genetic engineer

Coined by Poul Anderson in his 1954 novella "Big Rain", after the term genetic engineering.

genetic engineer (plural genetic engineers)

1. A scientist or engineer whose speciality is genetic engineering.
   • 1954 October, Anderson, Poul, “Big Rain”, in Astounding Science Fiction, volume 54, number 2, page 22:

     Meanwhile giant pulverizers were reducing barren stone and sand to fine particles which would be mixed with fertilizers to yield soil; and the genetic engineers were evolving still other strains of life which could provide a balanced ecology; and the water units were under construction.

   • 1966 June, New Scientist, page 762:

     The culture of embryos in the laboratory, destined to develop into adults whose physical and, possibly, intellectual characteristics had been chosen in advance by the genetic engineers.

• Jeff Prucher, editor (2007), “genetic engineer”, in Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction, Oxford, Oxfordshire; New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, pages 77–78.
• Jesse Sheidlower, editor (2001–2023), “genetic engineer n.”, in Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction.