Genetics - Leland Hartwell

The authors have developed a text that reflects the directions Genetics is taking as it heads into the 21st century. This perspective embraces five major themes:1. the central importance of the genome, as opposed to the action of individual genes;2. the application of genetics to the improvement of human health;3. the growing appreciation for the relationships among organisms arising from genetic research; 4. the impact of biotechnology on the accelerating
growth of genetic knowledge; and5. the importance of emerging social and ethical issues related to our use of biotechnology.

Dr. Leland Hartwell is President and Director of Seattles Fred Hutchinson CancerResearch Center and Professor of Genome Sciences at the University of Washington.Dr. Hartwells primary research contributions were in identifying genes that controlcell division in yeast, including those necessary for the division process as well asthose necessary for the fi delity of genome reproduction. Subsequently, many of thesesame genes have been found to control cell division in humans and oft en to be thesite of alteration in cancer cells.Dr. Hartwell is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and has receivedthe Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award, the Gairdner FoundationInternational Award, the Genetics Society Medal, and the 2001 Nobel Prize inPhysiology or Medicine.