KEY TAKEAWAYS •
Genetics helps to explain how certain traits are passed on from parent organisms to offspring.
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The genetic blueprint is DNA. Genes are the smallest unit of heritability; these all together make up the genome of an organism.
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All cells in the multicellular organism contain the same genes but these are expressed differently in different cells.
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Mendel worked with pea plants and determined the different laws of inheritance.
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Genetic variability can be due to several things that usually are beneficial to the population.
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Mutations are largely deleterious or neutral; however, some can be advantageous and will be selected for in the process of natural selection.
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