The Genesis Key by James Barney

3.0 out of 5 stars --  If science can do it -- should we use it?

This novel has elements of science, anthropology, religion, archeology, history, mythology, mystery, conspiracy, covert governmental machinations -- and more...whew! And that's part of the problem with this book about the longevity gene (INDY = I'm not dead yet -- a Monty Python reference) and a scientist's experience finding and sequencing it.

Of COURSE everyone wants this new information that sets someone up to make billions of dollars, and the ensuing action in subsequent chapters is filled with scenes of car chases, spying, shootouts, double crosses, murders and the like. Naturally the US government also has an eye out and an interest in this technology. Dr. Kathleen Sainsbury receives a single tooth that was rescued from a sarcophagus deep in a 5000-year-old tomb from an old friend of her parents and starts the lab process to examine its DNA. When she begins the experiments on that tooth and her lab discovers the gene sequence that allows a human to live well beyond the current life span, chaos ensues.

At this point, when this INDY gene is discovered and sequenced making it potentially useful, is when the narrative turns reflective and ridiculous with its sudden moral and ethical lecturing -- surely any scientist that is delving into the human genome would have thought about the implications of increased life span?? But no, all of a sudden there is conscience and questioning of whether or not science can be stopped or when it goes too far. Indeed, what would happen to the planet if its population suddenly mushroomed and everyone lived for hundreds of years reproducing and consuming resources for much longer periods of time??

Moral and ethical debate aside, the novel was an OK tale perfect for reading without too much analysis of the veracity of the science or the religious references. Enjoy for what it is -- an action-packed read that might give the reader a thing or two to contemplate.