Why Genetics is Important to your Major

By: Louise Jan Lopez (Replichore)


Related image
(Image taken from: asianscientist.com)
Genetics is a branch in Biology that seeks to study genetic variation and heredity in living organisms. Genetics intersects with other life sciences as an important element to understand some key concepts. It links with other fields like Microbiology, Zoology, Wildlife, Ecology, Cell and Molecular Biology, Plant Biology, and Systematics. 

In order to stress the importance of Genetics, the Genews Team interviewed young biologists in UPLB to give insights about the relevance of genetics to their major. In a brief response, they explained the role of Genetics in their major.
---

GENEWS Team: "Why is genetics important to your major field?"

Systematics
"Genetics is a valuable discipline when being used in systematics because classification mostly relies on ecology and morphometrics. With the addition of genetics and molecular techniques, the study would resolve many of the conflicts and the presence of the gene banks could help greatly in taxonomy, biogeography and the study of biodiversity; systematics." 

- Earl Caraga, BS Biology ’15, Major in Systematics

Wildlife Biology
"Genetics play an important role in wildlife studies, especially in conservation issues, in such a way that ensuring a high genetic diversity in a population contributes to the assurance of their survival. That population will then ensure the survival of the whole community, then the ecosystem - keeping its balance - allowing life to continue as life itself depends on each other. While genetics is always thought to be focusing only on the smallest of details, it is at the same time, dealing the biggest of issues on greater scales.”

-Jestine Christia Gatdula, BS Biology ‘14, Major in Wildlife Biology

Plant Biology
"In the field of Plant Biology, especially in our line of research on Plant Natural Products, we employ Genetics to explain the variability (eg. presence, composition, concentration) of phytochemicals in different taxa such as genera of a family, species in a genus, or even varieties of a species. In this manner, we can prevent overexploitation of a certain species known to have an important phytochemical by looking at its relative species as possible alternative sources." 

- Anonymous

Ecology
"Genetics elucidates how phenotypes are developed which in turn offers an explanation on how organisms are able to fulfill their role in an ecosystem. Since phenotypes and niches are closely linked (especially in polymorphic species), genetics is important in rationalizing how organisms are able to fulfill the niches they fill in a biological community." 

- Uriah Z. Pancho, BS Biology ’14, Major in Ecology

Microbiology
"Genetics is one of the auxiliary disciplines in Microbiology. Aside from using morphological examination and biochemical tests in identifying certain microbes, gene sequencing can also be used; furthermore, this method confers more accuracy compared to using phenotypic methods. A plethora of discoveries in microbiology besides microbial identification can be attributed to the science of genetics. Determining specific genes in the microbe and plasmid study are applications of genetics in microbiolgy to name a few." 

- Sean Timothy Gacutan, BS Biology ’15, Major in Microbiology

Zoology
"As a zoology major, I consider genetics as an integral part of my major. Without knowledge on genetics, we would not be able to explain how animals diversify and gain new characteristics. Also, genetics is an integral part in deciphering a species' evolutionary lineage and ancestry." 

- Micko Alojado, BS Biology ’15, Major in Zoology

Cell and Molecular Biology
"Any observation we gather from cells, may it be morphological or physiological, is a result of environmental and/or genetic factors. Hence, a complete and sound analysis regarding these observations can only be done if we have the information regarding the cell’s environment and the genetic basis of such observations" 

- Lance Lopez, BS Biology ’15, Major in Cell and Molecular Biology

---
The study of genetics is a vital field that interconnects with other fields. It allows us to understand ideas that can be found in relation to other fields of the life sciences. Genetics is also important since it helps students comprehend how a specific method or phenomenon in their field would actually occur. Moreover, techniques and different methods employed in studies of other fields involves notions that could only be explained through the study of genetics.

The field of genetics could be considered as an important branch in Biology that elucidates functions at the most basic level, of all other fields. It explains that no matter how different organisms are, we all share a kinship that is etched in our DNA. It gives us a sense of connection to all life around us—that we are not different from the trees that provide breathable air; from the microbes that live in our gut; from the fishes that swim in the ocean. We are one with them. We may be diverse, but we are all genetically united.


0 Comments