Passing of Craig Venter (jcvi.org)

• Led the private-sector effort to sequence the human genome.
• Successfully created the world’s first synthetic cell.
• Transformed biology into a data-driven engineering discipline.

"Craig Venter, a central figure in genomics and synthetic biology, has passed away. Venter is best known for his pivotal role in sequencing the first human genome and his subsequent work in creating synthetic life forms. His approach transformed genomic research from a slow, academic process into a high-throughput industrial enterprise. His legacy remains central to modern drug discovery, synthetic biology regulation, and the ethical discourse surrounding genome editing."