NEWSLETTER 7- GENETICS

By : Walter Lai, Kayla Kim, and Lua Park

12/06/25

WHAT IS GENETICS?

Genetics is the study of heredity and genes, and has become a foundation in biology and science. It analyzes how traits are passed from parents to children, and focuses primarily on DNA and genes. A segment of DNA is called a gene, and it is a building block that contains instructions. It is responsible for how an individual looks, the way the body works, and even links diseases from family. One of the most common areas of study for genetics is classic genetics and as these studies advance, the amount of knowledge around genetics continues to expand.

APPLICATION TO THE REAL WORLD

Genetics has major real-world applications in medicine, agriculture, and criminal justice. In healthcare, genetic testing allows doctors to identify inherited diseases, predict a patient’s risk for certain conditions, and choose treatments tailored to an individual’s DNA, a practice known as personalized medicine. Genetics is also used to develop vaccines and drugs by understanding how diseases interact with human cells. In agriculture, scientists modify plant genes to create crops that are more resistant to pests, drought, and disease, increasing food production and reliability. Genetics also plays a role in forensic science, where DNA analysis is used to identify individuals in criminal investigations and disaster victim identification.

RECENT GENETICS RESEARCH

An example of new genetics research is AI- Enhanced Gene editing. This new type of genetics is where CRISPR_ GPT, an AI powered device, uses large language models to speed up gene editing research and design. AI- enhanced Gene editing also helps scientists to produce life saving drugs faster. Another example of new genetics research is Gene therapies which is a type of gel that helps replace or correct the faulty genes to prevent inheriting a specific disease.

HOW DO GENETICS CONNECT TO OUR MESSAGE?

As genes play a role in human traits and characteristics, understanding how genetics influence individuals can help a society interact efficiently. The recent discoveries revolving around genetics demonstrate how knowledge is directly connected to improving quality of life. By spreading these findings through educational posts, communities are able to act upon these insights and provide support. In addition, explaining genetics opens up a world of science for young teens to explore and develop a passion for science.

CITATIONS:

https://nigms.nih.gov/biobeat/2024/04/what-is-genetics

https://www.britannica.com/science/genetics

https://www.cdc.gov/genomics-and-health/about/index.html

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