Genome pioneer Venter to address biotech community Thursday

By: BRADLEY J. FIKES - Staff Writer
Search for new drugs, fuel replacements dominate | Monday, March 17, 2008 9:03 PM PDT ∞

Maverick scientist J. Craig Venter, who played a major role in decoding the human genome, will discuss the future of genetics Thursday at an event sponsored by the biggest players in San Diego County's large biotech community.

Scientists believe that most of the Earth's genetic diversity is believed to reside in the oceans, which are not nearly as well explored as land habitats.

In that spirit, Venter established a scientific institute to expand genetic research. His J. Craig Venter Institute is searching oceans for new microbes that could be useful, for example, as energy sources to replace fossil fuels and to supply new drugs. It is also continuing genetic research on humans.

Both the environmental and drug research aspects of the institute's endeavors are of great interest to local biotech companies and research institutes. Nearly all biotech companies are developing drugs or diagnostic products, and environmental technologies are getting more attention.

Connect, a nonprofit group that encourages technology companies, has established a subsidiary, CleanTech, to spur environmental technology. CleanTech is a sponsor of Venter's presentation, along with Biocom, the area's life science trade group, and Sempra Energy, the parent company of San Diego Gas & Electric Co.

On Monday, Venter said that his institute's San Diego branch performs the same kinds of research as its headquarters in Maryland, but is influenced by its partnerships with other San Diego research institutions.

"There's slightly more concentration on environmental programs out here because of the great collaborations with (Scripps Institution of Oceanography), but all these programs go on in the East Coast, as well," Venter said.

Venter led a private initiative to decode the human genome, the complete set of genes in a human body. Decoding the genes is necessary to determining how they function, and in the case of diseases, malfunction. Venter's effort raced the government-sponsored Human Genome Project to a draw in 2000. Venter then decided to found his own scientific institute to carry on genetic research.

Registration for the event closes at 5 p.m. today. Online registration is at http://tinyurl.com/2423r9. The cost for members of Connect and Biocom is $55. General admission is $65. Walk-in admission is $85. For more information, e-mail Holli Garrett at hgarrett@connect.org.

-- Contact staff writer Bradley J. Fikes at (760) 739-6641 or bfikes@nctimes.com.