Which process is essential for understanding genetic diseases?

DNA sequencing is a fundamental process for understanding genetic diseases because it allows scientists and medical professionals to determine the precise order of nucleotides in a segment of DNA. By analyzing this sequence, researchers can identify mutations or variations in genes that may cause or contribute to genetic disorders.

Understanding the genetic basis of diseases often requires pinpointing specific anomalies in the DNA that can result in dysfunctional proteins or disrupted biological processes. DNA sequencing enables the identification of these mutations, which can lead to insights into the mechanisms of disease, potential therapeutic targets, and the development of personalized medicine approaches. Moreover, sequencing technologies have advanced significantly, allowing for whole genome sequencing and better capabilities to handle complex genetic data, making them indispensable tools in genetics and genomics.

The other processes, while important in different biological contexts, do not directly provide the essential information necessary to comprehend the genetic underpinnings of diseases. Cellular respiration focuses on energy production within cells, protein synthesis deals with the process of translating genetic information into functional proteins, and cloning pertains to creating identical copies of organisms or biological material but does not inherently analyze or understand genetic disease mechanisms.