Glossary
Gene: The basic unit of genetic materialGenetic: Inherited; having to do with information that is passed from parents to offspring through genes in sperm and egg cell
Genome: The sum total of all the genes present in an organism
Heredity: Genetic transmission of traits from parent to offspring
Hereditary mutation: Also known as germline mutation, it is an alteration in the genes in the reproductive cells (egg or sperm) of the parents that becomes incorporated in the genome of the offspring, thereby passing the mutation from parents to offspring
Immunosuppressants: Drugs that inhibit the function of the immune system
Melanoma: Cancer of the cells that produce pigment in the skin, which usually begins as a mole
Mutation: Any change in the DNA of a cell that may be caused by mistakes during cell division or exposure to DNA-damaging agents in the environment. Mutations can be harmful, beneficial, or have no effect
Pharmacology: Study of drugs and their effects
