Publisher's Synopsis
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 worlds 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.
