Genetic engineering is an evolving field and, therefore, offers limited by very interesting and lucrative career prospects for the students. Still being in developmental phase, the majority of work available in the field of genetic engineering is of research and development nature. Considering this, it is advisable that students continue their studies till postgraduate or doctoral level to get rewarding employment offers.

• Biotech and Pharmaceutical companies: These are the biggest employers for genetic engineers in the private sector. They are employed as research agents to develop new and innovative techniques to aid in healthcare and agricultural sector.
• Research Laboratories: Reputed medical and biological research facilities across the country offer entry level positions to genetic engineers graduates. However, being entry level positions, the work primarily involves testing which is diagnostic in nature.
• Universities / Institutes: Genetics as a field of study is growing at a rapid pace. The increased interest of students in this subject has also escalated the demand for qualified and trained teachers and professors. Many undergraduate and postgraduate degree holders in genetics are hired at teaching position in different universities and institutes across India.
• Agriculture Sector: Agriculture is another up-and-coming field that has seen rise of exciting employment opportunities for genetic engineers. Engineers are hired by agriculture development firms for development of genetically modified food products like high yielding seeds, seedless fruits and other similar products.

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PROS

1. Production of nutrient-rich foods

2. Increased resistance of plants to rotting and pests

3. Increased Meat Production

4. Production of novel drugs and vaccines

5. Development of new and favorable characters

CONS

1. The fear for unintended selection and any unwanted transfer of genes

2. Health issues like allergic reactions

3. Development of antibiotic resistance of disease causing organisms

4. Loss of biodiversity

5. The fear for the rise of “invasive species”

6. Economic consequences

7. Social and Ethical Concerns

Career Pros Details

1. Production of nutrient-rich foods

Golden Rice

A variety of food crops and products have already been modified in order to provide better nutrition for consumers. For instance, did you know that you can already have your daily requirement of vitamin A by eating rice alone? By inserting a gene that encodes for vitamin A to the gene of regular rice, scientists were able to create a new breed of rice plants called “Golden Rice“. Such discovery is very helpful to the diet of populations that consume rice.

2. Increased resistance of plants to rotting and pests

Increased Resistance To Pests

A common problem in farming and food production is the rapid infestation and rotting of crops. Using genetic engineering, scientists have already found a solution: by creating rot and pest resistant crops. By genetically engineering the gene that encodes for rotting in plants, the ability of a certain fruit to resist rotting is enhanced. In the case of pest resistance, scientists insert genes for toxin production into plants, thus resulting to them deterring their insect pests.

3. Increased Meat Production

Belgian Blue Cattle

Animals have already been modified in order to increase meat production. One example of a genetically modified animal for such purpose is the Belgian blue cattle which originated from Belgium, as the name suggests. Unlike regular cattle, this genetically engineered cattle has an impressive muscling known as “double muscling”. By inserting a gene that inhibits the production of myostatin (the protein that suppresses muscle growth), scientists were able to produce a new breed of cattle that has humongous body size ideal for meat production.

4. Production of novel drugs and vaccines

Novel Vaccine & Drugs

In medicine, genetic engineering is used in order to produce various drugs like human growth hormone, insulin, and vaccines. Basically, a vaccine is a synthetic substance given in order to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against a certain disease. To do this, inactive forms of viruses or the toxins they produced are injected into the person being immunized.

5. Development of new and favorable characters

Gene Doping

Through the course of time, genetic engineering is no longer limited to plants and animals alone. Surprisingly, a study published in the journal Nature showed that genetic engineering in humans is already being performed in a process called gene doping. Unlike the known process of “doping”, which involves the use of performance enhancing drugs like growth hormones and steroids, gene doping involves the non-therapeutic use of genes and cells to improve athletic performance.

6. Creation of humans with desirable features

Designer Baby

In addition to the above mentioned, did you know that using genetic engineering, you can already choose the type of baby you want to have? The term “designer baby” refers to a baby whose genetic makeup has been chosen in order to ensure that a certain gene will be present or to remove a certain unwanted trait. Although possible, this genetic technology has not yet been started because of continuing ethical debates.

Career Cons Details

1. The fear for unintended selection and any unwanted transfer of genes

Unintended Growth

In short, there is no 100% chances that the genes inserted will be expressed. In fact, they can even end up in unexpected places. Such changes can contribute to alteration in the organism’s growth, metabolism and response.

2. Health issues like allergic reactions

Allergens

When GM crops were first introduced to the market, the possibility that they might cause allergies became the prime concern of consumers. Apparently, there have already been several studies which suggest that the genetic engineering may have increased natural allergens in crops. As alluded to earlier, the transfer of genes across organisms is prone to high probabilities of failures. For instance, the supposedly “gene of interest” is not transferred; instead, another gene for producing allergen is.

3. Development of antibiotic resistance of disease causing organisms

Antibiotic Resistance

Another damaging effect of producing GM organisms is a condition called “antibiotic resistance“. In this phenomenon, the supposedly target organisms of antibiotics change in a way that they eventually become resistant to the drug. As a result, they will continue to survive, causing greater harm.

4. Loss of biodiversity

Loss of Biodiversity

According to a study published in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University, one major problem regarding the rise of GM organisms is that they can cause a reduction in the biodiversity (the difference in the traits of organisms) of plants and animals in the environment. This means that the DNA in the environment will be more similar between individuals. So what? Loss biodiversity in the environment means lower chances of adaptation and survival of organisms to changing environment.

5. The fear for the rise of “invasive species”

Source: CBC.ca

In relation to the above point, the increase in the production of GM crops and animals may lead to the rise of invasive species. Because GM organisms are often better adapted to the environments that they were modified for, they out-compete naturally occurring plants and animals. In science, such organisms are termed as “invasive species”. They are basically organisms with uncontrollable growth of populations up to a degree that already harms organisms and the environment.

6. Economic consequences

Because of the technology used to create genetically modified crops and animals, private companies that produce them do not share their products at a reasonable cost with the public.

7. Social and Ethical Concerns

Bioethics

For critics, genetic engineering has no resemblance to the natural process of breeding. This is because in the process, a different gene is forced to combine to the genes of an organism.

In addition, they believe that the process is somewhat disrupting the natural way and complexity of life. In addition to this, critics fear the misuse and abuse of biotechnology.

Genetic engineers usually have to be knowledgeable about a wide variety of technologies that are used in the process of researching and working with DNA, which can range from the computer aided drafting programs other types of engineers might use to Python programming language to laboratory centrifuges. Genetic engineers also use their extensive knowledge of science, including biology, genetics, evolution, biochemistry, physics and biotechnology.

Genetic engineers who work with human subjects often need to have good interpersonal and communication skills. Every type of genetic engineer needs some creativity to think of alternative solutions no one else has considered yet and to put them into effect. They also need to have a strong understanding of morals and ethics in order to use their genetic modifications for good and within the bounds of what is ethical and legal. Additionally, since most genetic engineers are part of a team or have a staff that works with them, they need to have team and leadership skills.