Have you ever wondered how our genes, environment and life experiences come together to shape your health? Why does one person develop a disease, while another doesn’t? Or why a treatment works for some people, but not for others?
And what if healthcare could be designed around you - your biology, your risks, your needs. These big, fascinating questions sit at the heart of Human Genomics.
At UWA, Human Genomics is an exciting major within the Bachelor of Biomedical Science. If you love solving real-world problems, and want your science to make a difference to people’s lives, Human Genomics could be for you.
What is Human Genomics?
Your genome is the complete set of DNA that makes you who you are. Human genomics is the study of that genome – how it functions, and how it varies from person to person.
At its heart, the study of human genomics is centred around personalisation. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, genomics asks what biology can tell us about an individual's risk, resilience, and likely response to treatment - before illness appears, or to guide decisions once it has.
Human Genomics Major at UWA
The Human Genomics major at UWA brings together three essential skills that genomics actually requires in practice
- Hands-on laboratory work
- Data analysis and bioinformatics
- Effective communication
Throughout the major you’ll learn how genomic data is generated in the lab, how it’s analysed and interpreted, and how to communicate complex insights to different audiences, including patients, clinicians and the wider community.
Because in genomics, the challenge isn’t just producing data. It’s understanding what it means and using it responsibly to help inform decisions and improve outcomes for people.
How does Human Genomics fit with other majors?
Human Genomics is a major within the Bachelor of Biomedical Science and pairs well with Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology or Microbiology and Immunology, or something outside Biomedical Science altogether, from Commerce to Arts.
Human Genomics vs Genetics
If you're weighing up Human Genomics against Genetics, the distinction is straightforward. Genetics, available through the Bachelor of Science, takes a broad view - exploring heredity, inheritance and genetic variation across plants, animals and humans alike. If the living world in all its diversity is what draws you, Genetics is worth exploring. Human Genomics, on the other hand, is centred entirely on people, and on what genomic variation means for health, disease and clinical care. If your interest is specifically human health, Human Genomics is the more direct path.
You also don't have to decide straight away. Human Genomics, Genetics and the other Biomedical Science majors often share common first-year units — so you can keep your options open and let the content guide you.
Real-world impact
In this major, you’ll build the skills to tackle important real-world questions, including:
How can risk be identified earlier, so that intervention can happen sooner? How can we use genomic information to develop better treatments and to decide which treatments will work best for which people? How can genomic data be gathered and applied in ways that are ethical, fair and inclusive - especially for communities that have historically been underrepresented in genomic research?
That impact is already taking shape in Western Australia. Research led by UWA’s Professor Gina Ravenscroft has used genomic sequencing to uncover the causes of rare neuromuscular conditions, giving families a diagnosis where none existed before.
At PathWest, scientists including UWA’s Dr Harmony Clayton, are applying genomic tools to patient care, with this work now extending into areas such as newborn screening to support earlier and more precise detection of disease.
Where can the study of Human Genomics take you?
The Human Genomics major prepares you for careers where science, data and people intersect. Along the way, you’ll develop future-ready skills in analysing complex data, understanding human biology at a molecular level, and thinking critically about how genomic information is used in healthcare and society. Depending on your interests, pathways and further study opportunities may include:
- Genomic data science and bioinformatics: Working with large genomic datasets to identify patterns linked to disease or treatment response. Career opportunities span roles in healthcare, biotechnology and medical research.
- Precision medicine: Using genomic information to help inform healthcare and research. Pathways span clinical genomics or diagnostics roles, pharmacogenomics, pathology services, public health and biotechnology.
- Biotechnology and genomic engineering: Exploring emerging areas such as gene editing, synthetic biology and CRISPR-based research, with opportunities in biotech research and development and genomics start-ups.
Postgraduate pathways (further study required)
- Research into human disease: Contributing to research studies that use human genomic data to better understand the biological basis of disease and health.
- Genetic counselling: Interpreting genomic information to support clear communication to help inform patient health decisions.
Human Genomics is about seeing the big picture, bringing together genomic data, human biology and real-world decision-making to help shape the future of health and medicine. If you’re curious about applying science thoughtfully and ethically, and want to build skills that matter in healthcare and research, the Human Genomics major is worth exploring.
Explore the Human Genomics major in more detail here.
Chat with us here, to see where your Human Genomics study could take you.
