Charles Boone is a molecular biologist. He has implemented an automated form of yeast genetic analysis to cross thousands of specific strains carrying precise mutations and to map yeast genetic interactions on a large scale. The global genetic interaction network maps a functional wiring diagram of the cell, clustering genes into specific pathways to reveal their functional connections. An understanding of the general principles of genetic networks in the yeast model system provides a framework for exploring genetic interactions in the context of human genetics.