Summary
This section covers fundamental principles of genetics, starting from the molecular basis of cystic fibrosis caused by a mutation in the CFTR gene, through Mendel’s historical experiments with pea plants that established the laws of segregation and independent assortment. It further explores complex inheritance patterns including incomplete dominance, codominance, polygenic inheritance, epistasis, pleiotropy, and continuous variation. Finally, the interplay between genetic factors and environmental influences (nature vs. nurture) is emphasized as a key component shaping phenotype.