J. Craig Venter dies at 79

I have been deeply critical of Craig for his views about the future of science, but this news hits hard. I realize now that part of being a scientist is valuing the diversity of opinion, even when it comes backed with more social, political, and financial capital than you can muster yourself.

J. Craig Venter, Scientist Who Decoded the Human Genome, Dies at 79 A risk-taking outsider, he brought speed, competition and controversy to one of science’s biggest races. #GiftLink Nicholas Wade writes @NYtimes.com www.nytimes.com/2026/04/30/s...

Geneticist J. Craig Venter, best known for his role in sequencing the human genome, has died aged 79. He spoke to Nature in 2023 about AI, sequencing the ocean – and why he had no plans to stop working. go.nature.com/4d4h1ns

Pioneering geneticist and decoder of the human genome J. Craig Venter dies at age 79 www.scientificamerican.com/article/gene...

With Craig Venter and Peter Raven both passing within a day of each other it really does feel like the end of an era for American science. www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/s...

J. Craig Venter, genomics pioneer and founder of JCVI and Diploid Genomics, Inc., dies at 79 www.jcvi.org/media-center...

Er war ein Pionier, aber auch umstritten: Craig Venter entschlüsselte das menschliche Erbgut. Nun ist der US-Forscher gestorben. #Genetik

Not bad, but Venter planned to live much, much longer... www.wnyc.org/story/j-crai...

It's sad to wake up to the news that the legendary Craig Venter died. Here's Quake talking about how the Genomics revolution didn't come from within the Genetics community. Craig came in from Pharmacology and said genomes don't have to be perfect; drafts are useful. open.spotify.com/episode/3PZA...

Craig Venter has died aged 79. He was at the forefront of sequencing the human genome and synthetic biology but divided opinion in how he went about it

Surfing>>Vietnam war>>sequencing human genome>>creating synthetic life (Craig Venter obit by @michael-marshall.bsky.social) www.newscientist.com/article/2524...

Craig Venter, who has died, helped sequence the human genome and drove forward synthetic biology. He ruffled a very large quantity of feathers along the way. https://www.newscientist.com/article/2524928-the-rich-but-complicated-legacy-of-genome-pioneer-craig-venter/

The lab had two papers with Craig Venter in 2007! Viral photosynthetic reaction center genes and transcripts in the marine environment www.nature.com/articles/ism...

My last friendly encounter with Craig Venter at the TRI-Con conference in March 2023. We spent a fun 30 minutes running through his career highlights. This slide showed my photos of him and Francis Collins speaking at the inaugural Nature Genetics conference in 1993, foreshadowing the Genome Wars.

Nature features Craig Venter at J. Craig Venter Institute after his passing away on Apr. 29, 2026. Honor to work with him for exactly 2 years. @nature.com Genome pioneer Craig Venter dies: here’s how he transformed science. www.nature.com/articles/d41...