THE YEAR OF THE GENOME: A DIARY OF THE BIOLOGICAL REVOLUTION

By Gerald Weissman

6.5" x 9.5", 290 page hardcover with dustjacket, Times Books, ISBN # 0-8050-7095-8, First Edition, Copyright 2002

The director of the Biotechnology Study Center at the NYU School of Medicine, Gerald Weissmann here gathers 34 of the columns he published between April 2000 and October 2001 in the webzine Praxis Post. While many of the columns focus on the remarkable genomic milestones reached during that time (e.g., announcement of the draft human sequence in June 2000 and publication of the working draft sequence in February 2001), the essays are thoroughly grounded in medical and biological reality. Weissmann discusses the politics of cloning and contraception and pays welcome attention to public health issues, which will continue to be just as important as molecular biology and biochemistry advances. Juxtaposing true medical progress such as the recent dramatic reductions in deaths from stroke with ongoing struggles against hoof and mouth, mad cow, Ebola, and other diseases, Weissmann's book is erudite, engaging, and accessible.

The book is complete and in VERY GOOD condition with some overall wear. The upper right corner of the pages are slightly bumped.