View source for Craig Venter

{{short description|American Scientist}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox scientist
| name             = John Venter
| image            = Craigventer2.jpg
| image_size       = 
| caption          = Venter in 2007
| birth_name       = John Craig Venter
| birth_date       = {{birth date and age|1946|10|14|mf=y}}
| birth_place      = [[Salt Lake City]], Utah, U.S.
| alma_mater       = [[University of California, San Diego]]
| work_institution = {{ubl|[[State University of New York at Buffalo]]|[[National Institutes of Health]]|[[J. Craig Venter Institute]]}}
| occupation       = [[Biologist]]
| fields           = {{ubl|[[DNA]]|[[Human genome]]|[[Metagenomics]]|[[Synthetic genomics]]|[[Shotgun sequencing|Shotgun approach to genome sequencing]]}}
| awards           = [[Gairdner Foundation International Award|Gairdner Award]] (2002)<br />[[Nierenberg Prize]] (2007)<br />[[Kistler Prize]] (2008)<br />[[ENI award]] (2008)<br />[[National Medal of Science|Medal of Science]] (2008)<br />[[Dickson Prize]] (2011)<br />[[Leeuwenhoek Medal]]<br />[[Edogawa NICHE Prize]] (2020)
| website          = {{URL|www.jcvi.org}}
}}

'''John Craig Venter''' (born October 14, 1946) is an American scientist. He is known for leading one of the first draft sequences of the [[human genome]]<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/051031/31genome.htm |title=The Blueprint Of Life |first=Jamie |last=Shreeve |journal=U.S. News & World Report |access-date=December 6, 2007 |date=October 31, 2005 |volume=139 |issue=16 |page=70 |pmid=16296659 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071130184339/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/051031/31genome.htm |archive-date=November 30, 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lemonick |first1=Michael |title=J. Craig Venter: Gene Mapper |url=http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2056235,00.html |access-date=September 12, 2018 |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=December 25, 2000}}</ref> and led the first team to [[Transfection|transfect]] a cell with a synthetic chromosome.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/0521/J.-Craig-Venter-Institute-creates-first-synthetic-life-form |title =J. Craig Venter Institute creates first synthetic life form |journal =Christian Science Monitor |first = Stuart |last=Fox |access-date =May 21, 2010 |date=May 21, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jcvi.org/cms/research/projects/first-self-replicating-synthetic-bacterial-cell/overview/ |title=JCVI: Research / Projects / First Self-Replicating Synthetic Bacterial Cell / Overview |access-date=September 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629031404/http://www.jcvi.org/cms/research/projects/first-self-replicating-synthetic-bacterial-cell/overview/ |archive-date=June 29, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Venter founded [[Celera Genomics]], [[the Institute for Genomic Research]] (TIGR) and the [[J. Craig Venter Institute]] (JCVI). He was the co-founder of [[Human Longevity Inc.]] and [[Viridos (company)|Synthetic Genomics]]. He was listed on ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's 2007 and 2008 [[Time 100|''Time'' 100]] list of the most influential people in the world. In 2010, the British magazine ''[[New Statesman]]'' listed Craig Venter at 14th in the list of "The World's 50 Most Influential Figures 2010".<ref name="New Statesman-2010">{{cite magazine|date=September 21, 2010|title=14. Craig Venter – 50 People Who Matter 2010|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/global-issues/2010/09/gene-genius-craig-venter-life|url-status=dead|magazine=[[New Statesman]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024123936/https://www.newstatesman.com/global-issues/2010/09/gene-genius-craig-venter-life|archive-date=October 24, 2010|access-date=December 8, 2021}}</ref> In 2012, Venter was honored with the [[Dan David Prize]] for his contribution to genome research.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Prize|first=Dan David|title=J. Craig Venter|url=https://www.dandavidprize.org/laureates/2012/future-genome-research/craig-venter|access-date=November 3, 2020|website=www.dandavidprize.org|language=en-gb}}</ref> He was elected to the [[American Philosophical Society]] in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|title=APS Member History|url=https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=J.+Craig+Venter&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced|access-date=March 17, 2021|website=search.amphilsoc.org|archive-date=September 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918174355/https://search.amphilsoc.org/memhist/search?creator=J.+Craig+Venter&title=&subject=&subdiv=&mem=&year=&year-max=&dead=&keyword=&smode=advanced|url-status=dead}}</ref> He is a member of the [[USA Science and Engineering Festival]]'s advisory board.<ref name="Advisors">{{cite web |url=http://www.usasciencefestival.org/about/advisors |title=Advisors |access-date=July 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421005310/http://www.usasciencefestival.org/about/advisors/ |archive-date=April 21, 2010}} retrieved July 5, 2010</ref>

==Early life and education==
John Craig Venter was born in [[Salt Lake City]], Utah, the son of Elisabeth and John Venter.<ref name="DNA from the beginning">{{cite web|title=John Craig Venter (1946–)|url=http://www.dnaftb.org/39/bio.html|website=DNA from the beginning|access-date=February 1, 2017}}</ref><ref name="J. Craig Venter-2007">{{cite book| author = J. Craig Venter| title = A Life Decoded: My Genome: My Life| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=XtPKtR6gev4C&pg=PA14| date = 2007| publisher = Penguin Group US| isbn = 978-1-101-20256-2| page = 14 }}</ref>{{rp|14}} His family moved to [[Millbrae, California]] during his childhood.<ref>[https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/john-craig-venter-1946 John Craig Venter (1946- )]</ref> In his youth, he did not take his education seriously, preferring to spend his time on the water in boats or surfing.<ref name="J. Craig Venter-2007"/>{{rp|1–20}} According to his biography, ''A Life Decoded'', he was said never to be a terribly engaged student, having Cs and Ds on his eighth-grade report cards.<ref name="J. Craig Venter-2007"/>{{rp|1–20}} Venter considered that his behavior in his adolescence was indicative of [[attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]] (ADHD), and later found ADHD-linked genetic variants in his own DNA.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/3310672/Craig-Venter-Creating-life-in-a-lab-using-DNA.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213173636/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/3310672/Craig-Venter-Creating-life-in-a-lab-using-DNA.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 13, 2009 | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Craig | last=Venter | title=Craig Venter: Creating life in a lab using DNA | date=October 16, 2007}}</ref> He graduated from [[Mills High School]]. His father died suddenly at age 59 from cardiac arrest, giving him a lifelong awareness of his own mortality. He quotes a saying: "If you want immortality, do something meaningful with your life."<ref name="Robbins-2022"/>

Although he opposed the [[Vietnam War]],<ref>{{cite book| author = J. Craig Venter| title = A Life Decoded| chapter-url = https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16004438| date = 2007| publisher = Viking| isbn = 978-0-670-06358-1| oclc = 165048736| chapter = Introduction| quote = For many years I have been trying to make sense and meaning out of the lives I saw destroyed or maimed due to the government policies that involved us in the war in Vietnam.| url = https://archive.org/details/lifedecodedmygen00vent}}</ref> Venter was drafted and enlisted in the [[United States Navy]] where he worked as a [[hospital corpsman]] in the intensive-care ward of a field hospital.<ref>{{cite journal | title = Breakthrough Awards 2010: Pioneering New Life | journal = Popular Mechanics | date = November 2010 | first = Logan | last = Ward | volume = 187 | issue = 11 | pages = 62–65| type = Print}}</ref> He served from 1967 to 1968 at the [[Naval Support Activity Danang]] in Vietnam. While in Vietnam, he attempted suicide by swimming out to sea, but changed his mind more than a mile out.<ref name="Ross Douthat-2007">{{cite journal |journal=[[The Atlantic]]|date=January–February 2007
|url = https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2007/01/the-god-of-small-things/5556/
|author=Ross Douthat | title=The God of Small Things| access-date=January 28, 2011}}</ref>
Being confronted with severely injured and dying marines on a daily basis instilled in him a desire to study medicine,<ref>'Artificial life' breakthrough announced by scientists, BBC, May 21, 2010. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10138849</ref> although he later switched to [[biomedical research]].

Venter began his college education in 1969 at a [[community college]], [[College of San Mateo]] in California, and later transferred to the [[University of California, San Diego]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Union-Tribune |first=Gary Robbins {{!}} The San Diego |date=2022-04-27 |title=Geneticist Craig Venter sells his La Jolla research center to UC San Diego for $25 million |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2022/04/27/geneticist-craig-venter-sells-his-la-jolla-research-center-to-uc-san-diego-for-25-million-2/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nunn |first=Lewis |title=Phytoplankton Genetically Sequenced At Sea For The First Time |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lewisnunn/2024/05/24/phytoplankton-genetically-sequenced-at-sea-for-the-first-time/ |access-date=2025-01-20 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> where he studied under biochemist [[Nathan O. Kaplan]]. He received a Bachelor of Science in [[biochemistry]] in 1972 and a Doctor of Philosophy in [[physiology]] and [[pharmacology]] in 1975 from UCSD.<ref name="ScienceWatch-1997">{{cite journal |url=http://archive.sciencewatch.com/sept-oct97/sw_sep-oct97_page3.htm |title=Craig Venter Takes Aim at the Big Questions |journal=[[ScienceWatch]] |date=September–October 1997 |volume=8 |issue=5 |access-date=June 7, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091018030726/http://archive.sciencewatch.com/sept-oct97/sw_sep-oct97_page3.htm |archive-date=October 18, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="The Sydney Morning Herald-2007">{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/science/the-god-of-small-things/2007/01/25/1169594430068.html?page=fullpage |title=The god of small things |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=January 26, 2007}}</ref>

==Career==
After working as an [[associate professor]], and later as full professor, at the [[University at Buffalo, The State University of New York|State University of New York at Buffalo]], he joined the [[National Institutes of Health]] (NIH) in 1984.

===EST controversy===
While an employee of the NIH, Venter learned how to identify [[Messenger RNA|mRNA]] and began to learn more about those expressed in the human brain. The short [[Complementary DNA|cDNA]] sequence fragments Venter discovered by automated [[DNA sequencing]], he named [[expressed sequence tag]]s, or ESTs. The [[NIH Office of Technology Transfer]] decided to file a patent on the ESTs discovered by Venter, [[Biological patents in the United States|patenting the genes]] identified based on studies of [[Messenger RNA|mRNA]] expression in the human brain. When Venter disclosed the NIH strategy during a Congressional hearing, a firestorm of controversy erupted.<ref>{{cite journal | last = Roberts | first = Leslie | s2cid = 32742062 | date = October 11, 1991 | title = Genome patent fight erupts: an NIH plan to patent thousands of random DNA sequences will discourage industrial investment and undercut the Genome Project itself, the plan's critics charge | journal = [[Science (journal)|Science]] | volume = 254 | issue = 5029 | pages = 184–186 | doi = 10.1126/science.1925568| pmid = 1925568 |bibcode = 1991Sci...254..184R }}</ref> The NIH later stopped the effort and abandoned the patent applications it had filed, following public outcry.<ref>{{Cite journal | date = 2006 | journal = [[Harvard Law Review]] | volume = 119 | title = Patent Law – Utility – Federal Circuit holds that expressed sequence tags lack substantial and specific utility unless underlying gene function is identified. ''In re Fisher'', 421 F.3d 1365 (Fed. Cir. 2005) | issue = 8 | pages = 2604–2611 | url = http://www.harvardlawreview.org/issues/119/june06/recent_cases/in_re_fisher.pdf | access-date = November 17, 2008 | archive-date = March 25, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090325142418/http://www.harvardlawreview.org/issues/119/june06/recent_cases/in_re_fisher.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref>

===Human Genome Project===
{{main|Human Genome Project}}
Venter was passionate about the power of genomics to transform healthcare radically. Venter believed that [[shotgun sequencing|whole genome shotgun sequencing]] was the fastest and most effective way to get useful human genome data.<ref name="Weber-1997">{{Cite journal  | last1 = Weber | first1 = James L.  | last2 = Myers | first2 = Eugene W.  | date = 1997 | journal = [[Genome Research]] | volume = 7 | issue = 5 | title = Human Whole-Genome Shotgun Sequencing | pages = 401–409 | doi = 10.1101/gr.7.5.401  | pmid=9149936
| citeseerx = 10.1.1.117.8090}}</ref> However, the method was rejected by the [[Human Genome Project]], since some geneticists felt it would not be accurate enough for a genome as complicated as that of humans, that it would be logistically more difficult, and that it would cost significantly more.<ref>Gannett, Lisa, [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/human-genome/ The Human Genome Project Entry in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy] (Fall 2010 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.)</ref><ref name="Green-1997">{{Cite journal  | last = Green | first   =Philip | date = 1997 | journal = Genome Research | volume = 7 | issue = 5 | title = Against a Whole-Genome Shotgun | pages = 410–417 | doi = 10.1101/gr.7.5.410 | pmid = 9149937  | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Venter viewed the slow pace of progress in the Human Genome Project as an opportunity to continue his interest in trying his shotgun sequencing method to speed up human genome sequencing, so he sought funding from the private sector to start [[Celera Genomics]].<ref>{{cite book| author = Victor K. McElheny| title = Drawing the Map of Life: Inside the Human Genome Project| date = 2010| publisher = Basic Books (AZ)| isbn = 978-0-465-04333-0| url-access = registration| url = https://archive.org/details/drawingmapoflife0000mcel}}</ref> The company planned to profit from their work by creating genomic data to which users could subscribe for a fee. The goal consequently put pressure on the public genome program and spurred several groups to redouble their efforts to produce the full sequence. Venter's effort won him renown as he and his team at [[Celera Corporation]] shared credit for sequencing the first draft human genome with the publicly funded [[Human Genome Project]].<ref name="Singer-2007">{{cite news |first=Emily |last=Singer |url=http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/19328/?a=f |title=Craig Venter's Genome |newspaper=[[MIT Technology Review]] |date=September 4, 2007 |access-date=October 12, 2014 |quote=The genome we published at Celera was a composite of five people.&nbsp;... After leaving Celera in 2002, Venter announced that much of the genome that had been sequenced there was his own. |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607104347/http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/19328/?a=f |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2000, Venter and [[Francis Collins (geneticist)|Francis Collins]] of the [[National Institutes of Health]] and U.S. Public Genome Project jointly made the announcement of the mapping of the human genome, a full three years ahead of the expected end of the Public Genome Program. The announcement was made along with U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]], and UK Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]].<ref name="Shreeve-2005">{{cite news |first=Jamie |last=Shreeve |url=https://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/051031/31genome.htm |title=The Blueprint of Life |newspaper=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |date=October 31, 2005 |access-date=January 30, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502000233/http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/051031/31genome.htm |archive-date=May 2, 2012 }}</ref> Venter and Collins thus shared an award for "Biography of the Year" from [[A&E Network]].<ref name="Montgomery County, Maryland Government-2000">"{{cite press release |url=http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mc/news/press/00-463.html |title=Time Magazine Dubs Montgomery County "DNA Alley" |publisher=[[Montgomery County, Maryland|Montgomery County, Maryland Government]] |date=December 19, 2000 |access-date=January 30, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061013151412/http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mc/news/press/00-463.html |archive-date=October 13, 2006 }}</ref>
On February 15, 2001, the Human Genome Project consortium published the first Human Genome in the journal ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'', followed one day later by a Celera publication in ''[[Science (journal)|Science]]''.<ref name="Venter-2001">{{Cite journal | last1 = Venter | first1 = J. C. | author-link1 = Craig Venter| last2 = Adams | first2 = M. | last3 = Myers | first3 = E. | last4 = Li | first4 = P. | last5 = Mural | first5 = R. | last6 = Sutton | first6 = G. | last7 = Smith | first7 = H. | last8 = Yandell | first8 = M. | last9 = Evans | first9 = C. | last10 = Holt | first10 = R. A. | last11 = Gocayne | first11 = J. D. | last12 = Amanatides | first12 = P. | last13 = Ballew | first13 = R. M. | last14 = Huson | first14 = D. H. | last15 = Wortman | first15 = J. R. | last16 = Zhang | first16 = Q. | last17 = Kodira | first17 = C. D. | last18 = Zheng | first18 = X. H. | last19 = Chen | first19 = L. | last20 = Skupski | first20 = M. | last21 = Subramanian | first21 = G. | last22 = Thomas | first22 = P. D. | last23 = Zhang | first23 = J. | last24 = Gabor Miklos | first24 = G. L. | last25 = Nelson | first25 = C. | last26 = Broder | first26 = S. | last27 = Clark | first27 = A. G. | last28 = Nadeau | first28 = J. | last29 = McKusick | first29 = V. A. | last30 = Zinder | first30 = N. | title = The Sequence of the Human Genome | doi = 10.1126/science.1058040 | journal = Science | volume = 291 | issue = 5507 | pages = 1304–1351 | year = 2001 | pmid   =11181995| bibcode = 2001Sci...291.1304V | display-authors = 29 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="Lander-2001">{{Cite journal | first1 = E. S.| last1 = Lander| author-link1 = Eric Lander| last2 = Linton | first2 = M. | last3 = Birren | first3 = B. | last4 = Nusbaum | first4 = C. | last5 = Zody | first5 = C.| last6 = Baldwin | first6 = J. | last7 = Devon | first7 = K. | last8 = Dewar | first8 = K. | last9 = Doyle | first9 = M. | last10 = Fitzhugh | first10 = W. | last11 = Funke | first11 = R. | last12 = Gage | first12 = D. | last13 = Harris | first13 = K. | last14 = Heaford | first14 = A. | last15 = Howland | first15 = J. | last16 = Kann | first16 = L. | last17 = Lehoczky | first17 = J. | last18 = Levine | first18 = R. | last19 = McEwan | first19 = P. | last20 = McKernan | first20 = K. | last21 = Meldrim | first21 = J. | last22 = Mesirov | first22 = J. P. | last23 = Miranda | first23 = C. | last24 = Morris | first24 = W. | last25 = Naylor | first25 = J. | last26 = Raymond | first26 = C. | last27 = Rosetti | first27 = M. | last28 = Santos | first28 = R. | last29 = Sheridan | first29 = A. | last30 = Sougnez | first30 = C. | display-authors = 29| title = Initial sequencing and analysis of the human genome | journal = Nature | volume = 409 | issue = 6822 | pages = 860–921 | date =Feb 2001  | issn = 0028-0836 | pmid = 11237011 | doi = 10.1038/35057062|bibcode = 2001Natur.409..860L | url = https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/62798/1/409860a0.pdf | doi-access = free }}</ref> Despite some claims that [[shotgun sequencing]] was in some ways less accurate than the clone-by-clone method chosen by the Human Genome Project,<ref name="Olson-2002">{{Cite journal  | last = Olson | first = M.V. | date = 2002
 | title = The Human Genome Project: A Player's Perspective | journal = Journal of Molecular Biology | volume = 319 | issue = 4 | pages = 931–942 | doi = 10.1016/S0022-2836(02)00333-9 | pmid = 12079320 | citeseerx = 10.1.1.624.505 }}</ref> the technique became widely accepted by the scientific community.

Venter was fired by Celera in early 2002.<ref>{{cite news |first=Antonio |last=Regalo |title=Maverick biologist at work on next goal: creating life |newspaper=[[Seattle Times]] |date=July 24, 2005}}</ref> According to his biography, Venter was fired because of a conflict with the main investor, Tony White, specifically barring him from attending the White House ceremony celebrating the achievement of sequencing the human genome.

===Global Ocean Sampling Expedition===
The [[Global Ocean Sampling Expedition]] (GOS) is an [[ocean exploration]] [[genome project]] with the goal of assessing the [[genetic diversity]] in [[Marine (ocean)|marine]] [[microbial communities]] and to understand their role in nature's fundamental processes. Begun as a Sargasso Sea pilot sampling project in August 2003, the full Expedition was announced by Venter on March 4, 2004. The project, which used Venter's personal yacht, ''Sorcerer II'', started in Halifax, Canada, circumnavigated the globe and returned to the U.S. in January 2006.<ref name="Larkman, Kirell-2007">{{cite news |title=Yacht for Sale: Suited for Sailing, Surfing, and Seaborne Metagenomics |work=GenomeWeb.com |publisher=GenomeWeb News|author=Larkman, Kirell |date=September 7, 2007 }}</ref>

===Synthetic Genomics===
[[Image:J. Craig Vernter Institute Rockville Maryland.jpg|right|thumb|J.&nbsp;Craig Venter Institute, Rockville, Maryland, location]]
In June 2005, Venter co-founded [[Synthetic Genomics]], a firm dedicated to using modified [[microorganisms]] to produce [[clean fuels]] and biochemicals. In July 2009, [[ExxonMobil]] announced a $600 million collaboration with Synthetic Genomics to research and develop next-generation [[biofuel]]s.<ref name="Howell-2009">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/07/14/14greenwire-exxon-sinks-600m-into-algae-based-biofuels-in-33562.html |title=Exxon Sinks $600M Into Algae-Based Biofuels in Major Strategy Shift|website=The New York Times|date=July 14, 2009 | first=Katie | last=Howell}}</ref> 
Venter continues to work on the creation of engineered diatomic microalgae for the production of biofuels.<ref name="Ball-2016">{{cite journal|last1=Ball|first1=Philip|title=Man Made: A History of Synthetic Life|journal=Distillations|date=2016|volume=2|issue=1|pages=15–23|url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/magazine/man-made-a-history-of-synthetic-life|access-date=February 21, 2018}}</ref><ref name="Karas-2015">{{cite journal|last1=Karas|first1=Bogumil J.|last2=Diner|first2=Rachel E.|last3=Lefebvre|first3=Stephane C.|last4=McQuaid|first4=Jeff|last5=Phillips|first5=Alex P.R.|last6=Noddings|first6=Chari M.|last7=Brunson|first7=John K.|last8=Valas|first8=Ruben E.|last9=Deerinck|first9=Thomas J.|last10=Jablanovic|first10=Jelena|last11=Gillard|first11=Jeroen T.F.|last12=Beeri|first12=Karen|last13=Ellisman|first13=Mark H.|last14=Glass|first14=John I.|last15=Hutchison III|first15=Clyde A.|last16=Smith|first16=Hamilton O.|last17=Venter|first17=J. Craig|last18=Allen|first18=Andrew E.|last19=Dupont|first19=Christopher L.|last20=Weyman|first20=Philip D.|title=Designer diatom episomes delivered by bacterial conjugation|journal=Nature Communications|date=April 21, 2015|volume=6|article-number=6925|doi=10.1038/ncomms7925|pmid=25897682|pmc=4411287|bibcode=2015NatCo...6.6925K}}</ref><ref name="J. Craig Venter Institute-2015">{{cite news|title=Scientists at the J. Craig Venter Institute Publish Paper Outlining Efficient Synthetic Biology Methods to Genetically Engineer Microalgae|url=http://www.jcvi.org/cms/press/press-releases/full-text/article/scientists-at-the-j-craig-venter-institute-publish-paper-outlining-efficient-synthetic-biology-meth/|access-date=February 1, 2017|work=J. Craig Venter Institute|date=April 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223041553/http://www.jcvi.org/cms/press/press-releases/full-text/article/scientists-at-the-j-craig-venter-institute-publish-paper-outlining-efficient-synthetic-biology-meth/|archive-date=February 23, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Venter is seeking to patent the first partially synthetic species possibly to be named ''[[Mycoplasma laboratorium]]''.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05180/530330.stm | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | title=Biologist Venter aims to create life from scratch | first=Antonio | last=Regalado | date=June 29, 2005}}</ref> There is speculation that this line of research could lead to producing bacteria that have been engineered to perform specific reactions, for example, produce [[fuels]], make medicines, combat [[global warming]], and so on.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1553919/Man-made-microbe-to-create-endless-biofuel.html | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | title=Man-made microbe 'to create endless biofuel' | first=Roger | last=Highfield | date=June 8, 2007 | access-date=April 30, 2010}}</ref>

In May 2010, a team of scientists led by Venter became the first to create successfully what was described as "[[synthetic life]]".<ref>{{Cite journal| doi = 10.1126/science.1190719| pmid = 20488990| year = 2010| last1 = Gibson | first1 = D.| last2 = Glass | first2 = J.| last3 = Lartigue | first3 = C.| last4 = Noskov | first4 = V.| last5 = Chuang | first5 = R.| last6 = Algire | first6 = M.| last7 = Benders | first7 = G.| last8 = Montague | first8 = M.| last9 = Ma | first9 = L.| last10 = Moodie | first10 = M. M.| last11 = Merryman | first11 = C.| last12 = Vashee | first12 = S.| last13 = Krishnakumar | first13 = R.| last14 = Assad-García | first14 = N.| last15 = Andrews-Pfannkoch | first15 = C.| last16 = Denisova | first16 = E. A.| last17 = Young | first17 = L.| last18 = Qi | first18 = Z. -Q.| last19 = Segall-Shapiro | first19 = T. H.| last20 = Calvey | first20 = C. H.| last21 = Parmar | first21 = P. P.| last22 = Hutchison Ca | first22 = C. A.| last23 = Smith | first23 = H. O.| last24 = Venter | first24 = J. C.| title = Creation of a Bacterial Cell Controlled by a Chemically Synthesized Genome| journal = Science| volume = 329| issue = 5987| pages = 52–56|bibcode = 2010Sci...329...52G | doi-access = free}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wired.com/2010/05/scientists-create-first-self-replicating-synthetic-life-2/ |title = Scientists Create First Self-Replicating Synthetic Life | magazine=Wired | first=Rachel |last=Swaby |date=May 20, 2010}}</ref> This was done by synthesizing a very long DNA molecule containing an entire bacterium [[genome]], and introducing this into another [[Cell (biology)|cell]], analogous to the accomplishment of [[Eckard Wimmer]]'s group, who synthesized and ligated an [[RNA virus]] genome and "booted" it in cell lysate.<ref>{{cite journal | pmid = 20010599 | doi=10.1038/nbt.1593 | volume=27 | issue=12 |date=December 2009 | pages=1163–72 | pmc=2819212 | title = Synthetic viruses: a new opportunity to understand and prevent viral disease | last1 = Wimmer | first1 = Eckard | last2 = Mueller | first2 = Steffen | last3 = Tumpey | first3 = Terrence M | last4 = Taubenberger | first4 = Jeffery K | journal = Nature Biotechnology}}</ref> The single-celled organism contains four "watermarks"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.righto.com/2010/06/using-arc-to-decode-venters-secret-dna.html|title=Using Arc to decode Venter's secret DNA watermark|website=Righto.com|access-date=January 5, 2019}}</ref>
written into its DNA to identify it as synthetic and to help trace its descendants. The watermarks include 
# Code table for entire alphabet with punctuations
# Names of 46 contributing scientists
# Three quotations
# The secret email address for the cell.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2010/may/20/craig-venter-synthetic-life-form |title = Craig Venter creates synthetic life form | location=London | work=The Guardian | date=May 20, 2010 | first=Ian | last=Sample}}</ref>

On March 25, 2016, Venter reported the creation of Syn 3.0, a synthetic genome having the fewest genes of any freely living organism (473 genes). Their aim was to strip away all nonessential genes, leaving only the minimal set necessary to support life.
This stripped-down, fast reproducing cell is expected to be a valuable tool for researchers in the field.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Synthetic microbe has fewest genes, but many mysteries|first=Robert F.|last=Service|date=March 25, 2016|journal=Science|volume=351|issue=6280|pages=1380–1381|doi=10.1126/science.351.6280.1380|pmid=27013708|bibcode=2016Sci...351.1380S}}</ref>

In August 2018, Venter retired as chairman of the board, saying he wanted to focus on his work at the J. Craig Venter Institute. He will remain as a scientific advisor to the board.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sdbj.com/news/2018/aug/14/venter-retires-chairman-synthetic-genomics-board/|title=Venter Retires as Chairman of Synthetic Genomics Board|last=Whitlock|first=Jared|date=August 14, 2018|work=San Diego Business Journal|access-date=August 16, 2018}}</ref>

===J. Craig Venter Institute===
In 2006 Venter founded the [[J. Craig Venter Institute]] (JCVI), a nonprofit which conducts research in [[synthetic biology]]. It has facilities in La Jolla and in [[Rockville, Maryland]] and employs over 200 people.

In April 2022 Venter sold the La Jolla JCVI facility to the [[University of California, San Diego]] for $25 million. Venter will continue to lead a separate nonprofit research group, also known as the J. Craig Venter Institute, and stressed that he is not retiring.  The Venter Institute has out grown its current building with multiple new facility hires and will be moving into new space in 2025.<ref name="Robbins-2022">{{cite news|url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/science/story/2022-04-27/venter-research-institute-ucsd#:~:text=Craig%20Venter%2C%20the%20maverick%20biologist,San%20Diego%2C%20his%20alma%20mater.|title=Geneticist Craig Venter sells his La Jolla research center to UC San Diego for $25 million|last=Robbins|first=Gary|date=April 27, 2022|work=San Diego Union Tribune|access-date=April 28, 2022}}</ref>

===Individual human genome===
On September 4, 2007, a team led by Sam Levy published one of the first genomes of an individual human—Venter's own DNA sequence.<ref name="Kirkness, Ewen F.-2007">{{cite journal|journal=PLOS Biology|date=2007|volume=5|issue=10|title=The Diploid Genome Sequence of an Individual Human|author=Levy S | doi = 10.1371/journal.pbio.0050254|pages=e254|pmid=17803354|pmc=1964779|author2=Sutton G|author3=Ng PC|author4=Feuk L|author5=Halpern AL|display-authors=5|last6=Walenz|first6=Brian P.|last7=Axelrod|first7=Nelson|last8=Huang|first8=Jiaqi|last9=Kirkness|first9=Ewen F. |doi-access=free }}</ref> Some of the sequences in Venter's genome are associated with wet earwax,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/dispomim.cgi?id=117800|title=Omim – Ear Wax, Wet/Dry<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=Ncbi.nlm.mih.gov|access-date=January 5, 2019}}{{dead link|date=July 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> increased risk of antisocial behavior, [[Alzheimer's disease|Alzheimer's]] and [[cardiovascular diseases]].<ref name="J. Craig Venter-2007"/> 

The Human Reference Genome Browser is a web application for the navigation and analysis of Venter's recently published genome. The HuRef database consists of approximately 32 million DNA reads sequenced using [[microfluidic Sanger sequencing]], assembled into 4,528 scaffolds and 4.1 million [[Mutation|DNA variation]]s identified by genome analysis. These variants include [[single-nucleotide polymorphism]]s (SNPs), block [[point mutation|substitutions]], short and large [[indel]]s, and structural variations like [[insertion (genetics)|insertions]], [[deletion (genetics)|deletions]], [[chromosome inversion|inversions]] and [[copy number variation|copy number changes]].

The browser enables scientists to navigate the HuRef genome assembly and sequence variations, and to compare it with the NCBI human build 36 assembly in the context of the [[National Center for Biotechnology Information|NCBI]] and [[Ensembl]] annotations. The browser provides a comparative view between NCBI and HuRef consensus sequences, the sequence multi-alignment of the HuRef assembly, Ensembl and dbSNP annotations, HuRef variants, and the underlying variant evidence and functional analysis. The interface also represents the [[haplotype]] blocks from which diploid genome sequence can be inferred and the relation of variants to gene annotations. The display of variants and gene annotations are linked to external public resources including [[dbSNP]], Ensembl, [[Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man]] (OMIM) and [[Gene Ontology]] (GO).

Users can search the HuRef genome using HUGO gene names, Ensembl and dbSNP identifiers, HuRef [[contig]] or scaffold locations, or NCBI chromosome locations. Users can then easily and quickly browse any genomic region via the simple and intuitive pan and zoom controls; furthermore, data relevant to specific loci can be exported for further analysis.

===Human Longevity, Inc.===
On March 4, 2014, Venter and co-founders [[Peter Diamandis]] and Robert Hariri announced the formation of [[Human Longevity]], Inc., a company focused on extending the healthy, "high performance" human lifespan.<ref name="Human Longevity Inc-2014">{{cite news | title = Human Longevity Inc. (HLI) Launched to Promote Healthy Aging Using Advances in Genomics and Stem Cell Therapies | publisher = [[PR Newswire]] | date = March 4, 2014 | url = http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/human-longevity-inc-hli-launched-to-promote-healthy-aging-using-advances-in-genomics-and-stem-cell-therapies-248379091.html | access-date = December 16, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141021000819/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/human-longevity-inc-hli-launched-to-promote-healthy-aging-using-advances-in-genomics-and-stem-cell-therapies-248379091.html | archive-date = October 21, 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="Bigelow-2014">{{cite news | last = Bigelow | first = Bruce V.  | title = Craig Venter's Latest Startup Gets $70M To Sequence Loads of Genomes | publisher = [[Xconomy]] | date = March 4, 2014 | url = http://www.xconomy.com/san-diego/2014/03/04/craig-venters-latest-startup-gets-70m-to-sequence-loads-of-genomes/ | access-date = December 16, 2014 }}</ref> At the time of the announcement the company had already raised $70&nbsp;million in [[Venture capital financing|venture financing]], which was expected to last 18&nbsp;months.<ref name="Human Longevity Inc-2014" /><ref name="Bigelow-2014" /> Venter served as the chairman and chief executive officer&nbsp;(CEO) until May 2018, when he retired. The company said that it plans to sequence 40,000 genomes per year, with an initial focus on [[Cancer genome sequencing|cancer genomes]] and the genomes of cancer patients.<ref name="Human Longevity Inc-2014" />

Human Longevity filed a lawsuit in 2018 against Venter, accusing him of stealing trade secrets. Allegations were made stating that Venter had departed with his company computer that contained valuable information that could be used to start a competing business.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Genomics Company Human Longevity Sues J. Craig Venter Institute|url=https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/genomics-company-human-longevity-sues-j--craig-venter-institute-64539|access-date=October 23, 2020|website=[[The Scientist (magazine)|The Scientist]]|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108005918/https://www.the-scientist.com/news-opinion/genomics-company-human-longevity-sues-j--craig-venter-institute-64539|url-status=dead}}</ref> The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed by a California judge on the basis that Human Longevity were unable to present a case that met the legal threshold required for a company, or individual, to sue when its trade secrets have been stolen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.statnews.com/2018/12/19/judge-dismisses-lawsuit-accusing-craig-venter-of-stealing-trade-secrets/|title=Judge dismisses lawsuit accusing Craig Venter of stealing trade secrets|date=December 19, 2018|website=STAT|language=en-US|access-date=April 3, 2020}}</ref>

Human Longevity's mission is to extend healthy human lifespan by the use of high-resolution [[big data]] diagnostics from [[genomics]], [[Metabolome|metabolomics]], [[Microbiome|microbiomics]], and [[proteomics]], and the use of [[stem cell therapy]].<ref name="Smith-2014">{{cite news | last = Smith | first = Robin L.  | title = The Regeneration Generation: A Conversation With Bob Hariri, Vice-Chairman and Co-Founder of Human Longevity Inc. | work = [[The Huffington Post]] | date = November 11, 2014 | url = https://www.huffingtonpost.com/robin-l-smith/the-regeneration-generati_b_6199076.html | access-date = December 16, 2014 }}</ref>

==Published books==
Venter is the author of three books, the first of which is an autobiography titled ''A Life Decoded''.<ref name="J. Craig Venter-2007"/> In Venter's second book, ''Life at the Speed of Light'', he announced his theory that this is the generation in which there appears to be a dovetailing of the two previously diverse fields of science represented by computer programming and the genetic programming of life by DNA sequencing.<ref>{{cite book| author=J. Craig Venter| title = Life at the Speed of Light: From the Double Helix to the Dawn of Digital Life| year=2013| publisher = [[Viking Adult]]| location = New York| isbn = 978-0-670-02540-4| oclc = 834432832}}</ref> He was applauded for his position on this by futurist [[Ray Kurzweil]]. Venter's most recent book, co-authored by [[David Ewing Duncan]], ''The Voyage of Sorcerer II: The Expedition that Unlocked the Secrets of the Ocean's Microbiome'',<ref>{{cite book |last1=Venter |first1=J. Craig |title=The Voyage of Sorcerer II: The Expedition that Unlocked the Secrets of the Ocean's Microbiome |date=12 September 2023 |publisher=Belknap Press |location=United States and Canada |isbn=9780674246478 |pages=336 |url=https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674246478 |access-date=8 November 2023 }}</ref> details the [[Global Ocean Sampling Expedition]], spanning a 15-year period during which microbes from the world's oceans were collected and their DNA sequenced.

==Personal life==
After a 12-year marriage to [[Barbara Rae-Venter]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Flora |title=Thursday briefing: Barbara Rae-Venter is the hobbyist genealogical detective who tracked a serial killer |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-06137-2 |access-date=January 29, 2019 |journal=Nature |agency=Nature |date=August 30, 2018 |language=EN |doi=10.1038/d41586-018-06137-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Heather |title=She Helped Crack the Golden State Killer Case. Here's What She's Going to Do Next |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/29/science/barbara-rae-venter-gsk.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/29/science/barbara-rae-venter-gsk.html |archive-date=January 1, 2022 |url-access=limited |access-date=January 29, 2019 |work=The New York Times |date=August 29, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> with whom he had a son, Christopher, he married [[Claire M. Fraser]]<ref name="Okie-2011">{{cite news|last1=Okie|first1=Susan|title=Is Craig Venter going to save the planet? Or, is this more hype from one of America's most controversial scientists?|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/is-craig-venter-going-to-save-the-planet-or-is-this-more-hype-from-one-of-americas-most-controversial-scientists/2011/06/07/gIQAfr2c8I_story.html|access-date=February 1, 2017|newspaper=Washington Post|date=August 11, 2011}}</ref><ref name="The Sydney Morning Herald-2007"/> remaining married to her until 2005.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Wadman |first=Meredith |date=May 2007 |title=High-profile departure ends genome institute's charmed run |journal=[[Nature Medicine]] |volume=13 |issue=5 |pages=518 |doi=10.1038/nm1594 |pmid=17479082|s2cid=40959134 |doi-access=free }}</ref> In late 2008 he married Heather Kowalski.<ref name="Lin, Sara-2010" /> They live in the [[La Jolla]] neighborhood of San Diego, CA.<ref name="Lin, Sara-2010">{{cite news|author=Lin, Sara|title=Craig Venter's Hangout|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704548604575098131101212908|date=March 12, 2010|work=The Wall Street Journal|publisher=Dow Jones|access-date=January 9, 2011}}</ref> Venter is an atheist.<ref>[[Steve Kroft]] asked Venter on CBS' ''[http://www.scienceandreligiontoday.com/2010/11/22/craig-venter-on-60-minutes/ Sixty Minutes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109003819/http://www.scienceandreligiontoday.com/2010/11/22/craig-venter-on-60-minutes/|date=January 9, 2015}}'', November 21, 2010: "Do you believe in God?" Venter replied, "No. The universe is far more wonderful."</ref>

Venter was 75 when he sold his main research building to UCSD in 2022. The institute had out grown the space and will be moving to a new facility in 2025. The Venter Institute campus in Rockville MD also continues to expand. He said he has no intention of retiring.<ref name="Robbins-2022"/> He has a home in La Jolla and a ranch in [[Borrego Springs, California]], as well as homes in two small towns in Maine. He indulges in two passions: sailing and flying a Cirrus 22T plane, which he calls "the ultimate freedom".<ref name="Robbins-2022"/>

==In popular culture==
Venter has been the subject of articles in several magazines, including ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'',<ref name="Shreeve">Shreeve, James. [https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.08/venter.html "Craig Venter's Epic Voyage to Redefine the Origin of the Species"], ''[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]'', August 2004. Accessed June 7, 2007.</ref> ''[[The Economist]]'',<ref name="The Journey of the Sorcerer">"The Journey of the Sorcerer", ''[[The Economist]]'', December 4, 2004.</ref> Australian science magazine ''[[Cosmos (Australian magazine)|Cosmos]]'',<ref name="First individual person">[http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/1561 First individual person's genome decoded] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213224056/http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/1561 |date=December 13, 2007 }} – ''[[Cosmos (Australian magazine)|Cosmos]]''. September 4, 2007.</ref><ref name="Geneticists on verge of creating artificial life Archived 2007">[http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/1642 Geneticists on verge of creating artificial life] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213045600/http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/1642 |date=December 13, 2007 }} – ''Cosmos''. October 8, 2007.</ref> and ''[[The Atlantic]]''.<ref name="Douthat">[[Ross Douthat|Douthat, Ross]]. "The God of Small Things", ''[[The Atlantic]]'', Jan/Feb 2007.</ref>

Venter appears in the two-hour 2001 ''[[Nova (American TV series)|NOVA]]'' special, "Cracking the code of life".<ref>{{cite web|title=Cracking the Code of Life: Meet the Decoders|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/genome/decoders.html|website=NOVA|access-date=February 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cracking the Code of Life: The Race to Decode Human DNA (2001)|url=https://bioethics.georgetown.edu/film-collection/cracking-the-code-of-life-the-race-to-decode-human-dna-2001/|website=Bioethics Research Library|access-date=February 1, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On May 16, 2004, Venter gave the commencement speech at [[Boston University]].<ref name="Warren">Warren, Jessica. [http://www.dailyfreepress.com/news/april-30-genome-scientist-to-speak-at-commencement-1.932055 April 30: Genome scientist to speak at Commencement]{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''The Daily Free Press'', April 28, 2004. Accessed August 2, 2008.</ref>

On December 4, 2007, Venter gave the [[Richard Dimbleby Lecture|Dimbleby lecture]] for the BBC in London.<ref name="BBC-2007">{{cite news|title=Press Releases The Richard Dimbleby Lecture 2007: Dr J Craig Venter – A DNA-Driven World|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/12_december/05/dimbleby.shtml|access-date=February 1, 2017|work=BBC|date=December 5, 2007}}</ref>

Venter gave the Distinguished Public Lecture during the 2007 Michaelmas Term at the James Martin 21st Century School at Oxford University. Its title was "Genomics – From humans to the environment".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/events/distinguished-public-lecture-genomics-from-humans-to-the-environment-by-j-craig-venter/|title=Distinguished Public Lecture: "Genomics - from humans to the environment" by J Craig Venter|access-date=April 20, 2024|website=ox.ac.uk|date=2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/videos/genomics-from-humans-to-the-environment/|title=Genomics – From humans to the environment|access-date=April 20, 2024|website=ox.ac.uk|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>

Venter delivered the 2008 convocation speech for Faculty of Science honours and specialization students at the [[University of Alberta]].<ref name="Brown">Brown, M.: [http://www.expressnews.ualberta.ca/article.cfm?id=9399 "Genomics leader accepts U of A honorary degree"]{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, "UofA ExpressNews"; retrieved on June 7, 2009.</ref>

In February 2008, he gave a speech about his current work at the [[TED (conference)|TED conference]].<ref name="Venter-2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.ted.com/talks/craig_venter_on_the_verge_of_creating_synthetic_life|title=On the verge of creating synthetic life|first=Craig|last=Venter|access-date=January 5, 2019|website=Ted.com|date=March 6, 2008 }}</ref>

Venter was featured in ''Time'' magazine's "The Top 10 Everything of 2008" article. Number three in 2008's Top 10 Scientific Discoveries was a piece outlining his work stitching together the 582,000 base pairs necessary to invent the genetic information for a whole new bacterium.<ref name="Time-2008">{{cite news| url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2008/top10/article/0,30583,1855948_1863947,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211070247/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2008/top10/article/0,30583,1855948_1863947,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=December 11, 2008 | magazine=Time | title=The Top 10 Everything Of 2008 | date=November 3, 2008 | access-date=April 30, 2010}}</ref>

On May 20, 2010, Venter announced the creation of first self-replicating semi-synthetic bacterial cell.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ted.com/talks/craig_venter_watch_me_unveil_synthetic_life?language=en|title=Watch me unveil "synthetic life"|first=Craig|last=Venter|access-date=January 5, 2019|website=Ted.com|date=May 21, 2010 }}</ref>

In the June 2011 issue of ''[[Men's Journal]]'', Venter was featured as the "Survival Skills" celebrity of the month. He shared various anecdotes and advice, including stories of his time in [[Vietnam]], as well as mentioning a bout with [[melanoma]] on his back, which subsequently resulted in his "giving [[Shylock|a pound of flesh]]" to surgery.<ref name="Will Cockrell-2011">{{cite web |work=[[Men's Journal]] |url=http://www.mensjournal.com/survival-skills-craig-venter |date=May 20, 2011 |author=Will Cockrell |title=Survival Skills: Craig Venter |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706064344/http://www.mensjournal.com/survival-skills-craig-venter |archive-date=July 6, 2011 }}</ref>

In May 2011, Venter was the commencement speaker at the 157th commencement of [[Syracuse University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sumagazine.syr.edu/2011summer/orangematters/commencement2011.html|title=Commencement 2011|work=Syracuse University Magazine|access-date=May 14, 2019|archive-date=May 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514175035/http://sumagazine.syr.edu/2011summer/orangematters/commencement2011.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.syr.edu/blog/2011/05/15/j-craig-venter-delivers-2011-commencement-address/|title=Remarks by J. Craig Venter at Syracuse University's 157th Commencement and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry's 114th Commencement|website=SU News|date=May 15, 2011|language=en-US|access-date=May 14, 2019}}</ref>

In May 2017, Venter was the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the inauguration ceremony of the Center for Systems Biology Dresden.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.csbdresden.de/news-events/news/article/2017/05/31/official-inauguration/|title=Official Inauguration – the Center is officially open|access-date=November 7, 2022|archive-date=November 7, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221107142815/https://www.csbdresden.de/news-events/news/article/2017/05/31/official-inauguration/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Awards and nominations==
[[File:J.Craig Venter at Edogawa NICHE Prize award ceremony.jpg|thumb|Dr. Craig Venter, being awarded the 2020 Edogawa NICHE Prize in Toronto]]
* 1996: Golden Plate Award of the [[Academy of Achievement|American Academy of Achievement]]<ref>{{cite web|title= Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement |website=www.achievement.org|publisher=[[American Academy of Achievement]]|url=https://achievement.org/our-history/golden-plate-awards/#science-exploration}}</ref>
* 1999: [[Newcomb Cleveland Prize]]<ref>{{cite web
 |title=AAAS Awards: Newcomb Cleveland Prize Recipients
 |url=http://www.aaas.org/aboutaaas/awards/newcomb/newcomb_winners.shtml
 |publisher=[[American Association for the Advancement of Science]]
 |access-date=February 28, 2010
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023152927/http://www.aaas.org/aboutaaas/awards/newcomb/newcomb_winners.shtml
 |archive-date=October 23, 2012
 |url-status=dead
 }}</ref>
* 2000: Jacob Heskel Gabbay Award in Biotechnology and Medicine<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brandeis.edu/rosenstiel/gabbayaward/past.html|title=Past Winners – Gabbay Award – Rosenstiel Basic Medical Sciences Research Center – Brandeis University|website=Brandeis.edu|access-date=January 5, 2019}}</ref>
* 2001: [[Biotechnology Heritage Award]] with [[Francis Collins]], from the [[Biotechnology Industry Organization]] (BIO) and the [[Chemical Heritage Foundation]]<ref name="Science History Institute-2016">{{cite web|title=Biotechnology Heritage Award|url=https://www.sciencehistory.org/biotechnology-heritage-award|website=Science History Institute|access-date=March 22, 2018|date=May 31, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Strickland-2001">{{cite news|last=Strickland|first=Debbie|title=Genomic Leaders Receive 2001 Biotechnology Heritage Award |url=http://www.bio.org/media/press-release/genomic-leaders-receive-2001-biotechnology-heritage-award|access-date=February 5, 2014|publisher=BIO|date=June 13, 2001}}</ref>
* 2002: [[Association for Molecular Pathology]] Award for Excellence in Molecular Diagnostics<ref>{{Cite web |title=Past Recipients |url=https://www.amp.org/membership/awards-grants-honors/amp-award-for-excellence-in-molecular-diagnostics/past-recipients/ |access-date=March 3, 2023 |website=Association for Molecular Pathology |language=en}}</ref>
* 2007: On May 10, 2007, Venter was awarded an honorary doctorate from [[Arizona State University]],<ref name="Aufrett">Aufrett, Sarah. [http://asunews.asu.edu/stories/200705/20070511_grad.htm "ASU Celebrates Spring Graduates"], ''ASU Insight'', May 11, 2007. Accessed June 7, 2007.</ref> and on October 24 of the same year, he received an honorary doctorate from [[Imperial College London]].<ref name="Honorary degrees awarded to Browne">[http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_24-10-2007-11-2-43 "Honorary degrees awarded to Browne, Venter and Rausing"], ''Imperial College'', October 24, 2007. Accessed May 21, 2010.</ref>
* 2008: [[Double Helix Medal]] from [[Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory]]<ref name="PR Newswire-2008">{{cite news|title=J. Craig Venter, Ph.D. Receives Double Helix Medal from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/j-craig-venter-phd-receives-double-helix-medal-from-cold-spring-harbor-laboratory-65398802.html|access-date=February 6, 2014|newspaper=PR Newswire|date=November 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221163651/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/j-craig-venter-phd-receives-double-helix-medal-from-cold-spring-harbor-laboratory-65398802.html|archive-date=February 21, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
* 2008: [[Kistler Prize]] from [[Foundation For the Future]] for genome research<ref name="Bellevue Reporter-2008">{{cite news|title=Bellevue-based foundation awards $100,000 prize for genome research|url=http://www.bellevuereporter.com/news/28102159.html|access-date=February 6, 2014|newspaper=Bellevue Reporter|date=September 9, 2008}}</ref> 
* 2008: [[ENI award]] for Research & Environment<ref name="ENI-2008">{{cite web|title=Eni Award 2008: the Winners are Announced|url=http://www.eni.com/en_IT/media/press-releases/2008/02/2008-02-18-eni-award.shtml|publisher=ENI|date=February 18, 2008|access-date=February 6, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222204946/http://www.eni.com/en_IT/media/press-releases/2008/02/2008-02-18-eni-award.shtml|archive-date=February 22, 2014}}</ref> 
* 2008: [[National Medal of Science]] from President Obama<ref name="Piercey-2009">{{cite news|last=Piercey|first=Judy|title=Alumnus J. Craig Venter Awarded National Medal of Science|url=http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/archive/thisweek/2009/10/12_venter.asp |access-date=February 6, 2014|newspaper=This Week at UCSD|date=October 12, 2009}}</ref>
* 2010: On May 8, 2010, Venter received an honorary doctor of science degree from [[Clarkson University]] for his work on the human genome.<ref name="Clarkson University">{{cite web |url=http://www.clarkson.edu/news/view.php?id=2455 |title=Clarkson University: Template Title |access-date=April 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927083157/http://www.clarkson.edu/news/view.php?id=2455 |archive-date=September 27, 2011 }}</ref>
* 2011: On April 21, 2011, Venter received the 2011 Benjamin Rush Medal from [[William & Mary School of Law]].<ref name="Welch-Donahue">{{cite web|last=Welch-Donahue|first=Jaime|title=Benjamin Rush Scholars to Honor Dr. J. Craig Venter on April 21|url=http://law.wm.edu/news/stories/2011/benjamin-rush-scholars-to-honor-dr.-j.-craig-venter-on-april-21.php|access-date=April 21, 2011|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801084630/https://law.wm.edu/news/stories/2011/benjamin-rush-scholars-to-honor-dr.-j.-craig-venter-on-april-21.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2011: [[Dickson Prize]] in Medicine<ref name="University of Pittsburgh">{{cite web|title=2011 Dickson Prize Winner|url=http://www.dicksonprize.pitt.edu/recipients/2011-venter.php|publisher=University of Pittsburgh|access-date=February 6, 2014}}</ref>
* 2020: Edogawa NICHE Prize {{cite web|title=2020 Edogawa NICHE Prize Awardee|url=https://www.edogawanicheprize.org/prizewinner.html}} for his contribution to research and development pertaining to the Human genome<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.edogawanicheprize.org/| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181026104504/http://www.edogawanicheprize.org/| archive-date = October 26, 2018| title = Edogawa-Niche Prize}}</ref>

== Works ==
Venter has authored over 200 publications in [[scientific journal]]s.<ref name="ISIHighlyCited.com-2003">{{cite web |title=Venter, J. Craig |work=[[ISIHighlyCited.com]] |url=http://hcr3.isiknowledge.com/author.cgi?&link1=Browse&link2=Results&id=770 |url-access=subscription |date=August 19, 2003 |access-date=October 17, 2009}}</ref>
<!--LIST CRITERIA-->
<!-- For inclusion on this list, a publication must meet ALL of the following criteria (see exceptions below):
(1) Include Venter as a ''primary'' author. He will invariably be listed first or last. THERE IS NO EXCEPTION TO THIS CRITERION.
(2) Be cited in a peer-reviewed scientific journal with an [[impact factor]] of at least 10.
(3) It must have at least an average of 100 citations PER YEAR. If you are using ISIknowledge, just click on the number of times cited, then click on "analyze results", and rank by publication year. To calculate this manually, take the number of citations the article has (try using ISIknowledge.com) and divide it by the number of years since it was published. This rule is more flexible for articles published in the 20th century, as most can reasonably be expected not to be cited often anymore.

Exceptions to criteria 3 are:
(1) his autobiography
(2) an article that is a BIG DEAL but is too recent to have been so highly cited (for example, "Environmental genome shotgun sequencing of the Sargasso Sea" was a huge deal, but was only cited 60 times in 2004, a very low number for a Venter article)
(3) a review, editorial, etc., that is often cited and that provides a broad overview OF HIS OWN WORKS.

The criteria may seem incredibly high, but they account for the fact that Venter's articles are hugely cited and WP is not a directory.
-->
<!--NOTE: the use of the ellipsis is prescribed by the [[APA]] when a work has more than 7 authors and a later one needs mentioning. For the purposes of this section (and with a modification so that it matches the output of citation templates), the first 7 authors are listed, followed by the spaced ellipsis, followed by the author (Venter), and, if necessary, followed by et al.-->
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite journal |author=Fleischmann, Robert D.|author2=Adams, Mark D.|author3=White, Owen|author4=Clayton, Rebecca|author5=... Venter, J. Craig |s2cid=10423613|title=Whole-Genome Random Sequencing and Assembly of ''Haemophilus influenzae'' Rd|date=July 28, 1995 |journal=Science |volume=269 |issue=5223 |pages=496–512 |pmid=7542800 |doi=10.1126/science.7542800|bibcode = 1995Sci...269..496F }}
* {{cite journal |date=August 7, 1997 |title=The complete genome sequence of the gastric pathogen ''Helicobacter pylori'' |author=Tomb, Jean-F. |author2=White, Owen |author3=Kerlavage, Anthony R. |author4=Clayton, Rebecca A. |author5=Sutton, Granger G. |author6=Fleischmann, Robert D. |author7=... Venter, J. Craig |journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]] |volume=388 |issue=6642 |pages=539–47 |pmid=9252185 |doi=10.1038/41483|doi-access=free |bibcode=1997Natur.388..539T }}
* {{cite journal |date=March 24, 2000 |title=The genome sequence of ''Drosophila melanogaster'' |author=Adams, Mark D. |author2=Celniker, Susan E. |author3=Holt, Robert A. |author4=Evans, Cheryl A. |author5=Goccayne, Jeannine A. |author6=Amanatides, Peter G. |author7=... Venter, J. Craig |doi=10.1126/science.287.5461.2185 |volume=287 |issue=5461 |pages=2185–95 |journal=Science |pmid=10731132 |bibcode=2000Sci...287.2185. |url=http://faculty.evansville.edu/be6/b4456/genomep/adams.pdf |citeseerx=10.1.1.549.8639 |access-date=October 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722001126/http://faculty.evansville.edu/be6/b4456/genomep/adams.pdf |archive-date=July 22, 2018 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Venter | first1 = J. C. | author-link1 = Craig Venter| last2 = Adams | first2 = M. | last3 = Myers | first3 = E. | last4 = Li | first4 = P. | last5 = Mural | first5 = R. | last6 = Sutton | first6 = G. | last7 = Smith | first7 = H. | last8 = Yandell | first8 = M. | last9 = Evans | first9 = C. | last10 = Holt | first10 = R. A. | last11 = Gocayne | first11 = J. D. | last12 = Amanatides | first12 = P. | last13 = Ballew | first13 = R. M. | last14 = Huson | first14 = D. H. | last15 = Wortman | first15 = J. R. | last16 = Zhang | first16 = Q. | last17 = Kodira | first17 = C. D. | last18 = Zheng | first18 = X. H. | last19 = Chen | first19 = L. | last20 = Skupski | first20 = M. | last21 = Subramanian | first21 = G. | last22 = Thomas | first22 = P. D. | last23 = Zhang | first23 = J. | last24 = Gabor Miklos | first24 = G. L. | last25 = Nelson | first25 = C. | last26 = Broder | first26 = S. | last27 = Clark | first27 = A. G. | last28 = Nadeau | first28 = J. | last29 = McKusick | first29 = V. A. | last30 = Zinder | first30 = N. | title = The Sequence of the Human Genome | doi = 10.1126/science.1058040 | journal = Science | volume = 291 | issue = 5507 | pages = 1304–1351 | year = 2001 | pmid =11181995| bibcode = 2001Sci...291.1304V | display-authors = 29 | doi-access = free }}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Venter | first1 = J. C. | last2 = Remington | first2 = K. | last3 = Heidelberg | first3 = J. | last4 = Halpern | first4 = A. | last5 = Rusch | first5 = D. | last6 = Eisen | first6 = J. | last7 = Wu | first7 = D. | last8 = Paulsen | first8 = I. | last9 = Nelson | first9 = K. | last10 = Nelson | first10 = W. | last11 = Fouts | first11 = D. E. | last12 = Levy | first12 = S. | last13 = Knap | first13 = A. H. | last14 = Lomas | first14 = M. W. | last15 = Nealson | first15 = K. | last16 = White | first16 = O. | last17 = Peterson | first17 = J. | last18 = Hoffman | first18 = J. | last19 = Parsons | first19 = R. | last20 = Baden-Tillson | first20 = H. | last21 = Pfannkoch | first21 = C. | last22 = Rogers | first22 = Y. H. | last23 = Smith | first23 = H. O. | title = Environmental Genome Shotgun Sequencing of the Sargasso Sea | doi = 10.1126/science.1093857 | journal = Science | volume = 304 | issue = 5667 | pages = 66–74 | year = 2004 | pmid = 15001713 |bibcode = 2004Sci...304...66V | citeseerx = 10.1.1.124.1840 | s2cid = 1454587 }}
* {{cite journal |title=The ''Sorcerer II'' Global Ocean Sampling expedition: Northwest Atlantic through Eastern Tropical Pacific |author=Rusch, Donald B. |author2=Halpern, Aaron L. |author3=Sutton, Granger |author4=Heidelberg, Karla B. |author5=Williamson, Shannon |author6=Yooseph, Shibu |author7=Wu, Dongying |author8=... Venter, J. Craig |journal=[[PLOS Biology]] |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=398–431 |date=March 13, 2007 |doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0050077 |pmid=17355176 |pmc=1821060 |doi-access=free }}
* {{cite journal |title=The ''Sorcerer II'' Global Ocean Sampling Expedition: Expanding the Universe of Protein Families|author=Yooseph, Shibu|author2=Sutton, Granger|author3=Rusch, Donald B.|author4=Halpern, Aaron L.|author5=Williamson, Shannon|author6=Remington, Karin|author7=Eisen, Jonathan A.|author8=... Venter, J. Craig |journal=PLOS Biology |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=432–466 |date=March 13, 2007 |doi=10.1371/journal.pbio.0050016 |pmid=17355171 |pmc=1821046 |doi-access=free }}
* {{cite book| author = Venter, J. Craig| title = A Life Decoded: My Genome: My Life| year=2007| publisher = [[Viking Adult]]| location = New York| isbn = 978-0-670-06358-1| oclc = 165048736| url = https://archive.org/details/lifedecodedmygen00vent}} editor [[Roger Highfield]]
* {{cite book| author = Venter, J. Craig| title = Life at the Speed of Light: From the Double Helix to the Dawn of Digital Life| year=2013| publisher = [[Viking Adult]]| location = New York| isbn = 978-0-670-02540-4| oclc = 834432832 }} editor [[Roger Highfield]]
{{refend}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Biography|Evolutionary biology |Biology|Technology|Marine life }}
* [[Artificial gene synthesis]]
* [[Full genome sequencing]]
* [[Genetic testing]]
* ''[[Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters]]''
* [[Personal genomics]]
* [[Pharmacogenomics]]
* [[Predictive medicine]]
* [[Synthetic Organism Designer]]
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book| last = Ewing-Duncan| first = David| title = Masterminds: Genius, DNA, and the Quest to Rewrite Life| date = 2006| publisher = [[Harper Perennial]]| location = New York| isbn = 978-0-00-716184-3 }}
* {{cite book| last = Shreeve| first = James| title = The Genome War: How Craig Venter Tried to Capture the Code of Life and Save the World| date = 2004| publisher = [[Alfred A. Knopf]]| location = New York| isbn = 978-0-375-40629-4| url = https://archive.org/details/genomewarhowcrai00shre}}
* {{cite book| author-link = John E. Sulston| last1 = Sulston| first1 = John| last2 = Ferry| first2 = Georgina| title = The Common Thread: A Story of Science, Politics, Ethics and the Human Genome| date = 2002| publisher = [[Joseph Henry Press]]| location = Washington, D.C.| isbn = 978-0-309-08409-3| url = https://archive.org/details/commonthreadsto00suls}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.humanlongevity.com/ Human Longevity, Inc.]
*[http://huref.jcvi.org HuRef Genome Browser]
*[http://www.jcvi.org/ J. Craig Venter Institute]
*[http://www.sorcerer2expedition.org/version1/HTML/main.htm Sorcerer II Expedition]
*[http://www.syntheticgenomics.com/ Synthetic Genomics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221120502/http://www.syntheticgenomics.com/ |date=December 21, 2008 }}
*[http://www.jcvi.org The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR)]

; Media
*{{TED speaker}}
*{{Charlie Rose guest|2497}}
*{{New York Times topic|new_id=person/craig-venter}}
*[https://www.theguardian.com/science/2007/oct/08/genetics.scienceandnature Cracking the code to life], ''[[The Guardian]]'', October 8, 2007
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20071223070241/http://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/video/289-craig_venter.html Craig Venter interview], ''[[Wired Science]]'', December 2007 (video)
*[http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/398 Video of interview/discussion with Craig Venter] by [[Carl Zimmer]] on [[Bloggingheads.tv]]
*{{YouTube|E5X6Qy772YU|Craig Venter: A voyage of DNA, genes and the sea}} – [[TED (conference)|TED (Technology Entertainment Design) conference]] (video)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081222163006/http://www.21school.ox.ac.uk/video/200710_venter.cfm Webcast of Venter talk 'Genomics: From humans to the environment'] at [[The James Martin 21st Century School]]
*[http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4893602463025557866 The Richard Dimbleby Lecture 2007 – Dr. J. Craig Venter – A DNA Driven World]
*[http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/church_venter09/church_venter09_index.html A short course on synthetic genomics. Edge Master Class 2009]
*{{cite episode | series = 60 Minutes | airdate=November 21, 2010 | network = CBS | title = J. Craig Venter: Designing Life | url=http://www.cbs.com/primetime/60_minutes/}}

{{Winners of the National Medal of Science|biological}}
{{Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Venter, Craig}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
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[[Category:American biotechnologists]]
[[Category:Human Genome Project scientists]]
[[Category:Leeuwenhoek Medal winners]]
[[Category:Life extensionists]]
[[Category:Members of the United States National Academy of Sciences]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Salt Lake City]]
[[Category:People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]]
[[Category:Researchers of artificial life]]
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[[Category:United States Navy corpsmen]]
[[Category:United States Navy personnel of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:University at Buffalo faculty]]
[[Category:University of California, San Diego alumni]]
[[Category:Members of the National Academy of Medicine]]
[[Category:Members of the American Philosophical Society]]