Renowned Genomic Scientist Turned Cleantech Pioneer Presents at the Western Association of Venture Capitalists

Dr. J. Craig Venter Speaks to Venture Community on Genomic-Driven Energy and Environmental Solutions

MENLO PARK, California (November 7, 2007) - Dr. J. Craig Venter, one of the world's leading genomic scientists-and now pioneer in clean energy solutions-will address members of the Western Association of Venture Capitalists (WAVC) on Tuesday, November 13th at the Quadrus Conference Center in Menlo Park at noon. He will cover the revolution in genomics that has led to the field of synthetic genomics enabling new solutions to global energy and environmental challenges.

Currently, Dr. Venter is the CEO of Synthetic Genomics, a company dedicated to developing and commercializing synthetic genomic processes and naturally occurring processes for clean, renewable alternative energy solutions. Dr. Venter is also founder and president of the J. Craig Venter Institute, a not-for-profit research and support organization dedicated to human, microbial, plant and environmental genomic research; the exploration of social and ethical issues in genomics; and to seeking alternative energy solutions through genomics.

Dr. Venter achieved fame for sequencing the first genome in history in 1995. In 1998, he announced that he would successfully sequence the human genome years earlier, and for far less money, than the government-sponsored Human Genome Project would— a prediction he kept in 2001.

According to Dr. Venter, recent progress in the field of synthetic genomics present seemingly limitless applications that could revolutionize production of energy, chemicals and pharmaceuticals and enable carbon sequestration and environmental remediation. With Synthetic Genomics, Dr. Venter and his team are leveraging the ability to construct synthetic genomes as a means of advancing the world's ability to engineer microorganisms for many vital energy and environmental purposes.

"Dr. Venter's decades of pioneering research in the life sciences can significantly impact the clean technology industry by providing novel tools and approaches for energy production," said Steve Jurvetson, managing director with Draper Fisher Jurvetson and co-program chairman with WAVC.

For more information on the event: www.wavc.org.

About the Western Association of Venture Capitalists

For more than 40 years, WAVC (www.wavc.org) has offered West Coast venture capitalists a chance to come together to network, socialize, and share insights. WAVC's distinguished speaker series has hosted some of the country's most legendary business, political and academic leaders. The group's distinguished history also includes annual sporting events as well as community outreach and industry advocacy. Today, WAVC is made up of over 140 venture firms and some 800 venture capitalists.