Genetics

Genetics is the study of genes, heredity, and variation in living organism. It is generally considered a field of biology, but it intersects frequently with many of the life sciences and is strongly linked with the study of information systems.

The father of genetics is Gregor Mendel (1822-1884), an Austrian monk-scientist. Mendel studied 'trait inheritance,' patterns in the way traits were handed down from parents to offspring. He observed that organisms (pea plants) inherit traits by way of discrete "units of inheritance". This term, still used today, is a somewhat ambiguous definition of what is referred to today as a gene.

As of the 21st century, trait inheritance and molecular inheritance mechanisms of genes are still a primary principle of genetics, but modern genetics has expanded beyond inheritance to studying the function and behavior of genes. Gene structure & function, variation, and distribution is studied within the context of the cell, the organism (e.g. dominance) and within the context of a population. Genetics has given rise to a number of subfields including epigenetics and population genetics. Organisms studied within the field span the domain of life, including bacteria, plants, animals, and humans.

Genetic processes work in combination with an organism's environment and experiences to influence development and behavior. The intra- or extra-cellular environment of a cell or organism may switch gene transcription on or off. A classic example is 2 seeds of genetically identical corn, one placed in a temperate climate and one in an arid climate. While the average height of the 2 corn stalks may be genetically determined to be equal, the one in the arid climate only grows to half the height as the one in the temperate climate, do to lack of irrigation and nutrients in its environment.

Cloning means make an identical copy of.
 http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/cloning/whatiscloning/