<PAGE>
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 of Genzyme Corporation for its 1990 Equity Incentive Plan
of: our report dated February 23, 2000, except for the information in Note A as
to which the date is October 11, 2000, relating to the financial statements and
financial statement schedules of Genzyme Corporation, which appears in Genzyme
Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999,
as amended; our reports dated February 23, 2000, relating to the financial
statements and financial statement schedules of Genzyme General, Genzyme
Molecular Oncology, Genzyme Surgical Products and Genzyme Tissue Repair, which
appear in Genzyme Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1999, as amended; and our report dated June 23, 2000 relating to
the financial statements and supplemental schedule of the Genzyme Retirement
Savings Plan, which appears in Genzyme Corporation's Form 10-K/A, as filed on
June 28, 2000.
/s/ PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
December 14, 2000
