Who knows how many times you have heard about genetics.
And who knows how many know what it is or are really familiar with its meaning and the terms Genotype and Phenotype
The true fact is that only very few people have the curiosity or opportunity to inform themselves and delve into this subject, which is the basis of the knowledge of how each living being, generated from other living beings, takes on different characteristics depending on so many variables, some of them intuitable, but in fact dependent on so many factors not visible except through scientific study.
And it is on this lack of knowledge and scientific insight that the fake news of those who criticize protected intensive farming is based.
Indeed, the principles of genetics can be applied to humankind as well as to any other living thing (plants, animals, insects, …), and their study is the basis for observations that help select which animals to breed by allowing their natural reproduction. What happens in the poultry industry we have already described here:
https://moreaboutchicken.com/genetics-is-misunderstood/
As for humans, this knowledge proves important not only for the study of the transmission of the most common traits, but also for that of various diseases.
The beginning of a systematic study of this discipline is attributed to Gregor Mendel, called the father of genetics. He was an Augustinian monk from the monastery in Brno, Moravia, born in Heinzerdorf in 1822 to farming parents.
We do not intend to write a scientific treatise here, but rather to offer an essential explanation so that anyone can understand what the terms Phenotype and Genotype refer to.
Why do we do this in this blog? Because, in dealing with countering accusations against professional poultry breeders, we often encounter statements that would like to attribute to farms the role of “genetic manipulators.” These accusations are unfounded and certainly stem from the ignorance of those who spread them or, worse, those who choose to instrumentally alter meanings of terms that lend themselves to evoking suggestive perceptions.
The term genotype comes from the German Genotypus, which in turn is derived from the union of “Gen” (gene) with the Greek word “τύπος” or type. It refers to the set of all genes that make up the DNA (genetic makeup or genetic identity or genetic constitution) of an organism or population.
The set of genes in an individual is called the genotype, which is everything found in the chromosomes. Genes are not visible to the naked eye without suitable instruments
Instead, the set of characters of an individual is called phenotype, which is everything we can observe about an individual, such as height, eye color, hair color, features …
For those who would like to learn more about the transmission of genes that determine phenotypes we facilitate an italian link:
