Tracing the history, evolution and future orientation of genetic science and technology

Genetics is the science of inheritance, and the study of how particular traits and characteristics are passed on from parents to offspring, from physical traits such as height or eye colour to complex disease susceptibilities such as heart disease and certain types of cancer (Guttman et al., 2011; Gelehrter et al., 1998). It focuses on genes and their effects on disease and heredity (Guttman et al., 2011; Gelehrter et al., 1998). Medical genetics is therefore concerned with gaining a greater understanding of disease and the interaction between disease and genes in the human body. In the context of this discussion, it is necessary to provide a conceptual framework of the science of genetics and formulate a debate that is fully informed of advancing genetic technologies.