User:Suhail Ahmed Larik/sandbox

Career in Genetics How would it feel if people are flying here and there, and the need of transport for traveling would seize?

This is all possible. If the genes responsible for wings could be placed and activated in humans through Genetic Engineering, the dream of actually being free as a bird would come into reality!

Genetics is the study of DNA, the code of life. This deals with the study of genes, which are placed on chromosomes. The combination of these genes, their switching on an off can create tremendous changes on this planet.

In the coming years, a lot would be done in this field. Better breeds of human, animals and plants could be genetically engineered. Worst diseases could be cured by the knowledge of genetics!

So, let us have an on overview of the scope of this ‘future hottest career' in Pakistan.

Those who would like to make their career in Genetics should have the basic educational background in medical sciences. Unfortunately there is just one university in Pakistan, University of Karachi, which offers the Masters degree in genetics. The requirement for admission in Genetics is graduation in medical sciences and if it is with majors in microbiology then it would be helpful for the candidate.

The following are the areas, where graduates of genetics could pursue their career:

RESEARCH: A lot of research work is being done in this field and a number of Geneticists get employed in the research-based organizations on key research positions, some of which are as follows.

1. Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission

2. National Institute of Agriculture and Biology

3. National Institute of Biology and Genetic Engineering

4. Aga khan University

5. Defence Science and Technology Laboratories

6. Ziauddin Medical University

7. Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research

8. H.E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry

9. Central Cotton Committee

10. Pakistan Agricultural Research Council

11. Poultry Research Institute.

POULTRY INDUSTRY: The Poultry industry in Karachi has largely banked on the Department of Genetics since 1970 for human resources. More than 100 geneticists have been absorbed on the lucrative managerial and technical positions in the poultry industry. Like here, in other areas too, there is great potential for the Geneticists.

PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY: Jobs in the Pharmaceutical Industry both in the marketing and production has scope for the Geneticists. Training of the quality research methodology and communication skills in the curriculum helps genetics' graduates to play key role in pharmaceutical production and marketing field.

A graduate once reported that he seldom had to wait to see a medical practitioner because his visiting care says “M.Sc (Genetic)” Genetics has not yet become part of the M.B.B.S. curriculum. A medical practitioner is eager to know about genetics even through a pharmaceutical marketing person, should he be the genetics graduate.

BANKS AND MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS: Banks like Agricultural Development Bank of Pakistan, multinational seeds or pesticide companies like Engro, ICI, Pioneer, and Hoechst etc. also have excellent opportunities for genetics graduates. National food and tobacco companies may also offer career jobs for them.

CLINICAL SERVICES: Genetics graduates also show caliber for the pathological and diagnostic laboratories. These people have knowledge of some advanced and cutting edge technologies that are used for diagnostic purposes.

Importance of Forensic Genetics has also become evident in the last few years. Even the genetics graduate can be employed in the Medico-legal laboratory of the Government of Sindh.

TEACHING: Department of Genetics, University of Karachi also offers a lot of opportunities to accommodate Geneticists on permanent faculty positions. Around fifty graduates had joined the department on temporary teaching position and left afterwards for career jobs elsewhere. Teaching faculty also serves as nursery for number of graduates before they enter their professional careers. The recently great emphasis on genetics curriculum in colleges and schools is opening new venues for genetics graduates.

This field has a lot of scope in advanced countries like America, Canada etc. A number of graduates of genetics have been settled in the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, etc. These alumni of Genetics are now working in different universities, hospitals, research institutes, etc.

Hurdles: This field requires a lot of dedication and determination. You need to have patience to work for long hours performing experiments in the lab. The pay structure in the beginning may be low and the work may seem monotonous, but one thing is for sure that this field, indeed, has a lot of scope in the future.