<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000732485</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENZYME CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GENZ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001021046</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARPENTER ROBERT J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>GENZYME CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE KENDALL SQUARE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>021391562</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Genzyme common stock (GENZ)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.81</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50419</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Genzyme common stock (GENZ)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>52.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>46219</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Genzyme common stock (GENZ)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1758</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Genzyme DOP stock option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.81</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1995-05-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-12-16</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Genzyme common stock (GENZ)</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4200</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Since the date of the reporting person's last owership report, he transferred 85,922 shares to his ex-spouse pursuant to a domestic relations order.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The exercise of this stock option included a distribution of an additional 1 share of Genzyme common stock.  These stock options were entitled to receive a distribution of shares of Tissue Repair common stock that was paid on July 22, 1997 to Genzyme General Division stockholders at a rate of 0.015.  In connection with the formation of Genzyme Biosurgery in December 2000, shares of Genzyme Tissue Repair were converted into shares of Genzyme Biosurgery at a rate of 0.3352.  In connection with the exchange of Genzyme Biosurgery stock into Genzyme General stock on June 30, 2003, distributions of the Genzyme Biosurgery stock are exchanged into Genzyme General stock at a rate of 0.04945.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Options vest in 50% increments on May 18, 1995 and May 16, 1996.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Susan P. Cogswell, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2004-07-29
0
0000732485
GENZYME CORP
GENZ
0001021046
CARPENTER ROBERT J
GENZYME CORPORATION
ONE KENDALL SQUARE
CAMBRIDGE
MA
021391562
1
0
0
0
Genzyme common stock (GENZ)
2004-07-29
4
M
0
4200
6.81
A
50419
D
Genzyme common stock (GENZ)
2004-07-29
4
S
0
4200
52.00
D
46219
D
Genzyme common stock (GENZ)
1758
I
By 401(k)
Genzyme DOP stock option (right to buy)
6.81
2004-07-29
4
M
0
4200
0
D
1995-05-18
2004-12-16
Genzyme common stock (GENZ)
4200
8600
D
Since the date of the reporting person's last owership report, he transferred 85,922 shares to his ex-spouse pursuant to a domestic relations order.
The exercise of this stock option included a distribution of an additional 1 share of Genzyme common stock.  These stock options were entitled to receive a distribution of shares of Tissue Repair common stock that was paid on July 22, 1997 to Genzyme General Division stockholders at a rate of 0.015.  In connection with the formation of Genzyme Biosurgery in December 2000, shares of Genzyme Tissue Repair were converted into shares of Genzyme Biosurgery at a rate of 0.3352.  In connection with the exchange of Genzyme Biosurgery stock into Genzyme General stock on June 30, 2003, distributions of the Genzyme Biosurgery stock are exchanged into Genzyme General stock at a rate of 0.04945.
Options vest in 50% increments on May 18, 1995 and May 16, 1996.
By: Susan P. Cogswell, Attorney-in-Fact
2004-08-02