Program overview
Genetics is the science of genes, genetic variation, and heredity. Simply put, it's about understanding why children resemble their parents, why diseases are inherited, and how gene editing can treat diseases. Core courses include molecular genetics, population genetics, genomics, epigenetics, and more. You'll also learn experimental techniques such as PCR, gene sequencing, and gene knockout. This major suits students who are curious about life sciences, enjoy hands-on lab work, and don't mind data analysis. Chinese universities have strong programs in genetics—Peking University, Fudan University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, for example—with internationally leading achievements in human genome research and rice genetic breeding. Many labs collaborate with hospitals and agricultural companies, giving students opportunities to work on real projects.