Page 83 of The Bone Code
“A blueprint to build a human being. I’d score that as a win.”
I hadn’t thought of it quite that way. “A big one. Better understanding of the functions of genes and proteins is having an enormous impact on medicine and biotechnology.”
“But we digress.”
“We do.” More triaging. “Huger left the project in 1995 to take a position at GlaxoSmithKline, also known as GSK.”
“Big pharma. Suppose he was lured by the bucks?”
“Who knows? But given that Huger was a biochemistry wunderkind, I suspect the offer was substantial.”
“Can one still qualify as a wunderkind at age thirty-one?”
“I think so.” Skimming. “Huger was also an entrepreneur. In 1999, he launched a company called GeneMe.”
“Purveyors of blue jeans?” Ryan deadpanned.
After giving Ryan “the look,” “GeneMe was one of the very earliest DTC genetic testing companies.” Even as the words left my lips, I sensed I was coming across as a genetics know-it-all. How didthathappen? A month ago, I couldn’t have cited more than a few facts on the topic.
“DTC?”
“Direct-to-consumer. In the early days, they did paternity testing and such. In 2000, the company won some sort of invention of the year award. Looks like users were supposed to submit DNA to trace their ancestors.”
“Mine would arrow straight back to one of the Louises. Maybe all of them.”
My eyes rolled without input from me.
“Is GeneMe still operating?” Ryan asked.
“No. At some point, it morphed to GeneFree.”
“Tabarnac!The jeans are free?”
“The GeneFree website is still active.”
“Where does the boy genius live?”
“I found almost zilch on his personal life. And not that.”
“Doesn’t everyone on the planet have a Facebook page?”
“You don’t.”
“Because I have you.” Choirboy grin.
“Huger has zero presence on social media. No personal website. No Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter account. Though he could tweet using any handle.”
Ryan thought a moment. “Huger earned his doctorates at the University of North Carolina?”
“He did.”
“GlaxoSmithKline has facilities all over the country. Where did Huger work for them?”
I checked my notes.
“Zebulon, North Carolina.”
“And where is GeneFree based?”
