What is the difference between (human) genetics and genomics?
Genetics is the study of inheritance, or the way traits are passed down from one generation to another. Genes carry the instructions for making proteins, which in turn direct the activities of cells and functions of the body that influence traits such as hair and eye color. Genomics is a newer term that describes the study of all the genes in a person, as well as interactions of those genes with each other and with that person’s environment. From a public health perspective, it is hoped that genomics will enhance our understanding of health and disease. Source: CDC, Office of Genomics and Disease Prevention.
