Synthetic Genomics Inc., a company formed by J. Craig Venter with the goal of creating new microorganisms, has scored an investment from oil giant BP plc.

Venter, who is known for his work sequencing and then trying to patent various animal genomes, formed Synthetic Genomics in 2005 to create viruses and other microorganisms with specialized properties of use to science and industry. BP's investment, which was undisclosed, means Venter will try to design microorganisms to make hydrocarbons turn into useful fuels faster, potentially for the creation of biofuels.

Cleaner fuels sounds like something everyone would support, but Venter already has made enemies by filing for a patent for his microorganism engineering work that a Canadian advocacy group is calling a patent on human-made life forms. When Big Oil and scientists playing God combine, someone is going to complain.—Stacey Higginbotham

See article from News.com
See ETC statement