I find myself unusually enthusiastic about the Human Genome Project. Worse, I do not even mind the hype about the first draft of the genome itself, which was recently announced by Clinton and Blair of all people. I am sure much knowledge about our species, as well as life itself, will come out of this international effort. And yet, my enthusiasm is not whole. A vague sense of dread accompanies it. One fine day we may well learn from the Genome Project whether enthusiasm and residual dread always go together, or whether this is something reserved for historic occasions only.