Craig Venter was born on October 14, 1946, under the zodiac sign Libra in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. His father was John Venter, and his mother was Elizabeth Venter. During his youth, Craig developed a passion for water sports and completed his high school education at Mills High School in California. Academically, he was not highly engaged, and he expressed opposition to the Vietnam War during his early years.
While serving in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War, Venter experienced a personal crisis and reportedly attempted to end his life by swimming into shark-infested waters. However, he changed his mind and returned safely. This life-altering moment led him to pursue a career in medicine, motivated by a desire to help those injured in the war. Venter first attended the College of San Mateo, then transferred to the University of California, San Diego, where he earned a Ph.D. in physiology and pharmacology.
In 1984, Craig Venter joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he gained recognition for his innovative work in genomics. During his tenure, he became involved in a scientific controversy regarding gene patenting, a debate that eventually helped shape policies on intellectual property in biotechnology. Despite the contention, his work laid the groundwork for future genomic research.
Venter played a pivotal role in the Human Genome Project. Though initially part of the publicly funded effort, he later led a private initiative through Celera Genomics, where he used a faster method known as whole genome shotgun sequencing. In 2000, both the public and private teams jointly announced the successful sequencing of the human genome—a landmark achievement in genetics and personalized medicine.
| Birth Date: | 14 Oct, 1946 |
| Age: | 73 yrs |
| Occupations: | Biochemist Geneticist Entrepreneur |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Salt Lake City |
| Education: | University of California, San Diego |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American biochemist |
| Spouse: | Barbara Rae-Venter[1968-1980] Claire M. Fraser |
| Net Worth 2021: | 300 million |
