Gene Hunter: The Story of Neuropsychologist Nancy Wexler

by Adele Glimm

Nancy Wexler is a hunter. Her quarry is the gene responsible for a fatal, inherited sickness called Huntington's disease. Nancy's work is a breathtaking race against time not only for others but maybe for herself, as well. Nancy Wexler is the daughter of a Huntington's patient and is at risk for this disease. Finding this gene is a vital step toward preventing or curing Huntington's and thus saving lives. Nancy's work takes her all over the world, specifically to small villages in Venezuela where the mysterious gene affects more people than anywhere else on the globe. Blood samples generously donated by the villagers hold the clues to discovering the gene. Hunter, detective, Nancy is all these, plus a friend to people everywhere who are affected by Huntington's and other diseases of the brain. Gene Hunter is the powerful story of a courageous and dedicated woman whose passion for science is both personally and intellectually satisfying. Author Adele Glimm draws on firsthand accounts from Nancy and her friends, family, and colleagues to tell us how a curious, strongminded woman became an accomplished neuropsychologist. This title aligns to Common Core Interest Level Grades 6 - 8; Reading Level Grade level 7.1: Lexile 1080L; Not Available; Guided Z

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Carolyn Vandine West · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a juvenile level book about Nancy Wexler, Whose mother suffered from Huntington’s disease. Incurable and passed down genetically from your parents. I learned so much about this disease and was impressed with this woman spending so much of her life trying to find the genetic codes and hopefully help find a cure
This was a library book and also a bingo challenge.

[Elin.hanna]

I read a book entitled “Gene Hunter the Story of Neuropsychologist Nancy Wexler”. This book talks about the Hunter disease in genes. The symptom for this disease is uncontrollable movement “dancing”. This disease exists in a small village in Venezuela that has a lot of people with this disease. So Nancy works to help people to find a cure. Because this illness is in her family. She had three uncles and her mother who died from this illness. Then when she went to Venezuela she met a lot of people, established relationships with them and them like her a lot. So she and her team have been working to find a cure. Also in this book there are a lot of different topics. For example how she and her team loved people in that village. And you can see how Nancy’s family encourages her not to give up in her work. I think this book is easy to read and I learned a lot of things.

I want to show to people to read my book. Because when they read it they will see a lot of stories and learn a lot of medical vocabulary. If my major is nursing or physical therapy,it will help me to help people and make me thinking about how I can save the other generations from genetically disorders. This book is small one and it has a lot of pictures and colors. You can find this online or book store at LaGuardia. It isn’t expensive. It will make you existited and want to read more and more.

[Jacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Incredible She One Of My Most Amazing Heroes God Bless Her and Everyone In The Village

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was aimed at high schoolers to get them interested in science. I wish I'd read it at the right age.

[Fahed Aln · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like to read scientific books, and in this book I found more than what I needed. It's really a greet combination of biography and science. I liked it.