Genome: The Story of the Most Astonishing Scientific Adventure of Our Time--The Attempt to Map All the Genes in the Human Body

Told with the pacing of a great suspense novel, Genome tells the very real story of what could be the most ambitious scientific research project ever undertaken: the attempt to identify all the genes in the human body; estimated to number from 50,000 to 100,000. These genes, located in the nucleus of the human cell, contain the blueprints for thousands of proteins that make up the body's tissues and vital organs, from muscles to brain cells, as well as the instructions for making the thousands of chemicals that literally give us life.

By mapping the human genome, scientists can study and even reproduce the chemical components that run the human machine. This knowledge will revolutionize the treatments for and the prevention of diseases. In this newly updated edition, the authors explain how we may soon have the ability to control our genetic fate. This unprecendented power, however, presents society with new dangers. In Genome, we learn much about the fascinating challenges...both scientific and ethical...that lie ahead.