Genetic Scientists

The U.S. Department of Labor predicts that employment for biochemists (a category that includes genetic scientists) will grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2028. Interest in genetic research has exploded in the past decade, with breakthrough discoveries bringing greater attention to the exciting possibilities of finding genetic causes and cures for diseases. This suggests that there will be strong opportunities for genetic scientists during the next decade.  

Rapid progress in the field of genetic science, along with new methods of mapping genetic traits, has put natural variation in many organisms within the grasp of genetic investigators. As the need to understand human and animal biology and genetics grows, demand for scientists will continue to increase. The world of criminal investigation is increasingly using genetics to win cases, drawing on genetic test results to determine guilt or innocence from a drop of blood or DNA sample. Genetics is also being used in food testing to detect contamination by disease-causing organisms.

The discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 (more commonly known as CRISPR) Genome Engineering Tool has allowed scientists and engineers to edit genes faster, less expensively, and more efficiently than other existing genome editing methods. CRISPR is a "revolutionary, once-in-a-generation tool that offers the real potential to quickly and efficiently achieve what was once thought impossible. Since 2012, the technology has been adopted rapidly, transforming basic research, drug development, diagnostics and agriculture," according to TIME magazine. The development and use of CRISPR technology will increase demand for genetic engineers and scientists in the next decade due to the variety of applications for this tool. Concerns still exist about the safety of the tool. "Scientists have recently learned that the approach to gene editing can inadvertently wipe out and rearrange large swaths of DNA in ways that may imperil human health," according to Vox.com. Look for the use of CRISPR to continue to grow, although there will be considerable debate about safety and ethical issues relating to the tool.