This is not another book about the Human Genome Project. It is, however, about the human genome: the genes that make it up, what the genes do when they are acting properly, and what happens when these genes are damaged. Designed for today's reader who demands quick answers to a wide range of questions, this book is intended to offer the nonspecialist a first-stop, but fairly detailed, guide to the genome. The information it provides is given context: namely, the basic scientific principles of genome research, the new knowledge unearthed or created by this research, and the social and ethical implications of this knowledge.


The Human Genome Sourcebook is organized in several sections to simplify the location of pertinent information:

; An extensive section that comprises an in-depth catalogue of human genes listed according to the roles they play in life

; A chapter that relates genetic diseases to the specific genes that are damaged to cause the disease.

; A detailed glossary giving readers a deeper understanding of genetic terms and concepts

; An overview or roadmap of the physical layout of the genome sections.