Definition
Genetics is the study of genes and how they are inherited.
Use in clinical context
The terms genetics and genomics are often used interchangeably. Genetics is the study of the genes, whereas genomics is the study of all the DNA needed to build an organism, including the genes. A patient may have a genomic test, but if a causal variant is found in a single gene it could equally be termed a genetic result. For some conditions such as Huntington disease, in which a limited number of genes are involved, a genetic test remains the most appropriate option.
Related terms
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) | Gene | Genetic/genomic variation | Genomics | Next-generation sequencing | Sequencing | Variant | Whole genome sequencing
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