Skip navigation

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/9346.htm

Genetics

Genetics

Overview

Genetics is the study of heredity and how traits are passed along from parents to offspring. Genes are contained within the chromosomes found in the egg and sperm. Each parent contributes one half of each pair (23 chromosomes -- 22 autosomal and 1 sex chromosome) to their child.

Review Date 3/31/2024

Updated by: Anna C. Edens Hurst, MD, MS, Associate Professor in Medical Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.