Genetics and epigenetics
Although the term “genetics” was first officially introduced in 1906 to describe the science of heredity, the roots of genetic understanding trace back thousands of years to the early days of agriculture. Ancient farmers, though unaware of genes or DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), intuitively selected seeds from the healthiest and most productive plants, shaping the future […]
Genetic modifications
Humans have been influencing the genetics of plants and animals for thousands of years. Just consider the differences between a Chihuahua and a Great Dane. Now, comparing both breeds to their wild ancestor, the wolf, the differences are striking. In traditional agriculture and animal breeding, individuals with desirable traits were selected and crossbred to create […]