One in a billion
Subtitle: the story of Nic Volker and the dawn of genomic medicine
By: Mark Johnson and Kathleen Gallagher
Contributors: Gallagher, Kathleen (Journalist), author
Edition: First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.
Published: 2016
Language: eng
Number of pages: 246
ISBN-13: 9781451661323
Subjects: Genomics; Case studies; Health; Medical genetics; Personalized medicine
Description: "A full-length medical narrative by two Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists traces the scientific breakthroughs surrounding a Wisconsin youth whose mysterious illness was cured through unprecedented gene sequencing,"--NoveList.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Mark Johnson and Kathleen Gallagher chronicle the story of Nic Volker, the Wisconsin boy at the center of a daring breakthrough in medicine--a complete gene sequencing to discover the cure for an otherwise undiagnosable illness. At just two years old, Nic experienced a searing pain that signaled the awakening of a new and deadly disease. For years, through false starts and failed cures, Nic holds on to life, buoyed up by his mother's fierce drive to get him the care he needs. But when even the world's experts are stumped by Nic's illness, his doctors come up with a radical, long-shot plan: a step into the unknown. The next major scientific frontier, following the completion of the Human Genome Project, was to figure out how to use our new knowledge to save lives--to bring genomic or personalized medicine into reality. The quest is undertaken by researchers around the world, but it is only when geneticist Howard Jacob hears about young Nic that the finish line finally comes into sight: It's no longer a race to make history. It's a race to save this boy's life.--Adapted from dust jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 207-238) and index.
Table of contents: title: At the threshold; title: Beyond the four letters; title: Try me; title: The pied piper; title: An extraordinary patient; title: Diagnostic odyssey; title: Spiders on the ceiling; title: Big steps and fast; title: Patient X; title: No more secrets; title: Survivors; title: The dragon; title: The genome joke; title: Why are we here?; title: Unknown territory; title: I'm going to tell you a story; title: Fine white threads; title: Thousands of suspects; title: The culprit; title: Faith and doubt; title: The smell of creamed corn; title: Inheritance; title: Come along and follow me.