Investigating some of the great breakthroughs in modern biology, involving the cloning and deciphering of the genes that control susceptibility or resistance to cancer, Angier explores a richly human community that pursues science with near-romantic intensity. She reveals the special breed of men and women in whom the desire to know the truth burns like an obsession, who follow science for the betterment of the human condition, personal competitive reasons, and the sheer joy of the hunt.