Hood: Trailblazer of the Genomics Age

He left at age sixty-one to start his own Institute for Systems Biology. Scientists can now sequence complete human genomes in a day, setting in motion a revolution that is personalizing medicine.Hood, a son of the American West, was an unlikely candidate to transform biology. His management style, once described as “creative anarchy,” alienated many. A fraud in his lab made him consider, for a moment, quitting science.Wooed by money from Bill Gates, Hood started over at the University of Washington, creating the world’s first Department of Molecular Biotechnology. Never-before-reported details are drawn from the scientist’s confidential files, public records, and more than 150 interviews with Hood and his family, friends, collaborators, and detractors. Lee Hood did that rarest of things. He enabled scientists to see things they couldn’t see before and do things they hadn’t dreamed of doing. But with ferocious drive, he led a team at Caltech that developed the automated DNA sequencer, the tool that paved the way for the Human Genome Project. Seven years later, his impatience for rules drove him to depart. Fellow Caltech biologists charged that his empire building was out of control and ousted him as their chairman. Would he finally achieve the ultimate application of the genome project—personalized medicine?In “Hood: Trailblazer of the Genomics Age,” journalist Luke Timmerman zeroes in on

"A must-read popular science book." Forbes"A thorough biography that never shies away from the contradictions of this forceful personalityHood deserves to be a household name." Kirkus Reviews (starred review)"An engrossing look at the man, his times, the technology he brought into being and the implications for humanity." San Diego Union-Tribune"A thrilling ride through the life of a visionary biologist." Mendelspod"A page-turner." Bio-IT World"A revealing story that should resonate beyond the biotech world." Geekwire"A masterful guide to one of the most important scientists of the 20th century." Genome magazine 

David Miller said A biography that's more than just a good story. When the author, who for full disclosure I've known for years and consider a friend, told me he was writing a biography I was skeptical it would teach anyone much about the business of biotechnology -- even with such a compelling subject as Dr. Leroy Hood. I was wrong.The first two-thirds of the book . Portrait of a pioneer of tool-driven revolutions The Galisonian view of science - named after historian of science Peter Galison - says that science is driven as much or even more by new techniques and instruments as by new ideas. Sadly most people have always placed theoretical ideas at the forefront of scientific revolutions, a view enforced by Th. ADG said and the impact he had on many budding scientists that were influenced by the good Dr. Hood. Having been in the biotechnology industry for many years, I had often heard about the prolific entrepreneur and scientist, Dr. Hood. However, until reading this book, I did not appreciate the true impact of Dr. Hood’s achievements on our industry and how critical he was to the now obvious conver

This is his first book. He lives in Seattle with his wife and daughter. . Luke Timmerman is an award-winning journalist who has covered biotech for more than 15 years. Scientific American named him one of the 100 most influential people in biotech in 2015. He is the founder and editor of Timmerman Report, an industry-leading biotech news