The Gene Wars

"Cook-Deegan's . . . straightforward account of the technology, politics, and controversy surrounding the [Human Genome Project] is rich in detail and is accessible to nonscientists." —The New Yorker

"Of [recent books on the revolution in human genetics], the most compelling and by far the most comprehensive is The Gene Wars by Robert Cook-Deegan. It describes the creation and initial operations of a massive public health effort that perhaps few citizens realize they are paying for: the Human Genome Project. . . . For anyone interested in learning how it all began and where genetic technology is headed, Cook-Deegan's history is essential reading." —Washington Post

"Enriched by unpublished sources ranging from personal letters and notes taken at meetings to an impressive number of interviews, the book is a rare achievement. . . . Cook-Deegan's narrative is presented with verve and clarity." —Science

"A book that speaks with authority on all aspects of the subject." —Times Higher Education Supplement

Robert Cook-Deegan is a senior program officer at the National Academy of Sciences. He lives in Annapolis, Maryland.

1996 / paperback / ISBN 0-393-31399-9 / 416 pages / SCIENCE

• "BRAVO!...[The Gene Wars] is superb and will become the definitive text. Easy to read . . . enthralling . . . personal and professional . . . accurate." —Nancy Wexler, Columbia University