This chapter goes over the basics of molecular and Mendelian genetics, focusing on their contribution to the understanding of biological evolution. Students often have acquired a simplistic view of the relationship between genes and phenotypic traits, and such a view can make it hard to appreciate the complexities of the processes of evolution, which are, after all, processes of genetic change. Moreover, the laws of inheritance are often presented in a rather disconnected way—interesting ideas about pea plants and the taster trait, and maybe some genetic disease—but with little seeming relevance to broader ideas. Here, I try to link both levels of genetics to evolution in general, and to topics that will be covered throughout the rest of the book. I have added a “Contemporary Issues” feature on the contentious issue of genetic cloning, and a new section summarizing some new information on the human genome.
