So, tinkering around with an idea for a plant doctor, somebody who does a lot of work with transgenics, splicing (awakened) plant DNA to create new magical compounds, drugs, poultices and paints.

What kinds of skills do you think would be necessary for genetic engineering?

So far I've got:

Academic Skills:
Biology (Parabiology)
Botany (Parabotany)
Chemistry (Organic Chemistry)
Zoology (Parazoology)
Geology (Parageology)

Professional Skills
Genetic Engineering

Active Skills
Arisan (Transgenics)
Chemistry (Compounds)
Enchanting (Alchemy)
Medic (Combat Wounds)
Medicine (Magical Health)


Also a lot of money spent on Labs/Factories/Talislegging.

Looks to me like you've got it pretty well covered, skillwise.

Once the character initiates, they should maybe look to picking up Geomancy ASAP - so they can arrange even the flow of mana through their test-greenhouses so as to be as favorable to the desired outcome a spossible.

.... hmm, maybe just some mundane skill in Feng Shui, would work alongside that kind of idea ...

That Chlorophyll skin bio doesn't cost essence I think, adds some flavour... Not sure if it's the kind you want although.
Why am I thinking of Darkwing duck all of the sudden?

That song is going to be stuck in my head all day. Thanks a LOT.

That would be Bushroot, not Darkwing Duck.

Didn't know his english name so I went with the series

No worries... I actually liked Bushroot...

these days genetic engineering is generally done by multiple groups of people:

one team works on identifying and isolating the desired trait
the target gene is then combined with the necessary regulatory elements, sometimes by that first team, sometimes not, to create the recombinant gene that will be used to transform the new species
the transformation is also done by specialists, depending on the desired transformation method (this is probably the part that will advance the most in the next 50 years)
the transformants are then passed on to a team of growers who will spend some time identifying the most stable transformation event, breeding a homozygous carrier, perhaps breeding in other traits (in contemporary farming for example, different varieties are used in different climates, so even though you have your "transgenic corn" you still need to breed that into each of your varieties)

just some background info, I think the set of skills you have mapped out probably covers the gamut

The same goes for cars and pretty much any tech job nowadays, but still a mechanic who knows it all and enhances vehicles beyond what whole engineering collectives could come up with is a widely used archetype.

Yup, totally agreed. I think it's a great concept for a character.

Can't forget the spellcasting/power focus of a wooden tiki mask.