What field of genetics deals with genetic variation and its relationship to the environment?

• A. Qualitative genetics
• B. Transmission genetics
• C. Population genetics
• D. Molecular genetics

Answer: (C)

The field of genetics that focuses on genetic variation and its relationship to the environment is population genetics. This branch of genetics studies how gene frequencies and genetic variation change within populations over time, particularly in response to environmental factors, natural selection, genetic drift, mutation, and gene flow. Population genetics aims to understand the distribution of genetic traits across populations and how these traits interact with environmental pressures, leading to evolutionary changes.

In contrast, qualitative genetics primarily deals with the inheritance of traits that are influenced by multiple genes and can be observed phenotypically, but it does not emphasize the ecological or environmental components. Transmission genetics focuses on how genes are passed from one generation to the next, often through Mendelian inheritance patterns, without paying specific attention to variations in response to the environment. Molecular genetics zeroes in on the molecular mechanisms behind genetic processes, such as DNA replication and gene expression, rather than on variations in populations or the interaction of genetics with environmental factors. Thus, population genetics is distinctly concerned with the interplay between genetic diversity and environmental influences.