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Human Genetics
For the study of inheritance in any species geneticists prefer (1) to have isogenic strains, standard stocks whose members are genetically identical, (2) to mate members of different isogenic strains or inbred lines and (3) to raise the offspring under carefully controlled conditions. Judged by these criteria, man is not a very favourable subject for studies of inheritance, because (i) members of the human race are genetically diverse, viz., they are heterozygous for many genes and there are wide variations in their physical, biological and social environments; (ii) in him controlled matings under standardized environment are impossible and non-ethical: (iii) he has small individual progenies, so unfavourable to the use of certain standard research techniques of the genetics, and (iv) he has long time between successive generations. Despite these difficulties, a great deal has been learned about human inheritance and the field is progressing rapidly.