Pharmacogenetics and pharmacogenomics are two very new terms in the realm of health care, which overall refer to an area of research examining how genes affect the response to medications Genetic conditions are conditions caused by a single gene mutation, such as sickle cell disease, whereas chromosomal conditions are caused by an incorrect number or structure of chromosomes, such as Down syndrome

Genetics refers to the study of heredity, focused on patterns of inheritance of specific characteristics or traits, including variations of a trait within a population Genomics is the study of genes and how they interact with each other and the environment

gene — basic functional unit of heredity found in the nucleus of every cell; composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences located in an individual’s chromosomes. genetics — study of heredity focused on patterns of inheritance of specific characteristics or traits, including variations of a trait within a population. pharmacogenetics — study of the variability of therapeutic responses to medications, as influenced by variations in single genes. chromosome — structure made of protein and a single molecule of DNA that carries genetic information in the form of genes.