Ideas worth spreading

Watch me unveil "synthetic life"

1,367,818 views |

Craig Venter |

TED in the Field

• May 2010

Craig Venter and team make a historic announcement: they've created the first fully functioning, reproducing cell controlled by synthetic DNA. He explains how they did it and why the achievement marks the beginning of a new era for science.

Craig Venter and team make a historic announcement: they've created the first fully functioning, reproducing cell controlled by synthetic DNA. He explains how they did it and why the achievement marks the beginning of a new era for science.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Craig Venter

Biologist, genetics pioneer

See speaker profile

In 2001, Craig Venter made headlines for sequencing the human genome. In 2003, he started mapping the ocean's biodiversity. And now he's created the first synthetic lifeforms -- microorganisms that can produce alternative fuels.

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.