Nancy Wexler is a hunter. Her quarry is the gene responsible for a fatal, inherited sickness called Huntington’s disease. Finding this gene is a vital step toward preventing or curing Huntington’s and thus saving lives. Nancy’s work is a breathtaking race against time—not only for others but maybe for herself, as well. Nancy, the daughter of a Huntington’s patient, is at risk for this disease.
Nancy’s work takes her all over the world, specifically to small villages in Venezuela where the mysterious gene affects more people than anywhere else on the globe. Blood samples generously donated by the villagers hold the clues to discovering the gene. Hunter, detective, scientist—Nancy is all these, plus a friend to people everywhere who are affected by Huntington’s and other diseases of the brain.
Gene Hunter is the powerful story of a scientist and her science. To tell this true tale of courage and discovery, author Adele Glimm drew on firsthand accounts from Nancy and her friends, family, and colleagues. How did a curious, strong-minded young girl become a renowned genetic researcher, determined to unlock the secrets of inherited diseases? The life story of Nancy Wexler will intrigue and inspire readers of all ages.
