Includes bibliographical references and index.

I Identification of genetic material: History of the problem -- Cellular division and chromosomes -- Reproductive cycles -- Nucleic acids -- Replication and synthesis of nucleic acids -- II Transmission and distribution of genetic material: Mendelian principles: I. Segregation -- Mendelian principles II. Independent assortment -- Probability and statistical testing -- Dominance relations and multiple alleles in diploid organisms -- Environmental effects and gene expression -- Gene interaction and lethality -- Sex determination and sex linkage in diploids -- Maternal effects and cytoplasmic heredity -- Quantitative inheritance -- Analysis of quantitative characters -- III Arrangement of genetic material: Linkage and recombination -- Gene mapping in diploids -- Recombination in fungi -- Recombination in bacteria -- Recombination in viruses -- IV Change and structure of genetic material: Chromosome variation in number -- Changes in chromosome structure -- Gene mutation -- Induced genetic changes and DNA repair mechanisms -- Genetic fine structure -- V Function of genetic material: Genetic control of proteins -- Information transfer and protein synthesis -- Nature of the genetic code -- Gene regulation -- Gene manipulation -- Differentiation and pattern -- VI Course of genetic material in populations: Gene frequencies and equilibrium -- Changes in gene frequencies -- Inbreeding and heterosis -- Genetic structure of populations -- Speciation and evolution -- Prospects for the control of human evolution.