Scientist J. Craig Venter, the man who deciphered the human genome, died this Wednesday in San Diego at the age of 79, as confirmed by , a non-profit organization led by the researcher. The biologist has died after a brief hospitalization due to unexpected side effects derived from the treatment of a recently diagnosed cancer.
Venter was a visionary scientific leader whose work helped define modern genomics and advanced the field of synthetic biology. In 1995, he revolutionized microbiology by publishing the DNA base sequence of bacteria. Haemophilus influenzaethe first decoded bacterial genome, along with annotations of all the organism’s genes.
His competitive nature led him to enter the race to obtain the people’s instruction book, the human genome, against the powerful consortiums championed by the United States and the United Kingdom. His agile strategy at the head of the Celera company led him to success, investing his own fortune in the project. Later, the discoverer of the human genome would recognize that a good part of the DNA sequences used to define the human map were his. : “How can you not want to know about your own genome?”
Ambitious and tireless, he later helped redefine the very concept of life by creating artificial life, a synthetic bacteria with 473 genes.
Over the course of his life, he went from surfer to military paramedic and eventually became the pioneer in decoding the human genome. His leadership and vision transformed genomics and contributed to the rise of synthetic biology. He drove scientific and technological change by creating interdisciplinary teams, promoting bold ideas and faster methods, and insisting that discoveries must have a real impact on the world. He was a strong advocate for the need for strong public funding for science and for promoting partnerships between government, academia and industry.
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