Scientists are racing to unravel the code of life in our DNA sequences. But once we know the code, will we know what life means? Will we know what to do with the powerful information we will have? Barbara Katz Rothman examines the current trends and applications of genetics research on race, illness and procreation. She explores new genetics in the light of her work as a sociologist who has studied motherhood and women's experiences with prenatal genetic testing, her participation in the new world of bioethical discussions of genetics, and her personal experiences as a mother in an interracial family. Her book aims to help the reader think about the place of genetic science in our own lives, its role in our social world and how we choose to think about think about human life itself.