You & Your Genes

This is the international edition.


The material in “You & Your Genes” is based on the experience of teaching a “Human Biochemistry” course many times at Wesleyan University. This book can be a first time introduction to genetics, a review or a supplement to a course in genetics. The material is presented so as to be accessible to anyone with an interest in genetics.


Each chapter is presented as a series of narrated animations that vary in length from about 3 to 10 minutes with four to nine animations per chapter. The animations are in high definition (1280 x 720) to allow presentation on large screens such as may be present in a classroom. Each animation typically describes one concept and can be viewed independently. Each chapter contains a summary and the concluding chapter connects all of the material together. The terms in the glossary are linked to the animations. A sample animation is available on the “You & Your Genes” website:

sites.google.com/site/youandyourgenes/.


The focus is on how genes determine which proteins we make, how these proteins determine who we are and how genes are passed on from one generation to another. The approach is to describe how our bodies carry out the essential function of transporting oxygen from the atmosphere to our internal organs. The hemoglobin in our red blood cells does the transport. This is followed by a description of what is different between sickle cell and normal hemoglobin and how this difference is passed on from one generation to another.


The focus on a specific protein with a familiar function allows the illustration of the basic features of genetics. We will look at the actual physical difference between normal and sickle cell hemoglobin as well as how the interplay between the environment and genetic makeup gives rise to the symptoms of sickle cell anemia and protection from malaria.


Genetics uses many words that are also used in everyday conversation. One of the parts of learning about genes is learning the vocabulary of genetics. The meanings of these words in genetics are very precise. The meaning and pronunciation of each of these is clearly indicated when it is first used and these are also included in the glossary. A goal of this book is to bring the reader to be able to use these words. After going through this book the reader should be able to say “That zygote is heterozygous as those two alleles for that gene are not identical” quite naturally.