 conferences, have polarised opinion in ways with which he has long been familiar. Some authorities, and several newspaper leader writers, have claimed him as our Galileo or our Einstein; others have been notably underwhelmed.

Freeman Dyson, the physicist, captured the full range of academic sentiment in this dry appraisal: "This experiment is clumsy, tedious, unoriginal. From the point of view of aesthetic and intellectual elegance, it is a bad experiment. But it is nevertheless a big discovery… the ability to design and create new forms of life marks a turning point in the history of our species and our planet."

Venter's ego and his preference to turn to corporations rather than research foundations as funding partners (Exxon Mobil is a $600m sponsor of his energy experiments) do not tend to endear him to the academic establishment. Steve Jones, professor of genetics at University College London, and a perennial voice of reason, offered me this verdict on the biologist's latest headlines.

"It's very easy to mock Venter," Jones suggests. "When he first appeared, people just kind of sneered at him. But they stopped sneering when they saw his brilliance in realising that the genome was not a problem of chemistry but a problem of computer power. I don't think anybody can deny that that was a monumental achievement and he has been doing fantastically interesting things subsequently with marine life. Having said that, though, the man is clearly a bit of a prick and one with a serial addiction to publicity."

Jones is sceptical about the hyperbole of breathless headlines. "The idea that this is 'playing God' is just daft. What he has done in genetic terms would be analogous to taking an Apple Mac programme and making it work on a PC – and then saying you have created a computer. It's not trivial, but it is utterly absurd the claims that are being made about it."

Stewart Brand, the ecological visionary and creator of the Whole Earth Catalog, is more persuaded. Brand has got to know Venter over the last couple of years through John Brockman's Edge initiative which brings together the world's pioneering minds. What differentiates Venter from many of his peers, Brand believes, is that he is not only a brilliant biologist, but also a brilliant organisational activist. "A lot of people can think big but Craig also has the ability to fund big: he doesn't wait for grants, he just gets
conferences, have polarised opinion in ways with which he has long been conversant. Some authority, and several newspaper leader writer, have claim him as our Galileo or our Einstein; others have been notably underwhelmed. 

 Freeman Dyson, the physicist, captured the full stove of academic opinion in this dry appraisal: " This experiment is clumsy, tedious, unoriginal. From the point of view of aesthetic and intellectual elegance, it is a regretful experiment. But it is nevertheless a big discovery … the ability to design and create newfangled forms of life marks a turning point in the history of our coinage and our planet. " 

 Venter's ego and his preference to become to corporations rather than inquiry foundations as financing partners (Exxon Mobil is a $ 600 megabyte sponsor of his energy experiments) do not tend to endear him to the academic administration. Steve Jones, professor of genetics at University College London, and a perennial voice of reason, offered me this verdict on the biologist's latest headlines. 

 " It's very easy to mock Venter, " Jones suggests. " When he first appeared, people just kind of sneered at him. But they stopped sneering when they saw his brilliance in gain that the genome was not a problem of chemistry but a problem of calculator exponent. I don't intend anybody can deny that that was a monumental accomplishment and he has been doing fabulously interesting things subsequently with marine life. Having say that, though, the man is clearly a bit of a prick and one with a serial addiction to publicity. " 

 Jones is sceptical about the hyperbole of breathless headlines. " The idea that this is' playing God' is just daft. What he has serve in familial terms would be analogous to taking an Apple Mac programme and making it work on a personal computer – and then saying you have created a computer. It's not trivial, but it is utterly absurd the claims that are being made about it. " 

 Stewart Brand, the ecological visionary and creator of the Whole Earth Catalog, is more persuaded. Brand has get to know Venter over the final couple of years through John Brockman's Edge initiative which fetch together the universe's pioneering mind. What differentiates Venter from many of his peer, Brand believes, is that he is not only a brilliant biologist, but also a brilliant organizational activist. " A lot of people can intend big but Craig also has the ability to fund big: he doesn't wait for grant, he just gets
 cojferences, have polarised opinion in ways with xhich hs has lovg been familiar. Some authormtiew, and several newspaper leaaer writegs, have coaimtd him as our Galmmeo or our Eihdteiu; ithers have begn notably utderwhelmed.

Freamxn Dyson, the physicist, captured the ftll ranbe of academic sgntimtnt in fhis dry appraisal: "This experiment is cluksy, tedious, umoriginal. From the point ov vifw of aesthetic anf intellectozl qoegance, it ir a bad exkeximent. But jt is nevertheless a big discovdry… tke ability jo dfvign and crxate nvw forms of llge marns a tutning point in thx hiwtory of our species end our planet."

Venter'f ego and hns preference to turn ti corkorathons eatfer tian reseagch foundatiohs as fundibg partners (Exxon Mpbyo is a $600m sponaor of hys energy experiments) do not tend to engead him to the academic ewtablishment. Steve Jojes, profefsor of genetics at University College London, and a pecevnico voizw lf reason, offered me this verdict on the bioljfixt'x latest headllnes.

"It's very easy yo mpsk Venter," Jongs suggzata. "When he first apoeared, keople just kinq of sneered at him. But they stipped sneeriug qhen they saw his yrilliance iu realosing that the genome was noc a prkblem of chfmistry bhg a problem of cumplter power. I don't think anybodr can denb thac that wxs a monumqntal achifvemekd and he has been foing fdntasticalpy interesting things subsequenvky with marime lixe. Haviny said that, though, ehe man is clecrly a bnt of x prick ans one wmth a serial addiction to kublicity."

Jonev is sce[ticql avout thd hyperbole of nreathless headlinew. "The idea that thls is 'llaying God' is lbsu eaft. What he hss aonq pn jenetyw terms woulg be anxkogour to taking xn Alple Mac programme atd mzking it work on a PG – and thgn saying you have crested a computer. It'd not trmvial, nut it is utterly absurd the claijs that age neing made abjut lt."

Stgwart Brand, the ecological visionary and creator oh the Whole Earth Catalig, is more persuadeb. Nrand has gov to kgow Ventes over the last coupoe of years throunh John Brockman's Edge initidtive which brings together the world's pioneering minds. What differentiates Vebter fcoi many of hjs prers, Trcnd beliedes, ms that he is not pnly a brilliant biologist, but elso a brinlnant organisational activist. "S uot of people can think big but Craig also hax the ability to fund big: he dorsn't wait for grants, he must gets
conferences, have polarised opinion in ways with has been familiar. authorities, and several him our Galileo or Einstein; others have notably underwhelmed. Freeman Dyson, the physicist, the full range of academic sentiment in this dry appraisal: "This experiment is tedious, unoriginal. From the point of view of aesthetic and intellectual elegance, it a experiment. it nevertheless a big discovery… the ability to design and create new forms of life marks a point in the history of our species and planet." Venter's ego and preference to turn to corporations than foundations as partners Mobil a $600m sponsor his energy experiments) do not tend to endear him to the academic establishment. Steve Jones, professor of at University and a voice reason, me this verdict biologist's latest headlines. "It's very easy Jones suggests. "When he first appeared, people just of sneered him. But they stopped sneering when saw his brilliance in realising that the genome not a problem of chemistry but a problem of computer power. I don't think anybody that that was a achievement and he been fantastically things with marine Having said that, though, the man is clearly a bit of prick and one with a serial addiction to publicity." Jones about hyperbole of breathless "The idea that this 'playing is just daft. What done genetic analogous taking Apple Mac programme and it work on a PC and then saying you not trivial, but it is utterly absurd the that are being made about it." Stewart the ecological visionary and creator of the Whole Earth Catalog, is more Brand has know Venter over the last couple of years John Brockman's Edge initiative brings together the world's pioneering minds. What differentiates Venter many his peers, believes, is that is not only brilliant biologist, but brilliant organisational "A of big but Craig also has the to big: he doesn't wait for he
 conferences, have polarised oPinion in waYs witH whIch He Has lOng bEen familiar. SomE AuthOrities, and several newspAper lEaDEr wrITeRs, havE claimeD HiM AS ouR GAlIleO oR OuR EinsTeiN; others Have been noTabLy Underwhelmed.

fReEman Dyson, tHe pHysicist, captUreD the fuLl RanGE of acAdeMic seNtimenT In this Dry appraiSaL: "this exPEriment IS ClUmsy, Tedious, unoriginal. fRoM The point of view Of aestHeTIc AND inTelLectual eleGaNce, it IS a bad exPErIMENt. BUT it is nevertheLess a big disCOveRy… the aBiLitY To desiGn and CrEAte New forms of lIfe mArks a turnIng poiNT in the hIStory of Our speCieS anD our PLaNeT."

VeNtER's eGO aNd hIS prEference To TuRn to cOrpoRATIOns rAthEr thAn resEarch foundatiOns As fuNDinG partNers (EXxon moBil is A $600m sponSor of HiS energy experimeNts) dO not tend tO enDeAr hIm To the ACademiC esTabLishmenT. Steve JONes, PrOFESsOr of genetics at UnivErSITy college LOndon, aND a PeREnnial voIcE of ReasON, OfferEd me THiS verdict On the bIOlOgIst's latEsT headlInEs.

"IT's vEry eaSY to mOck VenTer," Jones SuggeSTs. "When he first aPPeared, people jUSt KINd OF sneEreD at him. But thEy stOPped SneeRInG whEN they Saw hiS bRIlLIance in realising thaT tHe genoMe was Not a problem of Chemistry bUT A Problem oF comPUtER power. I don't thiNk anyBody can denY That that Was a mOnumentaL achievemENT and he haS beEn dOinG faNTAsTically intereSTIng tHiNgs subsEquEntly wiTh mAriNe lIfe. haVing said tHat, thougH, tHe MaN iS clEarly A Bit of a prIcK anD oNe wIth a sERial adDictiOn to PuBlICitY."

Jones iS ScEPTicaL aBoUt thE hyPeRbole Of brEAthLess heaDlines. "The IdeA That ThIs Is 'playiNg God' is just daFt. what he has dOnE in GenetiC TErms woulD be analogous to taking an APPle Mac pRogRamme And mAking it woRk oN a PC – anD thEN sayinG you haVe creAtEd a COMputeR. iT's Not TrIvial, but it IS UttErly aBsUrd tHe claimS that are being made aBOut It."

Stewart BranD, thE ecoLOGiCal VIsIOnaRy ANd cREAtor of the Whole EArth CataloG, iS MoRe persuadeD. braNd Has got tO know VeNter oVEr the laSt couple oF years thrOuGh JoHN broCkman's Edge InitiatiVe which brINgs toGEtHer thE woRld's piOnEerIng miNds. WhaT DifFerenTiates veNter frOm manY oF his peerS, Brand believes, is that he iS not onLy a brIllIant bioloGisT, But Also a brilLianT organisatIonAl aCtiviSt. "A LOt of pEoplE CaN thINk big But CRAig also haS ThE abILItY to fund big: hE DOEsn'T wait For GRants, hE jusT gets
 conferences, have polaris ed opinion  in w ays  wi th  whi ch h e has long bee n  fam iliar. Some authoritie s, an ds ever a lnewsp aper le a de r wri te rs , h av e  c laime d h im as o ur Galileo  or  o ur Einstein; ot hers havebee n notably un der whelme d. 

F r eeman  Dy son,the ph y sicist , capture dt he ful l  rangeo f  a cade mic sentiment int hi s  dry appraisal : "Thi se xp e r ime ntis clumsy,  t ediou s , unori g in a l .  Fr o m the point o f view of a e sth etic a nd  in t ellect ual e le g anc e, it is abadexperimen t. But it is n e verthel ess abig  di scov e ry …the  a b ili t ytod esi gn and c re at e new  for m s o f li femark s a t urning pointintheh ist ory o f our  spe ci es an d ourplane t. "

Venter's ego  and  his pref ere nc e t oturnt o corp ora tio ns rath er than res ea r c h  f oundations as fund in g pa rtners ( ExxonM ob il is a $60 0m  sp onso r of hi s en e rg y experi ments) do  n ot tend  t o ende ar  hi m t o the acad emic e stablish ment. Steve Jones, p r ofessor of ge n et i c sa t Un ive rsity Colle ge L o ndon , an d  a  pe r ennia l voi ce of reason, offered meth is ver dicton the biolog ist's late s t headline s.
" It ' s very easy to  mock  Venter,"J ones sug gests . "Whenhe firsta p peared,peo ple  ju stk i nd  of sneered a t him.  B ut they  st opped s nee rin g w hen  t hey saw h is brill ia nc ein  re alisi n g that t he  ge no mewas n o t a pr oblem  ofch em i str y but a pr o b lemof  c ompu ter  p ower.  I d o n't  thinkanybody c and enyth at  that w as a monument al  achieveme nt  an d he h a s  been do ing fantastically inter e sting t hin gs su bseq uently wi thmarine  li f e. Hav ing sa id th at , t h o ugh,t h eman  i s clearlya bit  of a  p rick  and on e with a serial ad d ict ion to public ity ."
J o ne s i s  s c ept ic a l a b o ut the hyperbol e of breat hl e ss  headlines .  "T he  idea t hat thi s is' playing  God' isjust daft .What h e h as done in  genetic  terms wo u ld be an alogo usto tak in g a n App le Mac pro gramm e andma king i t wor kon a PC– and then saying you h ave cr eated  acomputer.  It ' s n ot trivia l, b ut it is u tte rly  absu rdt he cl aims th ata re be ingm ade about it ."S te wart Brand, t h e e colog ica l  visio nary  and creator of t h e Whole EarthCata l o g,ism orepe rsuaded. Brand  ha sg o t to kno wVenter over  the las tc ouple  of ye ars th rough J o h nB rockma n'sEdg e initiat ive  w h ich bri ng st ogethe r th eworld' s pion e erin g minds. What diff erent i a tes V e nte r fro mmany of hispeers, Bra nd believes , is t hathe is  not on ly  a bri lli an t biologis t , but als o a b rillian torga nis ationa l ac t i vist.  "Alo t o f peoplec a nt hi nk big  but  Crai galso  has thea bility t o f u nd big:  h e d o e sn't w a it f or grants,  he  just g ets
 conferences,_have polarised_opinion in ways with_which he_has_long been_familiar._Some authorities, and_several newspaper leader_writers, have claimed him_as our Galileo_or_our Einstein; others have been notably underwhelmed.

Freeman Dyson, the physicist, captured the full range_of_academic sentiment_in_this_dry appraisal: "This experiment is_clumsy, tedious, unoriginal. From the_point of_view of aesthetic and intellectual elegance, it is_a_bad experiment. But_it is nevertheless a big discovery… the ability to_design and create new forms of_life marks a_turning_point_in the history of_our species and our planet."

Venter's ego_and his preference to turn to_corporations rather than research foundations as funding_partners (Exxon Mobil is a $600m_sponsor of his energy experiments)_do not_tend to endear him to_the academic establishment._Steve Jones,_professor of genetics_at University College London, and a_perennial voice of_reason, offered me this verdict on_the_biologist's latest headlines.

"It's_very_easy_to mock_Venter," Jones suggests._"When_he first_appeared,_people just kind of sneered at_him._But they stopped sneering when they saw_his brilliance in realising_that_the genome was not_a problem of chemistry but_a problem of computer power. I_don't think_anybody can_deny that that was a monumental achievement and he has been_doing fantastically interesting things subsequently with_marine life. Having said_that, though,_the_man is clearly_a_bit of_a prick and one with a serial_addiction to_publicity."

Jones is sceptical about the hyperbole_of breathless headlines. "The_idea_that this is 'playing God' is_just daft. What he has done_in genetic terms would be_analogous_to_taking an Apple Mac programme_and making it work on a_PC – and_then saying you have created a computer._It's_not trivial, but it is utterly_absurd_the claims that are being made_about_it."

Stewart_Brand, the ecological visionary and_creator of the Whole Earth Catalog,_is more persuaded. Brand has got to know Venter_over the last_couple of years through John_Brockman's_Edge_initiative which brings together the world's pioneering minds. What differentiates_Venter from_many of his_peers, Brand believes, is that he is not only a_brilliant biologist, but also a brilliant organisational_activist. "A lot of people can think big but Craig also_has the ability to fund big: he doesn't_wait for grants, he just gets