Death of Genomic Pioneer Craig Venter (heise.de)

• Led private human genome sequencing initiative
• Pioneered shotgun sequencing techniques
• Created the first cell controlled by a synthetic genome

"Craig Venter, a central figure in the genomics revolution, has passed away. Venter gained global prominence for spearheading the private effort to sequence the human genome, competing with the public Human Genome Project. His work in shotgun sequencing and the development of the first synthetic bacterial cell fundamentally altered the field of synthetic biology, sparking global discourse on the ethics of 'writing' life and the commercialization of genetic data."