists to perform greater studies on complex disorders and diseases.  There is a database which has been set up called the genetic disorder database, this database is key to finding breakthrough’s in medicine, which will eventually lead to the cure of things like cancer, AIDS and other such like diseases where no cure has been found as yet.

Many people feel that messing with DNA and genetics is playing with nature itself, but for people who suffer from genetic disease and genetic disorders, the study of genetics can help people understand more.  Some genetic diseases which are passed on via the parent can be prevented before conception, some people are screened before hand, and can decide whether they want a boy or girl.  Some genetic disease are carried purely by boys, and others by girls.  So by going through this procedure it can prevent the genetic disorder being passed on via parent.