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Define genetics.

Answer
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Hint: Genetics is a sub-branch of biology. Before studying genetics, it is necessary to understand the genes.Genes are a set of instructions that are determinant of an organism's appearance and its behavior.

Complete Answer:
- The detailed study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity is called genetics. Heredity is a biological process. It can be defined as the passing of genetic information from parents to their offsprings or progeny or the next generation. The similarity in features of one generation with the other generation is an example of heredity. Heredity is also termed as an inheritance.
- Genes are made of DNA or deoxyribonucleic acids. DNA is the genetic material of an organism. The genes get expressed in the form of proteins.

The applications of the genetic covers a wide spectrum, and each field such as medicine, health, agriculture, investigation, and research. Some of the applications are listed, hereunder,
- Diagnosis of diseases and characterization.
- Gene therapy to treat any disease.
- Identification of pathogenic mutations, and their detailed study.
- In the preservation of biodiversity.
- Identification of the microbes.
- Studying inheritance patterns.
- Creating advanced, more productive, and beneficial plant species.
- Creating genetically modified organisms (GMO) such as plants and animals for research work.
- DNA fingerprinting and profiling, to solve the disputes.
- Investigation of crimes.
- In drug discovery and study the genetic mechanism of any disease.

Note: Gregor Mendel is known as the "father of modern genetics"
Various branches of genetics are
- Population genetics
- Cytogenetics
- Molecular genetics
- Biochemical genetics
- Cancer genetics
- Immunogenetics
- Developmental genetics