Genetics And Genomics – A Sneak Peek Into Expanded Career Scope

Genetics and genomics stands as two strong pillars that drive the study of inheritance between generations as well as at evolutionary scale. While genetics is the study of genes, the hereditary factor, genomics is the landscape level study of the complete genes, i.e., genome at organism level. 

Career Scope In Genetics:

A pathway to a career in genetics is preceded by a degree in genetics, molecular biology, medical genetics (B.Sc., M.Sc.) or genetic engineering (B.E or B.Tech) or other related degrees in life sciences.

The scope of these degrees can vary based on the perspectives emphasized on the broad scope like human genetics, agricultural genetics, etc. The career scope can be streamed into academia-based, industry-based or translational (service-based) aspects. 

PhD in genetics opens a wide range of career options in both academia and industry, including teaching (lectureship), pursuing one’s own research quest in genetics, clinical labs, or in the R & D sector in industrial laboratories. 

Key to securing a technical job lies in experience and expertise in particular methodology or technique like NGS (Next Gen Sequencing), Flow cytometry, etc. 

Career Scope In Genomics:

With improvisations in sequencing technologies and bio-computational analysis, the scope of the interdisciplinary field of genomics has bloomed in many aspects. Genome-scale studies in cases of cancer, rare genetic disorders, microbiome analysis, evolutionary analysis, pharmacogenomics, etc., are the core areas of genome analysis. Specializing in bioinformatics or genomics aids in settling into genomics-based careers, which require strong computational analysis skills as well. 

A strong knowledge in molecular biology and computational analysis skills can aid in securing the job of data analyst in genomics, where sequenced data are employed to mine for predispositions or pharmacogenetic screening for personalized medicine.

Genomics provides an interdisciplinary career scope involving both molecular biology as well as bioinformatics knowledge, to become a data scientist in genomics. 

Genetic counseling and genetic diagnostic testing are two service based career options after majoring in human genetics. The role of genetic counselors is to aid clinicians parallelly in assessing clients’ genetic conditions and help clients make informed decisions about their genetic conditions and further proceedings based on their family history and screening results. 

Genetic testing is routinely employed, majorly in prenatal and preimplantation screening for any genetic abnormalities via cytogenetic screening, molecular screening for various assessments like career screening, prenatal screening, newborn screening, pharmacogenomic screening, nutrigenomics and many more. The scope of genetic diagnostic screening can lead to careers as clinical geneticists and clinical laboratory geneticists.

Career as a Forensic geneticist is a unique option after specializing in genetics, where the scope is to provide molecular analysis that assists in law enforcement investigations by providing data in terms of geographic ancestry, genetic genealogy and allegations. 

Apart from the regular aforementioned some of the common life science based 

 career options include science communication, intellectual property rights (IPR), etc.

A road to a successful career requires knowing the field of their interest and being updated regarding the same. Be open towards opportunities, get exposure by attending conferences, training and internships to learn multidimensional applications of various techniques and practical troubleshooting. Know the resources, timelines and key institutes pioneering in the research of your interest. 

Best wishes to finding your niche in genetics and genomics and journeying towards your career!

~ By Subhiksha

(Genomeden Writing Internship Participant

MSc. Human Genetics and Molecular Biology,

Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore.)