title: An epitaph for the gene. An obituary for genetics. An adieu for heredity.
abstract: Modern medicine has been researching on cancer cell, cancer, hypertension, heart attack and so on without once defining any of these clearly. It swears by these terms much like mankind swears by sunset and sunrise, which are just not there. It is possible that the pet hobbyhorses of modern times, namely, gene, genetics, and heredity may belong to the above mythical group-entities that are logically absent, but whose illogic is strong enough to sustain research and publication world over. Gene, genetics and heredity have outlived their utility and must be replaced in near future by new concepts and terms.
authors.affiliation: Anatomy Department, Seth G.S. Medical College, Mumbai.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Kothari
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Mehta
mesh_terms: D005826:Genetics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D009626:Terminology as Topic