Getting Involved in Genetics
Information on Careers, Websites & Activities in Biological Sciences
Jul 17, 2009
There are many different ways for adults and children to feed an interest in genetics. For some, picking up a book or reading articles online may satisfy their curiosity. For others, formal study and even a career in science may be more fitting.
Accessing Information on Genetics – Books
If a public library holds few or no useful genetics books, people may wish to contact their local university or college to see if they offer library membership to non-students. If they carry biology courses, they will hopefully have genetics textbooks. For absolute beginners, easy-to-read genetics books include:
- Genetics for Dummies by Tara Rodden Robinson, published by John Wiley & Sons in September 2005 (ISBN-13: 978-0764595547).
- Genetics: a Beginner's Guide by Burton Guttman, David Suzuki and Tara Cullis, published by Oneworld Publications in November 2002 (ISBN-13: 978-1851683048).
Accessing Information on Genetics – Web Resources
There are several websites with excellent genetics content aimed at both beginners and enthusiasts. Some good web resources include:
- The Genetics Science Learning Center, run by the University of Utah.
- Understanding Genetics, run by Stanford University and The Tech.
- Genetics Home Reference, run by the National Library of Medicine.
Activities and Ideas for Science Fair Projects
Genetics doesn’t have to be dry science, and some experiments can be done at home. These include:
- Spooling DNA from fruit or vegetables, giving people the chance to see what DNA looks and feels like.
- Looking through family photographs to spot physical similarities that may be genetic.
- Comparing dominant and recessive traits with others (a PDF leaflet on this subject is available on the Learn.Genetics section of Genetic Science Learning Center website).
- DNA model building activities. For example, the Genome BritishColumbia website has instructions for making “DNA jewelery”.
National DNA Day Celebrations
National DNA day is an annual celebration of science held in April every year, and is run by the National Human Genome Research Institute. On or near the day (usually April 25th), several organizations offer genetics and genomics-themed events, such as lectures and workshops.
Schools also participate by arranging in-class activities, and/or by joining in the annual online chatroom. The National DNA Day Facebook page is regularly updated, and includes links to articles on new developments in genetics and genomics.
Careers and Education in Genetics
Courses come in all shapes and sizes, from introductory one-day workshops to graduate degrees. People will obviously vary in their aspirations, or may be unsure, and this is where careers advisers and colleges can offer advice. Laboratories can also offer guidance on what they look for in their workers.
Those interested in studying genetics may wish to check to see if the prospective college has any course materials online. For example, the Open University’s OpenLearn site includes some free course materials on genetics. These materials are there are not marked or commented on by a tutor.
For the basics of DNA and genes, read Basic Cell Biology for Understanding Genetics.
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