<p>Any Genetics or Molecular Biology majors (current or completed) who can tell me the typical difference between these two undergraduate majors? I am in high school and very interested in Genetics, though I have no idea yet whether I would like to eventually become a Zoologist, Zoo Vet, Prosecuting Attorney, Forensic Scientist or Patent Attorney.</p>
<p>Anybody know?</p>
<p>It won't matter too much at the undergraduate level, as long as both majors expose you to strong fundamentals. Genetics and molecular biology have quite a bit of overlap.</p>
<p>I think it is going to depend on the school and the particular program. Things may have changed a bit--or a great deal--in the last decade or so, but in the past, genetics students did not necessarily learn a lot of the lab techniques such as cloning, sequencing, electrophoresis. In my experience, molecular biology was more aligned (in terms of course requirements as undergrad) with biochemistry and chemistry, and genetics with zoology and microbiology. </p>
<p>But, as I said before, it is very program specific. Sometimes the subject/program divisions are related more to the history and personnel of the university than to actual subject matter distinctions.</p>
<p>If you're still in high school, you should try to wait before you decide a major for yourself. Come to college take some bio classes then decide.
And if it makes it any easier for you, most top schools, from Harvard and Stanford to Northwestern, will only have a biological sciences, or biology, major. You might have concentrations within the major like we do at Northwestern, and we have a Genetics and Molecular Biology concentration which happens to be my concentration. I'd say the physiology concentration is a better match for you though, if you're looking into zoology.</p>