Bacon: Job growth always translates into demand for commercial real estate space, and genomics has the promise of significant new job growth. In the recent study released by San Diego Regional EDC, in partnership with CBRE, seven out of 10 genomics employers said they expected to add to their workforce in the next 12 months. In 2016, there were 2,940 unique genomics job postings in San Diego. The industry is poised to grow quickly, and companies will need the space to accommodate growth.

GlobeSt.com: Will new sectors of the industry benefit from genomics aside from the life-sciences and biotech sector?

Bacon: Major players in the technology, data-storage and communications industries are already engaging with genomics companies, either as partners, financial backers or service providers. Genomics is as much data science as traditional life science, and the industry is overcoming massive data-storage and analytics challenges. Traditional tech companies and financiers are starting to see the opportunity as well.

GlobeSt.com: How will genomics change the design, investment and/or use of life-sciences and biotech space in San Diego?

Bacon: The analytics part of genomics will require software engineering and related talent; thus, the genomics industry will compete with other technology sectors who are recruiting the same kind of talent. There will be less demand for traditional laboratory space, as genomics is more about data analytics and secure data networks and storage. We are also seeing genomics and radiology converge toward innovative new treatment methods. This will lead to less lab and more tech-like R&D and office space, which will likely include other radiological and medical-diagnostic technologies.

GlobeSt.com: What else should our readers take away from this report?

Bacon: Genomics and the personalized-medicine revolution will disrupt many portions of the traditional medical/clinical industry. It's important to remember that we are still very much in the early stages of this technology reaching commercial platforms, so there will likely be unforeseen disruptive applications and effects.