Cytogenetics is a branch of biology concerned with cell structure, particularly chromosomal activity and its relationship to genetics. If you were to pursue a career as a clinical cytogeneticist, you would apply cutting-edge clinical technology to chromosomal studies in clinical medicine. You should be familiar with microscopes and other equipment used to analyze cells, as well as have a thorough understanding of the techniques used to study them, due to the technological advances required to establish and advance this field. If you enjoy laboratory work, science, and want to contribute to the advancement of genetics, this field may be a good fit for you.
If cytogenetics is broken down into parts, it may be easier to comprehend. The first element, cyto, denotes a cell. The study of hereditary materials is genetics. As a result, cytogenetics essentially translates to “cell genetics.” To become a clinical cytogeneticist, you’ll need a lot of knowledge and a lot of skills, both in terms of the clinical side of things and the scientific foundations of the field.
An undergraduate degree in the field or a related field is the best way to gain the necessary foundational knowledge. Cell biology, genetics, and molecular biology are just a few examples of study programs. The acquisition of foundational knowledge is aided these degrees. Most programs include cellular biology as well as a strong foundation in chemistry, physics, and other sciences.
There are several steps you can take to become a clinical cytogeneticist after you have completed your education. There are various levels of involvement in the field that one can pursue, as well as different professional definitions of clinical cytogeneticist from country to country. In the United Kingdom, for example, becoming a clinical cytogeneticist requires completion of a specific training program. The STP, or scientist training program, is the name given to this training program. In the United States, however, a postdoctoral degree is usually required to work as a clinical cytogeneticist.
If you do not want to go to medical school followed specialized postdoctoral training, there are other ways to get involved and employed in the field. You can choose to participate as a technician. A tech is in charge of performing routine procedures but is unlikely to be involved in data analysis.
Clinical cytogeneticists’ responsibilities generally fall into three categories when it comes to the work they do. The first step is to look for genetic information about congenital abnormalities, learning disabilities, reproduction issues, or anything out of the ordinary in the blood. Second, the majority of researchers in this field are interested in chromosome prenatal diagnosis, which is accomplished through the analysis of prenatal fluid samples. The third task also involves sampling, but this time the samples come from the bone marrow or blood.