Synthetic biology pioneers issue bioterror warning

As synthetic biology emerges from the sidelines to produce new therapies and fuels, the burgeoning business also promises to create tools that can be put to work on the behalf of a new generation of bioterrorists. And two of the pioneers in the field, George Church and Craig Venter, warn that regulators will need to watch over the work to make sure the technology doesn't end up in the wrong hands. ...

On its 10th birthday, the importance of sequencing is still debated

Craig Venter has never been reluctant to credit himself for a lead role in sequencing the human genome. And he's certainly not the least bit shy about placing a high value on the overall significance of the work. "I think it's far more important than walking on the Moon; not much has happened since walking on the Moon," he tells the BBC on the tenth anniversary of the grand achievement, which took 2,000 scientists more than 10 years and $2.7 billion to accomplish. The 10th anniversary of...

Life Technologies budgets $100M for synthetic biology deals

Lured into the promising field of synthetic biology, Life Technologies is striking a string of new deals intended to position the company as one of the primary providers of the research tools which will be needed by scientists laboring on new projects. According to a report from Forbes' Matthew Herper, Life Technologies has reserved $100 million to invest in the field this year. Yesterday the company announced its investment in J. Craig Venter's Synthetic Genomics,...

Venter: Synthetic cells will revolutionize vax development

J. Craig Venter told lawmakers yesterday that the ability to create synthetic genes could revolutionize the development of new vaccines. Using the new technology that he's been pioneering, Venter says that flu vaccine candidates could be constructed within 24 hours of an outbreak. Researchers now require about three months to do the work. Synthetic cells provide researchers with the "software of life," Venter told Congress....

Venter team births world’s first synthetic cell

A team of researchers working under J. Craig Venter was able to take a bacterium and replace its genome with synthetic DNA they had developed using computer code. In creating a custom species of bacteria, the company has opened new doors to genetic engineering and advanced the field of synthetic biology, which has been focused on a number of life sciences projects. "This is the first synthetic cell that's been made, and we call it synthetic because the cell is totally derived from a synthetic...

Venter Institute raises $53M in sale-leaseback deal

The Venter Institute has raised $53 million through a sale-leaseback deal on its campus in Rockville, MD. And the deal would appear to help advance the institute's plans to build a new research facility on the campus of UC San Diego while shoring up its financial position in Maryland. "We believe that this has positive implications for both JCVI's East and West Coast operations," Venter spokeswoman Heather Kowalski tells Xconomy's Bruce Bigelow. "To your question regarding the West Coast, we...