Some geneticists study the genes that control bone development to try to understand bone growth and find cures for diseases. How is this different from an orthopedist (a doctor who specializes in bones)? The geneticist looks at the symptoms of a disease, and the orthopedist does not. The geneticist works in a hospital, and the orthopedist works in a lab. The geneticist focuses on what causes the disease, and the orthopedist treats the disease. The geneticist deals with patients, and the orthopedist does not.