The Genomic Revolution: Unveiling the Unity of Life

From the discoveries of Watson and Crick to the appearance of Dolly the Sheep, the last fifty years have ushered in a revolution of knowledge in how organisms develop, function, and replicate. Scientists are now engaged in an epic task that will catapult the revolution to new heights: the sequencing of the human genome.

Consider the scope of such a discovery. How different are we from one another? Does race have a scientific meaning? Is there such a thing as a disease gene? What are the potential risks of genetically modified food? Does a clone have a soul? The Human Genome Project will inevitably lead to landmark changes in medicine, agriculture, and the study of evolution—and will ultimately define the course of human history.

The Genomic Revolution: Unveiling the Unity of Life takes readers on a fascinating journey through genomics—from the basic presentation of ideas about heredity through the essential principles of molecular biology, including an exploration of the ethical implications of the genome project for individuals and society.

Some of the world's leading experts in genomics—Harold Varmus, Leroy Hood, Daniel Kevles, and Craig Venter, to name just a few—contribute their assessments of the state of current scientific research. Written for anyone wondering why we are the way we are, The Genomic Revolution is a timely and important collection that spans the science, the promise, and the potential pitfalls of a field moving so quickly that its achievements may alternately delight and trouble us, but almost always surprise us.

Rob DeSalle and Michael Yudell, Editors