So What’s Craig Venter Up To These Days?

Posted on | July 28, 2009 | Comments Off on So What’s Craig Venter Up To These Days?

You remember Craig, former CEO of Celera Genomics, and one of the dynamic duo that literally fought its way through the Human Genome Project in the 90’s. ^1,2 Craig battled away from the private side.³ And Francis Collins, his altar boy, alter ego, who was nominated to head the NIH on July 8, 2009, was his public counter-weight.⁴

After a decade, with the human genome mostly mapped. the two called a truce, and both were declared victors. That was in 2001.⁵ Francis Collins stayed public, running the National Human Genome Research Institute, one of 27 specialty institutes within the NIH, until 2008.⁶ But the highly entrepreneurial, sometimes irascible Venter went strangely silent after being released by Celera’s Board over disputes about the strategic direction of the company.² In 2005, he created the Institute for Genomic Research, continuing the magic of rapid sequencing he first picked up as an NIH’er himself and patented in 1991.^7,8

He’s now reappeared with a boatload of money, and you might be surprised where he has targeted his biologic weaponry, and who’s on the team. His new partner and source of a 600 million dollar capital infusion is Exxon Mobil.⁹ The money won’t be spent on DNA analysis of company employees. In fact it won’t involve humans at all. The beneficiaries are algae, targeted for genetic manipulation.

If Venter is right, the rejiggered algae will absorb CO₂coming in and spew natural oil going out. The result could be double pay load for both partners. Successful absorption of CO₂ in the new regulatory world creates a reliable stream of income from carbon caps. And secreted algae oil has been shown to be compatible with refinery conventional crude oil. In fact, one plan has a 13 square mile algae field being built right next to a refinery.^9,10

Of course the outcome is anything but certain. But Venter is known for his big risks. Exxon Mobil? Not so much! They are the grand daddy’s of fossil fuels. Their CEO Rex Tillerson has said that when he dies, he expects the hearse to be fueled by gasoline or diesel fuel.¹⁰ He may be right. On the other hand, if this bet pays off, and the partners generate a renewable source of natural oil while at the same time absorbing CO₂ from the environment, old Craig will have once again “struck oil”.

For Health Commentary, I’m Mike Magee

References:

1. Shreeve, Jamie (2005-10-31). "The Blueprint Of Life". Retrieved on 6 December 2007.

2. Antonio Regalo, "Maverick biologist at work on next goal: creating life", Seattle Times, July 24, 2005.

3. Smaglik P, Butler D (2000). "Celera turns to public genome data to speed up endgame…". Nature 403: 119–121.

4. President Obama Announces Intent to Nominate Francis Collins as Director

5. Venter, J. Craig; Adams, Mark D.; Myers, Eugene W.; Li, Peter W.; Mural, Richard J.; Sutton, Granger G.; Smith, Hamilton O.; Yandell, Mark; et al. (2001), "The Sequence of the Human Genome", Science 291 (5507): 1304–1351

6. Chemical & Engineering News, Vol. 86 No. 31, Aug. 04, 2008, p. 33, "Francis Collins leaves NIH"

7. Craig Venter meets with BABS Students University of New South Wales (18 March 2005)

8. Roberts, Leslie (1991). "Genome Patent Fight Erupts". Science 254 (5029): 184–186.

9. Exxon Sinks $600M Into Algae-Based Biofuels in Major Strategy Shift". NYTimes.com (New York Times). July 14, 2007.

10. Crooks E and Harvey F, Exxon chief sceptical of plans to scale up biofuels production. Financial Times. June 27 2007