- Do you like to know more about genetics?
- Are you interested in knowing more about the personal, scientific and social perspective of people living with simple and complex biological traits?

The "Human Genome" is the most ambitious biological research program in the history of science. It is widely believed that the Knowledge of the human genome will make an invaluable contribution to the development of medicine and human biology.

This guide will help you to learn different concepts such as:
 
- Introduction to traits and heredity (Trait variation and categorization, basic models of inheritance and the connection via DNA)
- Defining the genome (DNA structure, chromosomes, and genome organization)
- How a genome works (Protein coding genes, transcription, translation, discerning the genetic code, and alleles).
- Gene regulation (Non-coding DNA, regulatory regions of genes, and transcription factors)
- Transmission of genes and traits (Family relationships and pedigrees, inheritance patterns, allele dominance, and chromosome dynamics)
- Origin of mutation/variation (Types of mutations, various causes of mutation, allelic frequency, and the spread of alleles in a population)
- How to obtain and interpret genomic information (Personalized genetics: sample acquisition, DNA extraction and processing, and interpretation of results)
- Simple genetic traits (Molecular causes of monogenic traits, loss-of-function vs. gain-of-function alleles, and dominance)
- Multifactorial traits (Polygenic traits, complex traits with an environmental effect, qualitative and quantitative measures, twin studies, relative risk, and genome-wide association studies)
- Pharmacogenetics: genes and drugs (Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, alleles affecting drug metabolism, and personalized medicine)
- Human ancestry and evolution (Identity by state (IBS), Identity by descent (IBD), relative finder, maternal and paternal lineages, neanderthal interbreeding, and human/chimp evolution)
- The immortal genome (Personal decisions, legal questions, professional options, and the future of genetics)

Authors Bio

This efficient and effective guide has been designed and prepared by Matthew Cook (PhD in cell and molecular biology from Duke University), Joanna Mountain (PhD in Genetics from Stanford University) and Lauren Castellano (MA in Experimental Psychology from San Jose State University).