Geneticist Construction
I. A. The construction of a geneticist follows a difficult path of
education,
preparation, and hard work. B. Genetic Engineering C. Scope 1-
accomplishments
2- job description 3- education 4- opportunities 5-
future 6- (interview) -
Personal insight - Attraction to job II.
Background III. Accomplishments IV. Job
Description & Opportunities
V. Education & salary VI. Interview
-Attraction, Personal Insight -Future
VII. Conclusion- Why I would or wouldn’t
be a genetic engineer? The
Construction of a Geneticist The construction of a
geneticist is a person
that follows a difficult path of education, preparation,
and hard work.
Geneticists along with all branches of Genetic Engineering have
grown in
numbers and importance over the last hundred years. Geneticists
have
accomplished things that Isaac Asimov and authors like him only dreamed
about.
What was science fiction then is science fact now, the cycle
continues through
this day. (Facklam 16) The genetic field will continue to
grow until every
aspect of life is perfect, but that will take quite a while.
Career
Opportunities in Genetics are everywhere within the biological
community. They
may work in colleges and universities, research institutions,
medical
institution, and commercial enterprises of many kinds. Every work
environment is
unique, and categorizes overlap-but certain general trends
exist. (Career
Opportunities in Genetics 9) Genetic Engineering has a
long past and an even
longer future, however, to enter the field a person
must have a strong
background in sciences and intensive training. Despite the
controversy of
Genetics, Courtney Sailes of the Genentech Inc. has
accomplished such training.
He is working in the biochemistry division
and has an important impact people
across the world. Gregor Mendel is known
as the father of Modern Genetics,
however he was not the start of the long
chain of genetic engineers. (Microsoft
Encarta 98) Genetic engineers can
be traced back to 6000 BC when Yeast was used
to make beer by Sumerians and
Babylonians. Before that the domestication of
animals was the most complex
example of genetic engineering. Today’s
geneticists still work with animals
and plants, however, instead of just
studying them, they can create them.
Geneticists also try to perfect and alter
deficiencies to help solve problems
in today’s world. Geneticists’ creation
of bigger fruit, vegetables and
vaccinations help people live everyday. Genetic
Engineering may one day
eliminate horrible genetic defects. (Facklam 79) Genetic
Engineering is a
science that can alter the ways in which we live, but not with
out social and
legal problems to solve as we go along. (Facklam sleeve) The
discovery of the
structure of DNA resulted in an explosion of research in
molecular biology
and genetics, paving the way for the biotechnology revolution.
Genetic
engineering became a reality when a man-made gene was used to
manufacture a
human protein in bacteria for the first time. Biotech companies
and
universities were off to the races, and the world will never be the
same
again. (Biotechnology Timeline 1977- Present) Accomplishments done in
part of
genetic engineering have made the earth a better and safer place to
live.
Hybridization of rice and wheat has increased food output by more
than 100%.
(Encarta 98) Geneticist across the world are attempting to stop
the spread of
deadly cells strains, if there is a virus or bacteria there is
a cure and a way
to stop it. The vaccination of polio, the cure for leprosy,
and small pox all
are possible due to the minds and wills of genetic
engineers. On July 25, 1979,
Louise Brown became the world’s first
test-tube-baby, hailed by many as a
biological breakthrough and condemned by
other as a way for man to control and
manipulate life. (Facklam 87) The
cloning of Dolly, the lamb, and other animals
allows scientist to research
cures for illness with little deviation in
subjects. Almost all breakthroughs
in the medical research field are directly
related to genetic engineering.
Geneticist play an important role in everything
around us, they give us more
than just better creations they give us a better
understanding of life as we
know it (C.O. in G. 14), Geneticist is just a
general title given to several
occupations. Each specific occupation consists of
it’s own environment, but
share many common traits. Population Biology,
Population Genetics,
Evolution, Evolutionary Genetics, Sociology, Molecular
Biology, Molecular
Genetics, Agriculture, Plant Genetics, Biochemistry,
Biochemical
Genetics, Cytogenetics, Cytology, Medicine, Medical Genetics,
Law,
Neurobiology, Behavioral Genetics, Development Genetics, and
Development Biology
are such specifications. (1) Many geneticists work in
academic institutions in
biological sciences departments, they divide their
time into teaching and
research. These geneticist joined by their students,
often strive for the same
discovery as part of the curriculum. Generally the
research goal is to better
understand basic biological mechanisms at the
frontiers of science, and often
the answers cannot be predicted. (9) These
research projects are long-term and
may take several years to complete
insuring job security. Research institutions
are mostly nonprofit
organizations sponsored by private, federal or commercial
agencies. In all of
these cases, individuals tend to work within research teams
ranging in sizes
from two to twenty. Geneticists in a research institution have
the advantage
of pursuing exciting research of their own design, with a minimum
of
distracting obligations. (9) Commercial enterprises give a
specific
objectives and guidelines to the geneticist. The accomplishments are
directly
seen in society. Pharmaceutical companies utilize molecular genetics
to develop
new medicines and vaccines; DNA cloning methods can use bacteria
or yeast as
factories to produce large amounts of the product of an isolated
gene, such as
insulin. The recent techniques of genetic engineering are
becoming a major part
of industrial efforts. Some biotechnology companies
specialize in this new
methodology. The company’s administrators usually
decide the project goals for
the research team. Since these projects focus on
short-term achievements.
Geneticists in applied research programs can
better predict their results than
can geneticists in academia or research
institutions. (10) Agricultural
companies integrate breeding programs and
molecular biology in new and ingenious
ways to improve crop plants. This
produces higher yield and better quality of
foods. Animal breeding companies
are also trying the same ideas to create better
livestock. The benefit of
genetics in conquering disease is utilized in the
medical research
institutions and hospitals. Research projects are under the
control and
initiative of the team leader, and tend to be tightly coupled to
the
heath-care responsibilities of the group. In addition to carrying out
research,
the M.D. team members may also spend considerable time on medical
care and
clinical services. (12) As exciting as the field is, only those who
truly
dedicated should chose to become a geneticist. Geneticists often work
long
hours, researching their project. However, the working conditions are
often laid
back and casual due to their involvement with chemicals. The
environment is
usually comfortable and relaxing for best performance from the
researchers and
scientists. (Sailes) Pasteur, a world-renowned French chemist
and biologist,
that founded the science of microbiology said, "chance favors
the prepared
mind." In order to be prepared you must go to school and take
specific courses
to become a geneticist. A geneticist must be prepared for
every possible
situation that may arise in their field. During their high
school years, a
geneticist should take biology, chemistry, physics, and
advanced mathematics.
Once in college, a geneticist should take courses
in all the sciences to
solidify their understanding of their basic concepts.
Specialization in genetics
at the undergraduate level is unusual; it is more
common to major in biology or
biochemistry. Chemistry and Biology are
stressed in different fields for the
maximum amount of knowledge. Two or
three years of study are recommended for a
Master’s degree. Except for
entry-level salary; $35,000 to $50,000 and
benefits, a Master’s degree does
not generally broaden the nature of
laboratory job opportunities, in order to
do truly independent research a Ph.D.
or an M.D. is required. MD’s generally
consist of four years of classes and
clinical experience beyond the
bachelor’s degree. A five-year study is needed
after a Bachelor or Master’s
degree to obtain a Ph.D. (C.O. in G. 14) A person
with a Ph.D. in any genetic
field on average has a starting salary of $48,796 to
$89,142 plus benefits.
The education needed is based on a long and tiresome
process. Along with the
studying, most students take part in an apprenticeship
ranging from $12,000
to $30,000 to help pay for college, and also acquire needed
lab experience. A
bio-organic chemist for example, must have at least a year of
organic
laboratory experience and at least one year of organic synthesis course
work.
A Bachelor’s of Science in Chemistry is mandatory for most genetic
positions.
Geneticist use roughly 95% of the day applying there academically
acquired
knowledge. This also includes the sciences that they took during their
high
school years. (Sailes) For that reason it is important that
geneticists
understand their schooling. Courtney Sailes a researcher at the
bio-organic
chemistry division of Genentech Inc. has involved most of his
life in genetics.
In high school he wanted to become a doctor and went to
study at the College of
Chemistry at the University of California at
Berkeley. The close relation
between a medical field and genetic engineering
field was alarming and he
decided to look into the organic chemistry course
work. The idea of being able
to develop a drug that will help fight human
disease was the concept that
captured his career search. He wishes that
somebody advised him that to be a
research associate you just need to "study
hard, try to understand, ask a lot
of questions, and be organized. Make sure
not to get discouraged by compounds
that don’t work, stay optimistic and look
at the overall picture and the
overall goal, keep trying." (Interview-
Sailes) The future of genetic
engineering is looking good. There are many new
jobs and areas that have not
been touched yet. Clones for organ donning,
increased crop production, disease
vaccinations, and cures for the incurable
all hold the key to the future of the
common geneticist. Why I would or would
not want to be a Geneticist? I would
want to be a geneticist because of their
impact on society and the future of our
lives. Geneticists make existing food
products better and safer for the
consumer. They allow people with a disease
a new chance at life using vaccines
and genetic screening. Soon geneticists
will be able to fix defects before
people are born, giving them a better
chance to survive in the world. Being a
geneticist could mean that I might
discover the genes that allow people to
change certain aspects about
themselves. I could make someone’s eyes a
different color with a simple
injection. I could clone organs and limbs. The
ability to clone organs and
limbs is not that far off, all scientists need to
learn is what environment
an organ can naturally grow in. The ability to clone
organs would slowly
eliminate organ banks, the long search for organs and the
powerful chemicals
used to stop rejection of the new organs. The organs could be
made and
implanted in the individual; since the organ is really his own there
would be
little to no rejection of the organ. The process would save millions
of
people within just a few years. The ability to clone eyes or eye tissue
could
eliminate blindness. The ability to clone limbs would give hope to
millions that
are disabled. The possibilities are endless. Along with the
benefits there are
negative sides of being a geneticist. Geneticists have to
deal with the
controversial "playing god issue." There are countless numbers
of
regulations made to deter scientist from doing work with genetics. Along
with
political issues, mistakes and experiments can be deadly. While
engineering a
cure for the common cold a deadly virus could be created.
Genetic screening
could cause millions of deaths due to a miscalculation.
Scientists currently do
not know enough about living systems to perform DNA
surgery without creating
some mutations, which could be harmful to the
environment and our health.
Geneticists are experimenting with very
delicate, yet powerful forces of nature,
without full knowledge of the
repercussions. A deadly species of animal could be
accidentally created in a
cloning experiment. Despite the controversy and side
effects of genetic
engineering, I would like to become a geneticist. The genetic
field covers
more and more jobs every year, almost promising employment. The
future for a
geneticist is prodigious. It takes hard work, time, and patients to
be a
genetic engineer, but I believe it is worth it.
Bibliography
Work
Cited "Genetic Engineering," Microsoft Encarta, 1998. Sailes,
Courtney.
Interview. E-Mail, csailes@genentech.com, March 1998. Facklam,
Margery and
Howard. From Cell to Clone. New York: Harcourt Brace
Jovanovich, 1979.
"Biotechnology Timeline 1977- Present," Access
Excellence Genetech, 1998.
Career Opportunities in Genetics. Maryland:
The Genetics Society of America
Administrative Office, 1997.