Very few fields have ever witnessed or maintained an exponential growth curve. The times of the Spinning Jenny and the Industrial Revolution wreaking havoc on once dormant and archaic industries are now merely distant blips in the past. The study of genetics, however, serves as the modern-day exception. Because while the majority of fields have slowed, genetics has continued to innovate and expand.

Geneticists are no longer participating in some once seemingly expensive scientific side-project, nor are they stuck analyzing the wrinkled state of peas. Instead, geneticists from across the world are making advances. They are quickly de-coding entire genomes, performing complex genome-wide association studies, and creating in-depth and accurate polygenic risk scores to further understand and heal the human body.

Yet despite living in this era where groundbreaking science and advances in medicine are becoming more and more common, the crux of the genetic industry lies in the fact that a majority of the population remains unknowingly unaware of its potential. But why? The power of modern-day genetics is becoming increasingly evident, and it has proven time and time again to be a valuable and accurate indicator of future disease states and physical traits.

Over the past summer, I was afforded the opportunity to participate in this very field thanks to a research opportunity at the Regeneron Genetics Center. I had the chance to learn amongst and listen to some of the foremost leaders in the field, and through their advice and commentary, I’ve learned innumerable lessons and skills. I have learned how to code in the common R and linux coding languages, how to better understand both basic and complex medical journal terminology, and how to become proficient in the practices and methods of the ever-changing genetic field.

As my skills and understanding developed, the worth and magnitude of my work progressed. I began to understand how advanced polygenic risk scores were created and applied, how to run my own innovative and complex multi-data set plink analyses, and ultimately, how to create an entirely novel and accurate diagnostic for chronic kidney disease. Over the course of a mere summer, I became proficient, knowledgeable, and to some degrees, an asset in an ever-growing field. I wasn’t a scientist, PhD, or MD by trade, but I was someone with a passion and intrigue towards the cutting-edge who still accomplished immeasurable things.

So, why is this all important? Admittedly, genetics and the greater scientific field might not be for everyone, yet neither are they topics to be discounted. The power and potential that genetics may bring is too large and expansive to waste. Genetic solutions and computational discoveries have already begun to prove themselves as apt diagnostics and may well soon be situated in the same space as antibiotics and vaccinations. Therefore, we, as the educated youth, must take note.

We might not need to hastily learn computer coding or the steps of extracting one’s DNA, but our understanding remains paramount. As incoming freshmen and college undergraduates, we are a part of this future. We have the potential, just like I did this past summer, to make changes, better comprehend a pertinent field, and invoke our own unique genetic innovations. However, we must first become aware and understand the basics: the global impact, uses, and potential outcomes before bringing in the complex. Because, yes, genetics can be incredibly important and powerful once mastered, but it is also a topic which, if understood and studied from a merely bird’s eye view, still has the potential of providing unforeseen advancements.