Biologist Craig Venter, a central figure in the race to decipher the human genome and father of the first synthetic cell, has died at the age of 79. His death, resulting from complications in cancer treatment, closes a career marked by real scientific achievements and a fierce corporate vision of science.
Synthetic biology: from the genome to the DNA printer 🧬
Venter not only sequenced the human genome using radical methods, but also founded the J. Craig Venter Institute and created Mycoplasma laboratorium, the first organism with a synthetic genome. His team developed large-scale DNA synthesis and assembly techniques, laying the groundwork for gene printing and the production of fuels and vaccines using engineered cells. His approach accelerated functional genomics.
Patenting life, a lucrative business 💰
Venter understood that in modern science, whoever discovers first, patents first. He did not hesitate to claim rights over human genes and synthetic microorganisms, turning biology into a legal battlefield. His legacy includes a human genome sequenced in record time and a collection of patents that would make any startup pale in comparison. At least he died without having to pay royalties for his own cancer.