Genetic research, DNA, genes and genomes, genetics in agriculture and medicine, in education and psychology - these terms are ubiquitous not only in the scientific community but also in the cultural sections of newspapers, on the radio, television, and in public debates of the 21st century. However, it is not widely known or understood that genetics is a relatively young science that only took shape in the early part of the last century. The central concept of the gene has constantly acquired new and different meanings over the decades, often accompanied by various ambiguities and inaccuracies, even absurdities, especially when considering the misguided paths of eugenics and the discussions surrounding the heritability of intelligence. Genetic engineering has sparked numerous debates worldwide, which continue to this day; new battles are being fought over genes in food.