This study of the Human Genome Project will use the tools and perspectives of history, sociology, and anthropology to analyze rapid scientific and technological developments in contemporary human genetics, the organizational changes necessary to keep pace with those developments, the recent growth of commercial ventures in genomics, and the challenges to ethical and social analysis presented by such a fast-changing and complex set of processes. Using archival materials, fieldwork, and in-depth interviews with scientists in industry and academe, the project will examine the impact of recombinant DNA methods in the field of human genetics, and the resulting demands for a coordinated effort to map and sequence the entire human genome. The final product will be a book, titled Inventing Speed Genomics, that will analyze such developments and contribute to public discussion about genetics research and its social meanings.
