Difference Between Classical and Modern Genetics

The key difference between Classical and Modern Genetics is that the classical genetics is the Mendelian genetics or the older concept of genetics, which solely expressed based on the phenotypes resulted from breeding experiments while the modern genetics is the new concept of genetics, which allows the direct investigation of genotypes together with phenotypes.

The great Scientist Gregor Mendel is the father of Genetics. Mendel introduced several laws regarding the inheritance of traits and how the traits pass from parent to offspring. Thus, his findings became the basis of the all-new concept discovered later in genetics. Therefore, classical genetics and modern genetics are two distinct concepts. However classical genetics is the basis of modern genetics.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Classical Genetics
3. What is Modern Genetics
4. Similarities Between Classical and Modern Genetics
5. Side by Side Comparison – Classical vs Modern Genetics in Tabular Form
6. Summary

What is Classical Genetics?

Classical genetics describes the outcomes of Gregor Mendel’s’ breeding experiments. It is also known as Mendelian genetics. Therefore, it is the oldest discipline of genetics.

Moreover, classical genetics considered only the visible results of the breeding experiments. It did not analyze the molecules which are responsible for inheritance. Hence, classical genetics suggested that heredity is particulate and the inheritance patterns of many traits can be explained through simple rules and ratios.

What is Modern Genetics?

Modern genetics is the expanded concepts of Mendelian genetics. It includes genotype analysis, where it looks at the genetic concepts beyond the inheritance. Moreover, it studies the function and behavior of nucleic acids and genes.

However, both trait inheritance and molecular inheritance are considered in modern genetics since classical genetics provides the basis for modern genetics. Modern genetics is able to describe gene linkages and polygenic traits as well as it has a clear understanding of the patterns observed by Mendels during his experiments.

What are the Similarities Between Classical and Modern Genetics?

• Classical and Modern Genetics are two branches of genetics.
• Both concepts look at the heredity.
• Classical genetics provides the basis for modern genetics.

What is the Difference Between Classical and Modern Genetics?

Classical and Modern Genetics are the oldest and newest disciplines of genetics respectively. Classical genetics just looked at the visible phenotypes to describe inheritance. But modern genetics looks at both phenotypes and genotypes and describes the patterns of inheritance with a clear understanding. The following infographic gives the detailed difference between classical and modern genetics in tabular form.

Summary – Classical vs Modern Genetics

Classical and modern genetics are two branches of genetics. Classical genetics devoids with molecular analysis of genes and nucleic acids. Modern genetics includes genotype analysis. Furthermore, it describes inheritance patterns using molecular data. However, classical genetics is the basis of modern genetics. This is the difference between classical and modern genetics.

Reference:

1.“Classical Genetics.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 27 July 2018. Available here  
2.“Genetics.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 31 July 2018. Available here 

Image Courtesy:

1.”Punnett square mendel flowers”By Madprime – Own work, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia  
2.”1020670″ by Tumisu (CC0) via pixabay