Based on the new Spitzer Hall of Human Origins in the American Museum of Natural History which opens in February 2007, The Book of The Genome takes the young reader to the cutting edge of science, exploring and examining the tools by which we study our origins, some of the milestones in human origins, human movement across the Planet and the beginnings of being human through language, music, art and tools.

Ian Tattersall is currently Curator in the Division of Anthropology of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Robert DeSalle is the Curator of Entomology and Co-Director of the Molecular Laboratory at the American Museum of Natural History.

Patricia J. Wynne is an award winning artist who lives with her husband, the artist, Donald Silver in New York City. She works at the American Museum of Natural History and teaches numerous courses when she is not illustrating books. Her books are frequently on Book of the Year Lists in Newsweek, Smithsonian Magazine, Scientific American, Parade, New York Times Book Review