1
                                                                    Exhibit 23.1

[PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LETTERHEAD]


CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the use in this Registration Statement on Form S-1/A (No.
333-31984) of our report dated March 8, 2000 relating to the consolidated
financial statements of deCODE genetics, Inc., which appears in such
Registration Statement. We also consent to the references to us under the
headings "Experts" and "Selected Consolidated Financial Data" in such
Registration Statement.



PricewaterhouseCoopers ehf
Reykjavik, Iceland
July 13, 2000



/s/ Valdimar Gudnason                        /s/ Vignir R. Gislason
---------------------                        ----------------------
Valdimar Gudnason                            Vignir R. Gislason