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Frequently Asked Questions About Genetics and
Genomics
1. What is genetics? What
is genomics?
Genetics is the study of inheritance, or the way traits are
passed down from one generation to another. Genes carry the
instructions for making proteins, which in turn direct the
activities of cells and functions of the body that influence
traits such as hair and eye color. Genomics is a newer term
that describes the study of all the genes in a person, as
well as interactions of those genes with each other and with
that person’s environment.
2. What does genomics have to do with my health?
Genomics plays a part in nine of the Ten
Leading Causes of Death in the United States. All human
beings are 99.9 percent identical in genetic makeup, but
differences in the remaining 0.1 percent may hold important
clues about the causes of disease.
We hope that the study of genomics will help us learn why
some people get sick from certain infections, environmental
factors, and behaviors, while others do not. Better understanding
of the interactions between genes and the environment will
help us find better ways to improve health and prevent diseases.
3. What is the Human Genome Project?
The Human Genome Project (HGP) identified all of the genes
in human DNA. The project was completed in 2003 by the U.S.
Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health
with input from other countries around the world. More information
about this project can be found at the HGP
Information Web Site.
4. What is stem cell research?
Stem cell research is a hot topic in science and the media.
Stem cells renew themselves for long periods of time through
cell division. When a stem cell divides, it can either remain
a stem cell or become another type of cell with a more specialized
function such as a blood cell, a muscle cell, or a brain
cell. Scientists are investigating using cell- based therapies
to treat diseases. To find out more about stem cell research,
visit the National
Institutes of Health Web Site.
5. What is gene therapy?
Gene therapy is a technique for correcting faulty genes
responsible for disease development. To learn more about
gene therapy visit the Human
Genome Project Web site.
6. Where can I find out about cloning?
The term cloning that you might have heard or read
about in the news usually refers only to one type called
reproductive cloning. There are actually three types of cloning
technologies and they include (1) recombinant DNA technology
or DNA cloning, (2) reproductive cloning, and (3) therapeutic
cloning. To get more in-depth, reliable information about
cloning, visit the Human
Genome Project Information Web Site.
7. For additional FAQs about Genomics, visit the following
Web sites:
To read more from the National Office of Public Health Genomics,
please click here: http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/faq.htm
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