This document provides an overview and table of contents for an elementary genetics textbook. It discusses the need for a simple genetics textbook for non-English speaking students. The textbook covers topics like Mendel's laws of inheritance, chromosomes, cell division, sex determination systems, polyploidy, mutations, gene interactions, linkage and chromosome mapping, cytoplasmic inheritance, DNA structure and function, and gene structure and function. Each chapter provides basic concepts and illustrations to help students easily understand genetics.

1. ELEMENTARY GENETICS
Dr.P.T.Shukla .
Ph.D. (Genetics)
Retired Head, Botany Division,
Anand Agricultural University,
Anand (Gujarat)
388110.
India.
1

2. All About The Book
There are several books available in the market on the topic Genetics. Most of these books
deal with Principals of Genetics in great details. The language used is also very difficult to
understand by the students who have very limited knowledge of English language. This
comes in their way to understand and grasp the elements of basic Genetics. I had this
experience during my teaching to under graduate and post graduate students. Due to
semester system , the students have several subjects and this make their study of any subject
difficult. The students do not grasp the basic of the subject and mostly memories the brief
notes given by the teacher in the class. They do not develop much interest in the subject.
Retention of the knowledge in the memory of such students is virtually nil.
If the chapters are written in simple language, properly illustrated with figures the
grasping power is improved and the students start developing interest in the topic. The
scientific subject involves work of several scientists. The students do not know much about
the scientists involved in developing basic concepts. This book gives information on the well
known scientists with photographs and their contribution in the field of their specialization.
This book is written in simple English , easy to understand by the non English speaking
students. Each chapter gives basic information on the topic and deals with the basic concepts
in such a way that without much efforts the students can grasp it. Each chapter includes
enough information on the subject and covers all the necessary details required to
understand the topic. If the students read it carefully, they will be able to grasp all the
essentials of Genetics. The e book is available on www.bookganga.com
2

3. CHAPTER 1 : MENDEL’S LAWS OF
INHERITANCE
• This chapter deals with Mendel’s Laws of Inheritance in
depth. The important terms used in inheritance studies
are introduced. Mendel's approach to character
inheritance , bracket method of gamete formation for
monohybrid, dihybrid and trihybrid crosses is
elaborated. Concept of Punnett Square for
monohybrid, dihybrid, and trihybrid is discussed. The
laws of segregation and independent assortment are
explained with suitable examples. Test cross and it’s
significance in plant breeding is smphasized.
Modification of monohybrid ratio due to incomplete
dominance, co dominance and lethal genes is
explained with suitable figures.
3

4. CHAPTER 2: CHROMOSOMES AND
CELL DIVISION
• This chapter contains information on
chromosomes and cell division. The structure of
nucleus and chromosomes is dealt with suitable
figures. The chromosome morphology with
packing of DNA in it is explained. Special
chromosomes like Salivary Gland
chromosomes, Lamp Brush chromosomes and
supernumerary chromosomes are represented
by suitable figures and their role is explained.
The importance of mitosis and meiosis is
explained along with appropriate figures and
their significance in inheritance is listed.
4

5. CHAPTER 3: SEX DETERMINATION
SYSTEMS
• History of Sex determination is discussed in this
chapter along with all the sex determination systems in
the plant and animal kingdom such as :
• XX- XY: Mostly found in insects, Human , and in some
angiosperms.
• XX-XO: grasshoppers, cockroaches. Nematodes.
• ZZ-ZW : birds, fish, reptiles.
• Haplodiploidy: Honey bees, Wasps, and Ants.
• Non genetic: Effect of temperature and social behavior
on sex expression in fish, reptiles, turtles and alligator.
• Sex determination in angiosperms.
5

6. CHAPTER 4 : POLYPLOIDY (A)
• Polyploidy in plants and animals is discussed in
this chapter. The major aspects covered are :
• CLASSIFICATION OF AUTOPOLYPLOIDS.
• CHARACTERISTICS OF AUTOPOLYPLOIDS (Plants).
• ORIGIN OF AUTOPOLYPLOIDS IN PLANTS.
• Origin of Allopolyploids.
• ORIGIN OF HEXAPLOID WHEAT.
• PRODUCTION OF ARTIFICIAL SPECIES OF
RAPHANOBRASSICA. Contd (B )
6

7. CHAPTER 4 : POLYPLOIDY (B)
• PRODUCTION OF SYNTHETIC WHEAT RYE
HYBRID: TRITICALE.
• ORIGIN OF ALLOTETRAPLOID TOBACCO.
• ALLOPOLYPLOIDY IN BRASSICA.
• ALLOPOLYPLOIDY IN COTTON.
• Allopolyploidy in animals.
• ANEUPLOIDY.
• IMPORTANCE OF ANEUPLOIDY AND ALLOPLOIDY.
7

8. CHAPTER 5 : MUTATIONS (A)
• All the important aspects of physical and
chemical mutations are covered. The
important points covered are:
• History of mutagenesis.
• PHYSICAL MUTAGENS.
• CHEMICAL MUTAGENS.
• BIOLOGICAL AGENTS.
• GENETIC EFFECTS OF RADITIONS. contd (B).
8

9. CHAPTER 5 : MUTATIONS (B)
• UV RADIATION.
• CHEMICAL MUTAGENS : BASE SUBSTITUTION ,
ALKYLATION , TAUTOMERISM, DEAMINATION,
APURINIC GAP, INTERCALATION, BASE
ANALOGUES , List of Chemical Mutagens.
• TYPES OF MUTATIONS: POINT MUTATIONS OR
FORWARD MUTATIONS , FRAME SHIFT
MUTATIONS, MIS SENSE MUTATIONS. Contd (C)
9

10. CHAPTER 5 : MUTATION (C )
• NONSENSE MUTATIONS.
• Silent mutations.
• CHROMOSOMAL MUTATIONS.
• EFFECTS OF MUTATONS.
• MUTATION FREQUENCY.
• DNA REPAIR SYSTEMS : Photo reactivation
Repair, Recombinational repair, Base excision
repair, Mismatch Repair, Adaptive or inducible
repair, SOS or inducible error prone repair.
Contd (D)
10

11. Chapter : 5 MUTATIONS (D )
• MUTAGENECITY TESTS IN
Drosophilamelanogaster : About Fruit fly ,
ATTACHED X TECHNIQUE FOR SCORING SEX
LINKED VISIBLE MUTATIONS, MULLER 5
TECHNIQUE .
• MUTATION INDUCTION IN CROP PLANTS
:MUTAGENIC TREATMENT, STEPS FOR ISOLAION
OF MUTANTS .
• SIGNIFICANCE OF MUTATIONS, APPLICATION OF
MUTATIONS, MUTATIONS AND CROP
IMPROVEMENT.
11

12. CHAPTER 6 : GENE INTERACTIONS
• The history of gene interaction is elaborated in this chapter. The allelic
and non allelic interactions are described. The following types of gene
interactions in plants and animals are discussed with figures :
• COMPLEMENTARY GENE INTERACTION.
• SUPPLEMENTARY OR RECESSIVE GENE INTERACTION.
• DOMINANT EPISTASIS.
• DUPLICATE FACTOR.
• INHIBITARY FACTOR.
• POLYMERIC OR ADDITIVE GENE INTERACTION.
• PARTIAL DOMINANCE AT INHIBITORY LOCUS.
• INCOMPLETE DOMINANCE AT TWO ADDITIVE LOCI.
• DOMINANT MODIFICATION OF DUPLICATE GENES.
12

13. CHAPTER 7 : LINKAGE AND
CHROMOSOME MAPPING
• History of linkage and chromosome
mapping.
• COUPLING AND REPULSION PHASE.
• COUPLING OR CIS ARRANGEMENT.
• REPULION OR TRANS ARRANGEMENT.
• THREE POINT TEST CROSS.
• INTERFERENCE AND COINCIDENCE.
13

14. CHAPTER 8 : CYTOPLASMIC
INHERITANCE
• Cytoplasmic Inheritance in Mirabelis jalapa
• PIGMENTATION IN FLOUR MOTH (Ephestia
kuhniella).
• COILING OF SHELL IN SNAIL (Limnaea peregra).
• CYTOPLASMIC INHERITANCE IN MICE.
• CYTOPLASMIC MALE STERILITY.
• EXTRA CHROMOSOMAL PARTICLES :
KAPPA PARTICLES IN PARAMECIUM.
SIGMA PARTICLES IN DROSOPHILA.
14

15. Chapter 9 : DNA STRUCTURE AND
FUNCTION
• TRANSFORMATION EXPERIMENTS OF GRIFFITH .
• Experiment of Avery, MacLeod and McCarty in 1944.
• Waring Blender Experiment of Hershey and Chase, 1952.
• WATSON CRICK PROPOSED DNA STRUCTURE, 1953.
• STRUCTURE OF DNA.
• DNA REPLICATION.
• GENETIC CODE (THE LANGUAGE OF LIFE).
• PROPERTIES OF GENETIC CODE.
• CENTRAL DOGMA : DNA RNA Protein.
• MESSENGER RNA (mRNA) , RIBOSOMAL RNA (r RNA),
TRANSFER RNA (tRNA).
• PROTEIN SYNTHESIS.
15

16. CHAPTER 10 :GENE STRUCTURE AND
FUNCTION
• Historical aspects of gene structure and
function.
• Gene splicing in eukaryotes .
• TYPES OF OPERONS.
• REGULATION OF LAC OPERON IN E.COLI.
• TRYPTOPHAN OPERON.
• GENE CONTROL IN EUKARYOTS.
• TRANSLATIONAL CONTROL (PROTEIN SPLICING).
16