Here is a Human Being: At the Dawn of Personal Genomics

A wonderful new book arrived this month that I highly recommend to readers! Misha Angrist composed Here Is A Human Being: At the Dawn of Personal Genomics, not only chronicling the experience of having his genome sequenced, but also introducing many fascinating characters in this engaging narrative about the relationship between us and our DNA.

Misha is assistant professor at Duke's Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy and I was fortunate to get to know him while working at the university. (For a sense of what Misha's up to, check out this interview featured in the News & Observer.) As one of the first ten individuals to participate in George Church's Personal Genome Project, his book explores the broad implications of what personal genomics means in our society while providing the firsthand account of his experience. From Amazon:

In 2007, Misha Angrist became the fourth subject in the Personal Genome Project, George Church's ambitious plan to sequence the entire genomic catalog: every participant's twenty thousand–plus genes and the rest of his or her 6 billion base pairs. Church hopes to better understand how genes influence our physical traits, from height and athletic ability to behavior and weight, and our medical conditions, from cancer and diabetes to obesity and male pattern baldness. Now Angrist reveals startling information about the experiment's participants and scientists; how the experiment was, is, and will be conducted; the discoveries and potential discoveries; and the profound implications of having an unfiltered view of our hardwired selves for us and for our children.

DNA technology has already changed our health care, the food we eat, and our criminal justice system. Unlocking the secrets of our genomes opens the door not only to helping us understand why we are the way we are and potentially fixing what ails us but also to many other concerns: What exactly will happen to this information? Will it become just another marketing tool? Can it help us understand our ancestry, or will it merely reinforce old ideas of race? Can personal genomics help fix the U.S. health care system?

Here Is a Human Being explores these complicated questions while documenting Angrist's own fascinating journey—one that tens of thousands of us will soon make.

Here Is A Human Being is will appeal to anyone interested in DNA and the future of science. The content is easy to understand for experts and laypeople alike. At times Misha takes on a serious tone while elsewhere you'll find yourself laughing at funny anecdotes. These transitions are seamless and the narrative is thought-provoking. I really enjoyed reading this book and learned a lot along the way. You will too so pick this one up!