The World, the Universe and Us Craig Venter’s Legacy: The Most Influential Geneticist Since Watson and Crick
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May 1, 2026 
Roger Highfield, science director and ex-New Scientist editor, shares personal recollections of Craig Venter. Mike Marshall, science writer, recounts Venter’s genomics and synthetic biology ventures. They discuss his rivalry in the human genome race, shotgun sequencing’s breakthrough, the synthetic cell milestone, controversies over commercialisation, and his marine metagenomics expeditions.
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Private Lab Accelerated The Human Genome
- Craig Venter created Celera to accelerate the Human Genome Project by using faster methods and private funding.
- His competition with the public project forced both sides to publish a draft around 2000, effectively speeding the field by ~3 years.
Shotgun Sequencing Changed Genomics Forever
- Shotgun sequencing, championed by Venter, fragments genomes then reassembles them computationally, enabling rapid, large-scale sequencing.
- This computational focus unlocked metagenomics and discovery of major groups like Asgard archaea from environmental samples.
Vietnam Service Reignited Venter's Drive
- Venter's Vietnam service at a medical unit shifted his outlook, motivating him to return to education and pursue science vigorously.
- He described near-suicidal swimming before a shark encounter that refocused his life toward achievement.
