Customer Reviews

The Gene Masters: How a New Breed of Scientific Entrepeneurs Raced for the Biggest Prize in Biology

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gene Masters is a rare combination: a page-turner that teaches science and the process of science. I knew something about the human genome project before I read this book, but I was royally entertained by the personalities that contributed to sequencing the genome. Both non-scientists and scientists in other disciplines will painlessly learn the rudiments of genomics. The most interesting aspect of this book is that it shows how the personalities of the scientists influenced the science. Wickelgren shows that there is more than one way to approach a scientific problem; there is not one "right way". She shows that the approach chosen by each scientist is influenced by his or her personality. One person may choose a safe but slow method, another a riskier but potentially faster method. She also illustrates the complexities of scientists as humans. Scientists want to be first and famous, but they also want to do something important, something that will improve the human condition. Sometimes these complex mixtures of motivations work synchronously; sometimes they clash. In this book, science becomes accessible and scientists become human. I highly recommend it.

It is rare to find a book that explains hard science so clearly and articulately. I remember reading in the papers about the discovery of the human genome, but never was able to understand the entire importance -- and DRAMA -- of what was going on until I read The Gene Masters. The author masterfully weaves the scientific with the personal: it's exciting stuff that comes at a fast clip! This is a great read.

This well-written and fast-paced book does an excellent job of presenting the fascinating story of the Genomics Revolution and some of the scientists who led it. The author captures the drama of the Human Genome competition but also describes and explains the important scientific advances earlier in the 1990s that laid the groundwork for that monumental achievement.

"The Gene Masters" wonderfully elucidates a complicated subject and makes an exciting story come to life, even for someone without a great science background.

A great story full of great characters, and the first time I've actually understood the sequencing of the human genome.

Popularized accounts of scientific discoveries usually err in being condescending and simplistic or overly arcane. Thankfully, this author committed neither sin and has delivered a fast moving and informative story about one of the greatest races to discovery of the 20th century.

You do not need a science degree to get an immense amount of enjoyment and understanding out of this book. The characters involved are large, the scene is global, and the outcome is one which will have a significant influence our the health and lifespan of future generations.

Bravo!

Ingrid Wickelgren provides a very good recount of the Great Race for the human genome that can be viewed as more a study in human personalities than in the human genome. Science is influenced by those interpreting it and it was quite revealing how human the mighty Ph.D's really are. They may consider themselves god-like, but they easily forget that knowing more information doesn't make you a god, it makes you responsible. That responsibility is to the science and not to their ego.

The author does an excellent job of documenting her sources, encouraging further investigation into the content. A great first step into learning about what makes us human...in more ways than the obvious.

The Human Genome Project was launched in the mid-1980s, and with it came a new era of science: One fiercely divided between those fighting for patents and profits, and others fighting for free exchange of information. In her new book, The Gene Masters, Ingrid Wickelgren tells the lively story of the race to sequence and control the human genome. In a style that's often elegant and exciting, she chronicles one of the most important scientific ventures in recent history with the right mix of action, drama, and good hard science.  Those who already know the science will enjoy it as a good refresher course on genetics, and a wonderfully entertaining story filled with politics, science, and colorful characters. Readers new to genetics will find that Gene Masters provides a clear, readable overview of human genetics and the genome project (and it's a lot more fun to read than a textbook). ...

Well written and easy to read accounting of the race to decipher the Human Genome. However the book is only suitable for readers who have not read any other books regarding the race between commercial interests (Craig Venter of Celera Inc.) and the US Government in the form of the National Institute of Health under Francis Collins. Most of the books contents have already been written about in Kevin Davies' Cracking The Genome. However The Gene Masters does give some additional information regarding Kari Stefannson in Iceland and his goal to databank all genomic information regarding Icelandic citizens.
Redaers looking for a little more substance to their genomic information may be interested in "Transducing The Genome" by Gary Zweiger.