Genetic analysis

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/genetic-analysis

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the field of study?Interdisciplinary research in genetics and molecular biology
2. What is the primary objective?To study, research, and understand the genetic makeup and function of organisms
3. How do scientists read DNA?Scientists use tools like PCR to copy small pieces of DNA and DNA sequencing to read the exact order of the letters. New machines can read whole genomes quickly and cheaply.
4. Why is genetic analysis important for doctors?Doctors use it to find gene changes that cause diseases, predict risks for heart disease or cancer, and choose medicines that work best for each person.

Genetics: The scientific study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in living organisms.
Molecular Biology: The branch of biology that deals with the structure and function of macromolecules essential to life.
Mutations: Permanent alterations in the DNA sequence that make up a gene.
Somatic Diseases: Diseases affecting the body's cells, excluding reproductive cells, such as cancer.