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Subfield · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Genetics research

Genetics is a subfield of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology. Science Explorer counts 1.2M research works in it since 1950. 20.1% of them reached the world's top 10% most cited for their field and year.

In short: science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms.

Research works
1.2M
fractional, since 1950
In the world top 10%
233k
per year above
Top-10% rate
20.1%
share of its works in the world top 10%
Topics
40
Growth, 2013–17 → 2018–22
+17%
the tick is no change

What is Genetics research about, and what is growing?

By the world's output in 2019–23, its most used keywords are Population Genetics, Genetics, Epidemiology, Genetic Diversity, Genetic Variation, Genetic Mutations. Gaining share since 2009–13: Genetic Variants, Sequence Interpretation, Crohn's Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Genomic Analysis. Losing share: Genomic Integration, Breast Cancer, Gene Therapy, Viral Vectors.

▲ gaining share of this field◆ holding its share▼ losing share

Size is the world's fractional works in 2019–23 in the topics tagged with each word; colour compares the word's share of this field with 2009–13. Each links to the topic it comes from most.

All 40 words, with their numbers
  1. Population Genetics36k◆ 0.96×5 topics
  2. Genetics29k▲ 1.22×4 topics
  3. Epidemiology27k▲ 1.24×3 topics
  4. Genetic Diversity24k◆ 0.96×3 topics
  5. Genetic Variation23k◆ 1.02×4 topics
  6. Genetic Mutations19k◆ 1.08×4 topics
  7. Evolution19k◆ 1.11×4 topics
  8. Marker-Assisted Selection19k◆ 0.98×2 topics
  9. Genome-Wide Association19k◆ 1.04×2 topics
  10. Genomics19k▲ 1.19×3 topics
  11. Gene Expression15k▼ 0.85×3 topics
  12. Genomic Integration15k▼ 0.73×2 topics
  13. Genetic Structure15k◆ 1.03×2 topics
  14. Precision Medicine14k▲ 1.16×2 topics
  15. Breast Cancer13k▼ 0.75×2 topics
  16. Genomic Selection12k◆ 1.02×1 topic
  17. Plant Breeding12k◆ 1.02×1 topic
  18. Social Insects11k◆ 1.13×1 topic
  19. Symbiosis11k◆ 1.13×1 topic
  20. Adaptation10k◆ 0.92×2 topics
  21. Crohn's Disease10k▲ 1.59×1 topic
  22. Inflammatory Bowel Disease10k▲ 1.59×1 topic
  23. Gene Therapy10k▼ 0.80×1 topic
  24. Viral Vectors10k▼ 0.80×1 topic
  25. Species Delimitation10k▼ 0.84×2 topics
  26. QTL Mapping9,763◆ 1.04×2 topics
  27. Genomic Analysis9,730▲ 1.39×2 topics
  28. Autoimmunity9,619◆ 1.08×1 topic
  29. Type 1 Diabetes9,619◆ 1.08×1 topic
  30. Public Health8,757▲ 1.16×2 topics
  31. Microsatellite Analysis8,565▼ 0.80×1 topic
  32. Population Dynamics8,565▼ 0.80×1 topic
  33. Ancient DNA8,256◆ 1.10×2 topics
  34. Fragile X Syndrome8,166◆ 1.10×1 topic
  35. Rett Syndrome8,166◆ 1.10×1 topic
  36. Genetic Variants7,429▲ 1.73×1 topic
  37. Sequence Interpretation7,429▲ 1.73×1 topic
  38. Cleft Lip7,420◆ 1.12×1 topic
  39. Cleft Palate7,420◆ 1.12×1 topic
  40. Nutrigenomics7,338◆ 1.10×1 topic

Which countries lead Genetics research?

On research quality in 2022–2025, the United States, China and the United Kingdom rank highest in Genetics. By volume, the United States and China publish the most (38k and 27k works in 2022–2025).

By research quality, 2022–2025

  1. 1 United States · #1 all time 20.4% top 10% · 38k works
  2. 2 China · #3 all time 24.0% top 10% · 27k works
  3. 3 United Kingdom · #2 all time 25.4% top 10% · 8k works
  4. 4 Germany · #4 all time 22.0% top 10% · 6.1k works
  5. 5 France · #5 all time 20.5% top 10% · 5.2k works
  6. 6 Italy · #10 all time 22.7% top 10% · 5k works
  7. 7 Australia · #7 all time 25.6% top 10% · 3.8k works
  8. 8 Canada · #6 all time 22.4% top 10% · 4.2k works
  9. 9 India · #15 all time 10.0% top 10% · 11k works
  10. 10 Spain · #11 all time 19.0% top 10% · 4.1k works

The track on each row is that row’s top-10% rate. The ranking itself is the composite score, which the rate is only one part of.

Of 69 countries ranked in Genetics. Composite of field-normalised excellence (50%), output (30%) and citations (20%); the bracket is the all-time rank.

All countries ranked in Genetics

By volume, 2022–2025

  1. 1 United States 38k works
  2. 2 China 27k works
  3. 3 India 11k works
  4. 4 United Kingdom 8k works
  5. 5 Germany 6.1k works
  6. 6 Brazil 5.8k works
  7. 7 Japan 5.6k works
  8. 8 France 5.2k works
  9. 9 Italy 5k works
  10. 10 Russia 4.3k works

How concentrated that is

The same countries as shares of everything the list above accounts for. A node where two countries do two thirds of the work and one spread evenly across twelve read alike as a ranking and not at all alike here.

United States: 33.1%China: 23.1%India: 9.3%United Kingdom: 6.9%6 others listed: 27.6%33%largest
United States38k · 33.1%China27k · 23.1%India11k · 9.3%United Kingdom7,979 · 6.9%6 others listed32k · 27.6%

Shares of the rows listed above, not of the whole node.

Which institutions lead Genetics research?

Harvard University (United States) ranks first in Genetics on research quality in 2022–2025, followed by University of Oxford and Stanford University.

By research quality, 2022–2025

  1. 1 Harvard University United States · Cambridge · #1 all time 33.3% top 10% · 527 works
  2. 2 University of Oxford United Kingdom · Oxford · #4 all time 33.0% top 10% · 300 works
  3. 3 Stanford University United States · Stanford · #3 all time 28.9% top 10% · 344 works
  4. 4 University of Michigan United States · Ann Arbor · #13 all time 24.1% top 10% · 366 works
  5. 5 University College London United Kingdom · London · #18 all time 27.5% top 10% · 349 works
  6. 6 University of Pennsylvania United States · Philadelphia · #11 all time 26.9% top 10% · 402 works
  7. 7 Broad Institute United States · Cambridge · #34 all time 43.6% top 10% · 138 works
  8. 8 University of Cambridge United Kingdom · Cambridge · #9 all time 33.6% top 10% · 244 works
  9. 9 Massachusetts General Hospital United States · Boston · #26 all time 30.0% top 10% · 237 works
  10. 10 University of California San Diego United States · San Diego · #16 all time 28.5% top 10% · 256 works

The track on each row is that row’s top-10% rate. The ranking itself is the composite score, which the rate is only one part of.

Of 489 institutions above the floor of 40 fractional works in Genetics.

Top 100 Genetics institutions

By volume, 2022–2025

  1. 1 University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUnited States 683 works
  2. 2 Harvard UniversityUnited States 527 works
  3. 3 Universidade de São PauloBrazil 439 works
  4. 4 University of PennsylvaniaUnited States 402 works
  5. 5 Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical CollegeChina 370 works
  6. 6 University of MichiganUnited States 366 works
  7. 7 Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueFrance 359 works
  8. 8 University College LondonUnited Kingdom 349 works
  9. 9 Stanford UniversityUnited States 344 works
  10. 10 Yale UniversityUnited States 339 works

Who are the leading researchers in Genetics?

Among the most productive authors in Genetics, John P. A. Ioannidis, Elisabete Weiderpass and Mark J. Daly rank highest on the composite score.

  1. 1 John P. A. Ioannidis United States · #10 worldwide 8k citations · 222 works
  2. 2 Elisabete Weiderpass France · #44 worldwide 6k citations · 183 works
  3. 3 Mark J. Daly United States · #47 worldwide 9.6k citations · 152 works
  4. 4 Emelia J. Benjamin United States · #54 worldwide 6k citations · 166 works
  5. 5 James G. Scott Australia · #112 worldwide 4.3k citations · 219 works
  6. 6 Kāri Stefánsson Iceland · #127 worldwide 4.2k citations · 145 works
  7. 7 Philip B. Mitchell Australia · #134 worldwide 3.7k citations · 146 works
  8. 8 Mark I. McCarthy United Kingdom · #148 worldwide 4.9k citations · 194 works
  9. 9 Walter C. Willett United States · #154 worldwide 6.8k citations · 360 works
  10. 10 Charles M. Perou United States · #156 worldwide 4.2k citations · 229 works

Re-ranked on the composite score from the 5,232 highest-output authors in Genetics. Identities come from OpenAlex author disambiguation, which occasionally merges or splits people.

Top 100 Genetics researchers

Where is Genetics research done?

The largest centres of Genetics research in 2022–2025 are Beijing (China), London (United Kingdom), Paris (France) and New York (United States). Among places with at least 20 works in it, it is an unusually large share of all research in Clay Center, Podolsk Urban Okrug and Dalkeith.

Largest cities, 2022–2025

  1. 1 Beijing China 4.5k works
  2. 2 London United Kingdom 2.2k works
  3. 3 Paris France 2.2k works
  4. 4 New York United States 1.8k works
  5. 5 Shanghai China 1.8k works
  6. 6 Guangzhou China 1.7k works
  7. 7 Moscow Russia 1.7k works
  8. 8 Tokyo Japan 1.5k works
  9. 9 São Paulo Brazil 1.4k works
  10. 10 Seoul South Korea 1.3k works

Where it is the local speciality

  1. Clay CenterUS · 31.3 works26×
  2. Podolsk Urban OkrugRU · 25.3 works18×
  3. DalkeithGB · 60.8 works18×
  4. PlönDE · 29.9 works17×
  5. MagadanRU · 27.9 works16×
  6. TervurenBE · 21.3 works14×
← less than its size predicts1×more →

Location quotient: how much more of its research is in Genetics than the world average.

See Genetics on the map

Genetics research by country

The best places for Genetics research inside each country, with that country's researchers and world standing.

Where is the best place to study Genetics?

Among universities, judged by research, Harvard University, University of Zambia and University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna score highest, combining excellence, specialisation, size, growth and international reach. Research strength is one signal when choosing where to study; it does not measure teaching.

0%20%40%mean 28.82%fractional works in this node (log) →share in the world top 10% →Harvard University: 527, 33.3%University of Zambia: 251, 0.4%University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna: 76, 24.4%China Agricultural University: 252, 38.6%University of Exeter: 159, 37.5%University of Pennsylvania: 402, 26.9%University of Oxford: 300, 33.0%University College London: 349, 27.5%University of California, Davis: 339, 28.2%University of Lausanne: 137, 38.4%China Agricultural U…Harvard UniversityUniversity of Veteri…University of Zambia
above the meannear itbelow it

One dot per university in the table below. The upper left is the interesting corner: small places doing unusually strong work.

#UniversityScoreTop 10%SpecialisationWorksGrowth
1 Harvard UniversityUnited States 49.333.3%2.5×527 -2.9%
2 University of ZambiaZambia 47.90.4%10.2×251 +55.9%
3 University of Veterinary Medicine ViennaAustria 45.324.4%8.3×76 +27.8%
4 China Agricultural UniversityChina 44.238.6%2.7×252 -6.9%
5 University of ExeterUnited Kingdom 42.837.5%2.3×159 +27.7%
6 University of PennsylvaniaUnited States 42.326.9%2.6×402 +4.5%
7 University of OxfordUnited Kingdom 41.833.0%1.4×300 -1.8%
8 University College LondonUnited Kingdom 41.527.5%1.5×349 +13.8%
9 University of California, DavisUnited States 41.428.2%2.7×339 -3.9%
10 University of LausanneSwitzerland 41.438.4%2.4×137 +10.0%

Universities only. Score blends excellence (30%), specialisation (25%), size (20%), growth (15%) and international reach (10%), 2015–2022; growth compares 2010–14 with 2015–19.

Is Genetics research growing?

Output in 2018–2022 was 17% higher than in 2013–2017, peaking in 2025. The fastest-growing topics are Genomics and Rare Diseases, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

19801990200020102020
grewheldshrank

The same series as a ribbon — one cell per year, darker for more. The line above answers how much; this answers when.

Which topics inside it are moving

Growth and decline on one axis around a shared zero. Two lists side by side hide the thing that matters: whether the growth dwarfs the decline, or the other way round.

  1. Genomics and Rare Diseases+194%
  2. Inflammatory Bowel Disease+110%
  3. Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders+78%
  4. BRCA gene mutations in cancer+76%
  5. Cleft Lip and Palate Research+71%
  6. Genetic Associations and Epidemiology+69%
  7. Animal Genetics and Reproduction-15%
  8. Estrogen and related hormone effects-23%
← shrinkingno changegrowing →

Growth in output from 2005–09 to 2015–19. Every topic is a page of its own.

What does Genetics include?

Virus-based gene therapy…72kVirus-based gene therapy research: 72k fractional worksGenetic and phenotypic t…66kGenetic and phenotypic traits in livestock: 66k fractional worksEstrogen and related hormone effects: 62k fractional worksInsect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior: 59k fractional worksBacterial Genetics and Biotechnology: 55k fractional worksDiabetes and associated disorders: 52k fractional worksGenetic diversity and population structure: 46k fractional worksAnimal Genetics and Reproduction: 43k fractional worksInflammatory Bowel Disease: 39k fractional worksNutrition, Genetics, and Disease: 38k fractional worksGenetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: 36k fractional worksGenetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals: 35k fractional works

Area is fractional works in that topic. Every name below is a page of its own.