Double Helix (novel)
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Double Helix, by Nancy Werlin, is about 18-year old Eli Samuels, who works for a famous molecular biologist named Dr. Quincy Wyatt. There is a mysterious connection between Dr. Wyatt and Eli’s parents, and all Eli knows about the connection is that it has something to do with his mother, who has Huntington’s disease. Because of the connection between Dr. Wyatt and the Samuels family, Eli's father is strongly against Eli working there. The job is perfect, and the wages are great, but Eli can't help but notice that Dr. Wyatt seems to be a little too interested in Eli. Later on, as Eli continues to work in the lab, he discovers with the help of Kayla Matheson, Dr. Wyatt's supposed "niece," that he and Kayla are the product of a highly unethical eugenics experiment.
The book addresses a lot of recent scientific breakthroughs, and uses them as plot development. For instance, The Human Genome Project, which documents all the genes and DNA in the human genetic makeup, is talked about when Dr. Wyatt explains his genetic testing to Eli for the first time. Scientific American recently published an article detailing the possible uses for the information gathered from the Human Genome Project. Modern advancements in gene studies currently can detect and, in some cases, even predict the presence of a genetic abnormality. In Double Helix, this ability to detect “flaws” before birth was used to genetically engineer a “more perfect son, devoid of flaws and with a proper chance to live free of Huntington’s.”
For many people, the biggest issue with genetic engineering is whether or not to seek out and act on knowledge about genetic flaws. On a website about eugenics, the author points out that: While modern eugenics has the potential to empower the human race with immense strength…it also can destroy us. The potential for abusing modern eugenics is unbelievable…people [could] use modern eugenics to create a new wave of biological weapons . Double Helix shows the life saving and life destroying aspects to genetic engineering. Eli’s life was saved by avoiding the Huntington’s disease gene, but his concept of life and self were destroyed when he found out he was genetically engineered to be a certain way.[1][2][3]
