Besides teaching, the main opportunities in genetic enginee-ring employment avenue in this field lies in research in biotech laboratories, energy and environ-ment- related industries, animal husbandry, agriculture and applied fields such as dairy farming and medicine. Exciting work is being undertaken in this field all over the world and newer areas like epigenetics, the study of how environmental factors like diet, stress and maternal nutrition can change gene function without altering the DNA sequence are emerging in a big way. A PG degree and beyond (PhD) in this field will certainly enhance your employ-ment prospects. Genetic enginee-ring is that wonderful science which enables the human minds to interfere in and modify the processes of life, birth death and even offers escape from certain congenital diseases

Genetic engineering involves developing hybrid varieties of plants, making a plant disease resistant by transferring genes from a plant that already has the characteristic, introducing Geneti-cally Modified foods by changing the colour, size, texture of the produce of plants such as fruits and vegetables. GE in humans can be to correct severe hereditary defects by introducing normal genes into cells in place of missing or defective ones.

In India, there are several sectors that employ genetic engineers. They are mainly absor-bed in medical and pharmaceutical industries, agricultural sectors and the research and development departments of government, semi-government and private sectors. The pharmaceutical industry offers the best opportunities.

To become a scientist or a genetic engineer, one should obtain a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in the relevant field.

The National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi; the Centre for DNA Fingerprint and Diagnos-tics, Hyderabad; Biochemical Engineering Research and Process Development Centre, Chandigarh; the Institute of Genomic and Integrative Biology, Delhi, are some of the institutions that appoint genetic engineers and biotech scientists. There is an increasing demand for genetic engineers in India and abroad

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CareerAge Counselor