Synopses & Reviews
Since the conclusion of the Human Genome Project in 2003, scientists have been racing towards a grand goal: offering individuals a decoding of their complete genetic makeup for just $1,000. As Kevin Davies reveals in this exquisitely reported account, the $1,000 genome will be a reality by 2011 and it will usher in a whole new era of personalized, genomic medicine. Capable of presenting much more advanced information than the current crop of cheek-swab services, the $1,000 complete genome raises some extraordinary possibilities. We will be able to learn if we have genes that predispose us to a host of diseases, and to take a wide range of preventative measures. Drug companies may be able to create versions of drugs tailored specifically to our individual DNA. But we may also face the psychological burden of learning that we have the gene for an incurable disease, such as Parkinsonand#8217;s. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Acclaimed author Kevin Davies introduces the pioneers of this medical revolution and probes deeply into both the medical benefits and ethical issues of personal genetic testing, also exploring the psychological complexities of learning oneand#8217;s DNA results, based on both his own experience of being tested and that of a number of others. andlt;Iandgt;The $1,000 Genomeandlt;/Iandgt; is an indispensable guide to the new era of personalized medicine.
About the Author
Kevin Davies, Ph.D., is the author of andlt;iandgt;The $1,000 Genome. andlt;/iandgt;His previous book Crackingandlt;iandgt; the Genomeandlt;/iandgt; was translated into 15 languages. He is currently Editor-in-Chief of andlt;iandgt;Bioand#8226;IT Worldandlt;/iandgt;, a trade magazine covering the role of technology in the life sciences. He was the founding editor of andlt;iandgt;Nature Geneticsandlt;/iandgt;, the world's leading genetics journal, which he headed for its first five years. He has also written for the andlt;iandgt;Times (London), Boston Globeandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;New England Journal of Medicineandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;New Scientistandlt;/iandgt;, among others. His first book, andlt;iandgt;Breakthrough andlt;/iandgt;(co-authored with Michael White) told the story of the race for the andlt;iandgt;BRCA1 andlt;/iandgt;breast cancer gene. Davies holds an M.A. in biochemistry from the University of Oxford and a Ph.D in molecular genetics from the University of London. He held postdoctoral fellowships at MIT and Harvard Medical School before moving into science publishing as an editor with andlt;iandgt;Natureandlt;/iandgt; magazine. He lives in Lexington, Massachusetts.