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Immunogenetics studies the interactions between heredity and immunity, with applications in transplant medicine. It focuses on inherited traits and immunity, including histocompatibility, which is important for finding the best possible match for organ or tissue transplants. Genetic inheritance tracing involves studying DNA and mapping the human genome to learn about heredity mechanisms and mutations. Many universities offer molecular biology programs that focus on immunogenetics.
Immunogenetics is a branch of molecular biology that deals with the interactions between heredity and immunity. It has a number of applications, one of the most important being transplant medicine. Immunogeneticists may work in laboratories, analyzing tissue samples and blood products, and may also work in research, education, and genetic counseling. Many professionals in this field are university graduates and some have completed postgraduate work in immunogenetics.
The immune system is very complex. While people acquire lifelong immunity in response to exposure, some aspects of the immune system are inherited. This is the area that immunogenetics focuses on, looking at hereditary traits and immunity. Researchers also look at what happens when genetics go wrong and someone is born with a faulty immune system.
One area of particular concern is histocompatibility. This term refers to a situation in which tissue or blood products from one person can be safely transplanted into another because the two antigens share. The donor body will be less likely to reject or react badly to donated material because it recognizes it, at least in part. When someone needs an organ or tissue transplant, histocompatibility studies are performed to find the best possible match.
Matching tissues, organs, blood products, and so on is not as simple as matching blood types. Even within a blood type, there is some natural variation and histocompatibility can actually be extremely complicated. This is why doctors sometimes refer to people as “perfect” or “non-ideal” matches, illustrating the variations discovered during histocompatibility studies. Ideally, a perfect match will be used, but this may not always be an option, in which case a less than ideal match will be used, especially if the patient is running low on time.
Genetic inheritance tracing involves studying DNA and mapping the human genome to find out where the traits of interest are located. This information can also be used to learn about the mechanisms of heredity, including the mechanisms of mutations that cause natural variations. Using immunogenetics, people can also learn more about individuals from various regions of the world, as many populations have evolved minor genetic adaptations to help them survive in their environment.
Many colleges and universities offer molecular biology programs that may focus on immunogenetics for interested students. People thinking they might want to pursue this field may consider researching current leaders in the field to see where they went to school, as this information could be helpful when applying to university or college.
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