Because genetics is such a broad field, there are many different types of genetics jobs. Depending on the aspect of genetics that someone is interested in and their qualifications, a variety of jobs in the field of genetics are available. Many people who work in this field have medical degrees or doctorates in science, but some jobs are open to people who have completed shorter programs of study, such as lab technician programs at technical schools.
Medical genetics is a branch of genetics that applies genetic knowledge to medical problems. A genetic counselor is an example of a job in this field. Genetic counselors work with individuals to conduct genetic testing, explain test results, and discuss the implications of those results. Someone who believes she carries the Huntington’s Disease gene, for example, might ask for a genetic test to see if the gene is present and speak with a genetic counselor about treatment options. A genetic counselor, on the other hand, might work with people who are having fertility issues to see if their problems have a genetic component.
Medical genetics can also include jobs in the pharmaceutical industry, such as developing gene therapy products and conducting genetic research to improve the practice of medicine. Laboratory technicians who can conduct genetic tests and analyze results, such as cytogenetic technologists who analyze chromosomes, are also needed in medical genetics. The agriculture industry, which uses geneticists to develop new crops and improve crop performance, also has a lot of genetics jobs available, including positions for people who provide breeding advice.
People who are more interested in pure science can look into genetics jobs in research, which include jobs involving the sequencing of an organism’s entire genome, manipulating genetic material, genetic engineering, and studying genetic inheritance. People with a strong background in math may be interested in genetics jobs in bioinformatics and statistical analysis, which allow them to work with data generated researchers and interpret it to produce meaningful results.
Fans of crime shows on television may be interested in forensic genetics jobs. Paternity tests, identifying unknown crime victims, and analyzing biological evidence found at a crime scene are all tasks that DNA forensics is used for. Working in a genetic lab can be extremely rewarding, especially for those who choose to specialize in working with difficult samples, extracting DNA when other labs are unable to, and as a result, getting to work with rare, unusual, and interesting samples.