“It is humbling for me, and awe-inspiring, to realize that we have caught the first glimpse of our own instruction book, previously known only to God.”

Collins spoke these words at a ceremony at the White House to mark the announcement of the unveiling of the genetic code. His remarks immediately followed President Bill Clinton’s address, echoing the president’s mention of the religious implications of the genetic code. Collins’s statement showed that he wanted the religious aspect of genetics at the forefront of the genome project as presented to the public.

“[F]or me the experience of sequencing the human genome, and uncovering this most remarkable of all texts, was both a stunning scientific achievement and an occasion of worship.”

Collins was convinced that the project to crack the genetic code had a spiritual and religious dimension, “the language of God.” The genome is similar to a language in that it consists of a “code” of letters representing chemical components. Like a language or text, the genome provides “instructions” to the body’s cells to perform particular functions.

“In my view, there is no conflict in being a rigorous scientist and a person who believes in a God who takes a personal interest in each one of us.”

The central conviction of the book is that science and religion are compatible. Collins makes this conviction personal by presenting himself as a believer in God who is also a scientist, and by relating the various issues of the book to his own experiences as a scientist and Christian.