The Genome--the genetic code of human existence, the "book of life," the greatest mystery in all biology. Unraveling it could alter medicine and help the world; being the first to succeed could mean making millions of dollars.
In 1998, biologist Craig Venter founded Celera, a company whose objective was to sequence the genome by 2001. That ambitious plan put Venter squarely at odds with the U.S. government, which was determined to do the same thing. The result was a war. The combatants were commerce and science, ego and altruism, profit and patriotism.
Granted access to the inner workings of Celera--and to its fascinating and flamboyant founder, described by some as both "an inspiration" and "an opportunistic maniac," and by the government as "Darth Vader"--James Shreeve has written the definitive account of this excitincl story, one essential to understanding the modern age.