Numbers and Genes: How Math is Changing Our Understanding of DNA

People often think of genetics as just about DNA, but math plays a huge role too. Over the last few decades, new math ideas have helped scientists understand our genes better. These advances are not just cool; they are changing how we study genes, evolution, and even crime scenes.

Unraveling Family Trees

One big area is figuring out family trees using DNA. In the 1980s, scientists started using math to trace how genes move through generations. This idea, called coalescent theory, has exploded in the last ten years. Now, it's used in all kinds of studies, from how populations change to how diseases spread.

Genome-Wide Association Studies

Another big win is in genome-wide association studies. These studies look at lots of genes to find links to diseases or traits. Over 20 years, math has helped make these studies better. New methods even use coalescent theory to find gene links more accurately. Scientists are also getting better at predicting traits using genes.

Solving Big Debates

Math has also helped solve big debates. In the 1990s, DNA profiling became a tool in crime scenes. But there was a lot of confusion about how to use it. Math helped clear things up, especially for the most common types of DNA evidence. However, there are still problems with other types of DNA, like the ones passed down only from moms or dads.

The Power and Limits of Math

These math tools are powerful, but they are not perfect. Scientists still have work to do, especially with tricky DNA types. Still, the progress so far is impressive. Math is not just about numbers; it's helping us understand life itself.