Cytogenetics bridges the gap between cell biology and genetics by studying , the physical carriers of genetic material.
The foundation of genetics rests on Gregor Mendel’s laws of inheritance:
A two-step division reducing the chromosome number by half to produce haploid gametes, introducing genetic variation via crossing over . 3. Chromosomal Variations
The inheritance of genetic material found in organelles like mitochondria or chloroplasts, which follows a maternal line.
The process of pairing and ordering all the chromosomes of an organism, providing a genome-wide snapshot of an individual's chromosomes. Cell Division:
Chemical modifications to DNA or histones that affect gene activity without changing the actual DNA sequence.
Deletions, duplications, inversions, and translocations (where segments of chromosomes break and reattach elsewhere). 4. Molecular Foundations
In a heterozygote, one allele (dominant) can mask the presence of another (recessive). 2. The Physical Basis: Cytogenetics