Q&A: Genome Pioneer Craig Venter Plans Largest Human Genome Project to Aid Longevity
New institute would collect 40,000 genomes to try to crack the secrets of healthy aging.
Human genome pioneer J. Craig Venter announced plans Tuesday to sequence the gene maps of 40,000 volunteers in a bid to crack the secrets of healthy human aging.
During the 1990s, Venter, 68, gained fame (and controversy) as the head of Celera's private-industry effort to be the first to sequence a human genome, in competition with the $5 billion federal Human Genome Project. The "genome war" between them formally ended in a tie announced by U.S. President Bill Clinton in 2000.
In his latest effort, Venter and backers announced the $70 million start of Human Longevity Inc. (HLI), a partnership with the University of California, San Diego, and other scientific organizations.
"This is Celera on steroids and
