This chapter is about genetics, a field of study that attempts to explain the similarities and differences between parents and their offspring. This chapter explains how gene discoveries are related to the study of anatomy and physiology and to clinical practice in health care professions (objective 1). It also explains how heredity and environment influence the development of individual characteristics (objective 9). It distinguishes between genes and chromosomes and describes the various processes by which parents--genetic material is shared by their offspring (objectives 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8). The chapter also describes the effect of gender on inheritance (objectives 10 and 11). Health consequences of deviations in genetic process are described, as well as the challenges presented in diagnosing inherited diseases and the use of gene therapy (objectives 14 and 15).

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