Hmm. This thread makes me laugh, because of the repeated use of the phrase “Biology 101”. I think I have a reasonable understanding of basic biology, and a few topics in advanced biology, but Biology 101 was one of the three most difficult courses I took in 19 years of school. I got a D. It probably would have prevented finishing college except that I took it the year after I got my B.A.
So it amuses me a little that “Biology 101” is used as short-hand for “easy high school level biology”.
I’ll defer to your knowledge on oocyte activation. Hydatidiform moles can be paternally or maternally derived. Paternal moles develop much more than maternal ones, sometimes even forming an identifiable fetus-like structure.
Cool. It’s been a while since I read up on the moles 
I’m just happy to get to get to talk to somebody else who thinks the embryo stuff is interesting–my friends tend to get this glazed, bored look in their eyes. What can I say, I’m a nerd. I really like spreadsheets, too. Give me any excuse to do anything with Excel and I’m happy as a clam.
OK, enough random stream of thought.
I’m not sure if this question fits the discussion, but if we’re going to make an Ask the Geneticist thread, this is something I really would like to ask…
After being in something of a sea of undecisiveness, I finally DID decide what I wanted to do for a living was genetics. Unfortunately, I’m not quite familiar with the entire range of job opportunities in the field. Could someone give me a brief overview of some of them? It’d REALLY help me, especially with college choices. Thank you!
OK, I’ll try to do it a little:
You can broadly divide the field of genetics into two swaths : molecular and human genetics. There is of course a lot of overlap and crosstalk. There are a few basic training paths – bachelors to gradschool to PhD to postdoc to position, bachelors to Masters to position, or bachelors to medschool to MD to residency to fellowship to position. Or of course my personal favorite bachelors to medschool and graduate school to MD/PhD to residency/postdoc/fellowship to position.
Molecular Genetics: This is basically your basic research – usually the application of model organisms or cell culture to research specific phenomena in genetics. As the name implies, a lot of this work is done on the DNA molecule level, but in use of model organisms, we deal a lot with straight plain old Mendelian genetics. I work on fruit flies and we have the genetics down pat on the organismal level.
Job opportunities here:
Primary investigator at a research instituion - usually has a PhD in genetics or sometimes an MD or MD/PhD. Responsible for running a lab and perhaps teaching. Writes papers and grants as well as directing the efforts of a lab. This is the endpoint for many graduate students and postdocs.
Researcher in industry - This is the other big endpoint. You work at a drug or biotech company and design new techniques or research a project usually involved with drug design, disease, or other therapy. Everything from PhDs down to people with Masters and perhaps even Bachelors of Science. Little paper writing, little grant writing.
Technicians, etc. - usually people with Bachelors or Masters. They work in a lab either in industry or in academia. Depending on environment, may or may not get their own project to do and may or may not be part of the essential thinking process.
Human genetics: While a lot of human geneticists use molecular techniques, this field is all centered around the human (and usually focuses on disease). There is much more clinical interaction with pedigrees and physical exams. There is a lot of karyotyping and clinical tests to diagnosis, with subsequent passage into a molecular realm to research the causes of diagnosed disease. The main experimental techniques of genetics – making mutants, forced matings, sacrficing animals to look at pathology are greatly limited or impossible in humans. Obviously the relevance is far greater.
Job opportunities here -
Primary investigator - same as above, just people whose interests are more connected to the clinics and humans. Sometimes head of a diagnostic lab. Also includes clinical geneticists whose primary goal is to run clinical trials of new therapies.
Clinical geneticists - usually an MD who has done a residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in genetics. These people are the ones who look at amniocentesis and chorionic villi results, karyotypes, a range of molecular tests, and physical exams of newborns to diagnose syndromes usually of sick babies. More of these syndromes are starting to have therapies (examples like cystic fibrosis, Gaucher disease, phenylketonuria, maple syrup urine disease, hereditary spherocytosis), which they can recommend treatment. Many do not (muscluar dystrophy, Tay Sachs, Down Syndrome, Marfan syndrome) for which they can offer advice (for instance stay away from physical exertion for Marfan), reproductive counseling, etc.
Genetic counselor - psychology or genetically trained individual who may help in genetic counseling and administration of tests.
Technicians, etc. - may work in diagnostic labs doing karyotyping or running Westerns or SPEP or ELISAs or ASOs or something. Same as above.