Drawing the Map of Life: Inside the Human Genome Project

Veteran science journalist McElheny (Watson and DNA) concludes about the human genome project, the government-sponsored effort, completed in 2003, to decipher the entire human genome: "the big-scale science of genomics represents an explosion in knowledge that shows no sign of contracting." Indeed, the topic is huge and gets bigger with each passing year. By attempting to cover as much of the field as he does, McElheny makes it difficult for all readers to be fully informed: he lacks the necessary space to provide the detailed genomics background that would make the advances wholly comprehensible. Nonetheless, the author does two things very well. His description of the politics that led to the human genome project becoming the first megascale biology research program (akin in a number of ways to some large-scale physics projects supported by governmental funding) is clear and illuminating. Similarly, McElheny does an impressive job at explaining the current and future benefits likely to arise from the genetics data flooding into scientists’ laboratories. He is able to link pure research with medical advances, providing hope for concrete breakthroughs in individualized treatment while demonstrating that the money invested in this huge project has been well spent. (July)