The Human Genome

The sequencing of the human genome has been hailed as the most ground-breaking scientific event of our time. It will, in equal measure, offer insight into our collective history and our individual identities, and open up untold possibilities for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. Not since Crick and Watson's discovery of the structure of DNA has a scientific publication been greeted with such fanfare and expectation. In this fascinating and beautifully illustrated account, written and compiled by Carina Dennis and Richard Gallagher of Nature, the genome project is made uniquely accessible for a general readership. It offers an introduction to the basic biology and techniques, a guide to the main players and events in the history of genetic science, and a range of viewpoints on its impact and reception around the world, in addition to the full text of the research paper itself. An indispensable companion to the human genome, this will stand as the definitive reference guide, commemorating one of humankind's greatest achievements.