Genetics!

Overview-

In this article, we will be exploring the field of genetics. Starting from understanding the basics about it and then learning about careers, skills, personality traits. This article will help you understand if genetics is the right career field for you. To know more about the field you can also view the interview with professionals in the field of genetics.

---

Genetics is the study of genes in our body. We all know that our body's made of genes. In genetics, the professionals study such genes from plants, animals, and humans. Most of the careers in genetics are in research. That means that they spend most of their time in laboratories researching various topics. To break this down into steps, they first choose a topic to research, for example, the role of genetics in cancerous diseases. They then explore the field by understanding the concept, conducting experiments which then help them collect data. After collecting data they need to interpret the results for us to understand. As mentioned in the interview with Mrs. Munira Ghaslet, you do research on topics such as muscular dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disorder where there is weakness and loss of muscle mass. Other topics that they do research on are gene mutation, human genetics, etc.

In the field of genetics, there are many different career choices. Below is the list of career choices and a basic understanding of it:

Geneticist: Geneticists work in laboratories where they conduct experiments, review and analyze data, research the effect of drugs, hormones, and other various topics on our genes, create research papers, review other geneticist research papers, and present their research to various people in different fields that the research connects to. There are two pathways that the geneticist can choose either a medical degree or a Doctor in Philosophy. Though there are some cases where you can have a master’s degree. If you do a Ph.D. you will be doing research work in the lab whereas an M.D or D.O will be required to treat patients and develop projects. Do note that before a Ph.D. and M.D or D.O you will be doing your bachelors in life science, genetics, biology, and any such related field.

Genetic Counselor: Genetic Counselor helps people and families understand their genetic disorders and hereditary conditions by evaluating test results and personally communicating them to the patient. To become a genetic counselor you need to complete your school years. You will then apply to different colleges and universities to obtain a bachelor’s in life science, medicine, sociology, or any biology-related field. After completing your bachelor’s you will either do your Masters or Ph.D. in human genetics. Do note that it is very important to have research experience. In India, there is a minimum requirement of 3 years in a genetics or genetics lab. Furthermore, to be a genetic counselor in India you need to give an exam which is the Board of Genetic Counseling. Please note that every country has an exam to be able to be a genetic counselor.

Genetic Professors: A Genetic Professor is a person who teaches about genetics. To be a genetic professor you need to have a Masters’s or Ph.D. in genetics. This career is great for people who love teaching and are in the career of genetics.

After understanding what are the career opportunities. We should understand whether you have the right personality traits and skills for genetics through the poster below:

Problem Solving Skills: You should be able to use problem-solving skills to break down the problem and to come up with reasonable solutions. This will be used in your research

Analytical Skills: Analytical Skills means that you should be able to break down to highlight important notes and points of the information. You will be using analytical skills to analyze and evaluate the data received or produced from an experiment.

Critical Thinking: In critical thinking skills you should be able to include reasoning and explanation for your hypothesis, analysis, and data.

Communication Skills: For being a genetic counselor you should have very good communication skills to be able to explain to the patient the results and your interpretation in simple words. It is also important that you have communication skills to be a geneticist.

Collaboration skills: In any field, it is very important to have collaboration skills. This should include being able to work with fellow researchers and to be able to collaborate with the patient.

FAQ

What do you need a bachelor’s in for a career in genetics?

You can get a bachelor’s in life sciences, a bachelor’s in biochemistry, a Bachelor’s in genetics, bachelors in biology. This will be after you graduate from the 12th Standards. Only a few colleges conduct an entrance exam for bachelors in life science, biology, biochemistry, and genetics. Getting a bachelor in the above topics would generally take you about 3-4 years.

What does doing a master’s in genetics include?

Your masters will typically last 2 to 3 years. The curriculum of masters in genetics includes clinical and molecular genetics, medical genetics, counseling techniques, psychosocial theory, and cytogenetics.

Is getting a Ph.D. compulsory for genetics?

Getting a Ph.D. is optional as it depends on whether you would want to do further research and studies in such an area. Though a Ph.D. will normally be recommended. A Ph.D. can take from 2-5 years. After completion of a Ph.D., you can take jobs in Educational Institutions, clinical laboratories, health care centers, and various projects related to genetics.