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Geneticists

Research and study the inheritance of traits at the molecular, organism or population level. May evaluate or treat patients with genetic disorders.

$98,920 a year (for the broader BLS group this job sits in).

now
8%

of the working time. Estimate.

Kinds of work
  • 62%
  • 7%
  • 31%
25%

Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.

Half the desk work within reach
December 2027

On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.

Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030

0%25%50%75%100%2027202820292030NowDesk work: 62% of the time
Chosen to Ceiling: the share
DateNow
NowEnd of 2030

What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .

At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.

How far this has come

With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 6%. Today's estimate: 8%.

0%5%10%2023202420252026GPT-4, March 2023: 0% within reachGPT-4 Turbo (Nov 2023), November 2023: 0% within reachGPT-4o, May 2024: 0% within reachClaude 3.5 Sonnet (June 2024), June 2024: 0% within reacho1-preview, September 2024: 0% within reachClaude 3.5 Sonnet (Oct 2024), October 2024: 0% within reacho1, December 2024: 0% within reachClaude 3.7 Sonnet, February 2025: 0% within reacho3, April 2025: 0% within reachGPT-5, August 2025: 1% within reachGemini 3 Pro, November 2025: 1% within reachClaude Opus 4.5, November 2025: 1% within reachGPT-5.2, December 2025: 1% within reachClaude Opus 4.6, February 2026: 2% within reachClaude Mythos Preview (early), April 2026: 6% within reachToday (estimate), September 2026: 8% within reach
Each step is a new best model measured by METR, four in five; the dashed end is today's estimate. Point at a dot for the model.

A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.

The tasks

Sorted by . 24 tasks from .

TaskKind
Plan or conduct basic genomic and biological research related to areas such as regulation of gene expression, protein interactions, metabolic networks, and nucleic acid or protein complexes.Done daily by most who do it. AI observed on this task.18%1.7 work days6.7 h to 4.2 work daysStays with people
Analyze determinants responsible for specific inherited traits, and devise methods for altering traits or producing new traits.Done more than monthly by most who do it. AI observed on this task.14%2.1 work days6.7 h to 1.7 work weeks1%Half by Apr 2028
Develop protocols to improve existing genetic techniques or to incorporate new diagnostic procedures.Done more than yearly by most who do it. 7%2.1 work days3.3 h to 1 work week1%Half by Jun 2028
Conduct family medical studies to evaluate the genetic basis for traits or diseases.Done more than monthly by most who do it.6%2.1 work days3.3 h to 1 work week1%Half by Jun 2028
Search scientific literature to select and modify methods and procedures most appropriate for genetic research goals.Done more than monthly by most who do it. AI observed on this task.5%3.3 h50 min to 6.7 h32%Half by Jan 2027
Participate in the development of endangered species breeding programs or species survival plans.Done yearly or less by most who do it.5%1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days2%Half by Feb 2028
Write grants and papers or attend fundraising events to seek research funds.Done more than yearly by most who do it. 4%2.1 work days6.7 h to 1.7 work weeksStays with people
Create or use statistical models for the analysis of genetic data.Done more than yearly by most who do it. 4%6.7 h3.3 h to 4.2 work days9%Half by Aug 2027
Prepare results of experimental findings for presentation at professional conferences or in scientific journals.Done more than yearly by most who do it. AI observed on this task.4%1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days2%Half by Feb 2028
Evaluate genetic data by performing appropriate mathematical or statistical calculations and analyses.Done more than monthly by most who do it. AI observed on this task.4%4.2 h50 min to 1.3 work days18%Half by May 2027
Extract deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or perform diagnostic tests involving processes such as gel electrophoresis, Southern blot analysis, and polymerase chain reaction analysis.Done more than weekly by most who do it. 3%3.3 h50 min to 1.3 work daysStays with people
Supervise or direct the work of other geneticists, biologists, technicians, or biometricians working on genetics research projects.Done daily by most who do it. 3%1.3 h25 min to 3.3 hStays with people

Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.

Jobs that share skills with this one

From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.

Where this job works

The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.

Where the most of these jobs are

The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025). Counts are for the broader BLS group this job sits in.