Decoding Our DNA

November 1, 2012

Gr 8 UpT-hese books showcase major scientific developments and the brutal competition behind the scenes. They are highly engaging accounts of researchers resorting to cheap shots, spying, and double crossing to take credit for pivotal discoveries. But they are also disturbing documentation of how ego can trump the greater good, as in the battle between Luc Montagnier and Robert Gallo over the discovery of the virus that causes AIDS. Proprietary arguments and fraud delayed progress in its identification, which undoubtedly came at the cost of lives. Written cleanly and fluidly, these titles let the drama and occasional absurdity of the players' actions speak for themselves. Captioned photographs and diagrams correspond well to the texts, while sidebars contribute additional facts. In-depth time lines are the most noteworthy of the strong supplementary features. This fascinating set would be equally useful in history and science classrooms.

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2012
Grades 9-12 This slender volume from the Scientific Rivalries and Scandals series introduces the race to sequence the human genome, with scientists competing for possible fame, fortune, and a place in history. On one side, the players included James Watson, who first headed the U.S. branch of the international Human Genome Project, and Francis Collins, who followed him in that position. Researcher Craig Venter challenged the slow, methodical pace of their government-funded project by working on a privately funded venture to complete a similar project more quickly and patent the results. The small, rather crowded pages include some black-and-white photos as well as sidebars and pull quotes. Readers with a solid grounding in genetics may well become caught up in the narrative, which features professional rivalry as well as ethical concerns. Others may find themselves muddling through the vocabulary, acronyms, and explanations of technical points. Still, Ballen clearly lays out both sides of the issues as well as the story's eventual resolution.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)