Summary Life Sciences: Genetics (DNA, RNA)

This study guide gives a clear overview of Genetics for Grade 12 Life Sciences, focusing on advanced topics that build on Grade 11 work. Inside, you’ll find: • Revision of Grade 11 basics: DNA, genes, chromosomes, alleles. • Meiosis and variation – crossing over, independent assortment, and how they increase genetic diversity. • Mendelian genetics – monohybrid, dihybrid crosses, laws of segregation and independent assortment. • Non-Mendelian inheritance: • Incomplete dominance • Codominance • Multiple alleles (e.g. ABO blood groups) • Sex-linked inheritance (e.g. haemophilia, colour blindness). • Pedigree diagrams – interpreting family trees to track inheritance. • DNA structure, replication, transcription, and translation – how genetic information is stored and expressed. • Mutations – gene and chromosomal mutations, their effects and importance. • Genetic engineering and biotechnology – cloning, GMOs, PCR, DNA profiling. The notes are written to be exam-focused, easy to revise, and compare processes, helping you prepare for both theory and problem-solving questions.