Genetics — careers, salary and study routes
How traits and diseases pass through DNA — and how reading genomes is changing medicine and agriculture.
Check your fit for Genetics →What Genetics is about
Genetics studies heredity and variation: how genes are organised, expressed and passed on, and how changes in DNA lead to disease or new traits. Modern genetics leans heavily on sequencing and computing, so genomics and bioinformatics are central.
It suits students who enjoy biology, logic puzzles and data. In India, dedicated undergraduate genetics degrees are offered by a limited number of colleges, and many students reach the field through biotechnology, life sciences or zoology before an M.Sc in genetics or genomics. Careers include diagnostic and genomics labs, research, crop and animal breeding, and genetic counselling, which needs its own postgraduate training.
What you'll study
- Classical and Mendelian genetics
- Molecular genetics and gene regulation
- Cytogenetics and chromosome biology
- Human and medical genetics
- Population and evolutionary genetics
- Genomics, sequencing and bioinformatics
- Genetic engineering and genome editing
- Ethics of genetic testing and data
Studying Genetics in India
You need PCB (or PCMB) in Class 12. Central universities admit through CUET-UG and many colleges offering genetics combinations admit on Class 12 marks. Because undergraduate options are limited, many students take a related B.Sc and specialise at the M.Sc stage.
Typical degrees
- B.Sc / B.Sc (Hons) in Genetics, or B.Sc with genetics as a subject (three or four years)
- B.Sc in Biotechnology or Life Sciences as an alternative route
- M.Sc Genetics, Human Genetics or Genomics (two years)
- Postgraduate training in genetic counselling
Entrance exams
- CUET-UG
Routes in the US and UK
United States
A four-year BS in Genetics, Molecular Biology or Biology. Research roles usually need a PhD, and genetic counsellors complete an accredited master’s and board certification.
United Kingdom
A three-year BSc in Genetics (four with a placement or integrated master’s). Clinical scientist and genetic counsellor roles in the NHS follow postgraduate training schemes and professional registration.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study genetics without a medical degree?
Yes. Most geneticists in research, diagnostics and agriculture are scientists, not doctors. Doctors specialise in medical genetics separately, but lab and research genetics are open to B.Sc and M.Sc graduates.
What is a genetic counsellor?
A professional who helps patients and families understand genetic test results and inherited risks. It usually requires a specialised master’s after a biology degree, plus supervised clinical training.
Careers this major opens
The US Department of Education maps Genetics, General (CIP 26.0801) to 4 Standard Occupational Classification codes. Salary and employment figures come from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics via O*NET; the AI-durability signal is our own composite score.
Sources: NCES CIP-2020 → SOC-2018 crosswalk · US Bureau of Labor Statistics (via O*NET) · WhatTNext Ai AI-durability score. Careers ranked by US employment volume.