Before he had his DNA dissected, J. Craig Venter had never considered his ear wax.
The 60-year-old American scientist never wondered whether he produced the wet or dry type, whether it was sticky or coarse. But when you're the first person on the planet to have his full genome decoded, such details join the inventory that DNA can reveal.
As it turns out, Dr. Venter carries two copies of a gene variant linked to moist ear wax production.
As the only human with a published, full DNA sequence so far, Dr. Venter – who once ran a private effort to map a more general version of the genome, racing the public effort in the process – says he's prepared to have his genome stand as a free reference for the world's researchers and hopes it sets a precedent.
He's even willing to pony up his cells and details of his lifestyle for legitimate questions.
And there are bound to be many. Famed geneticist Victor McKusick has already told him “he can think of 1,000 experiments he wants to do on me.” Is the self-assigned guinea pig worried he could be bled dry by Christmas?
“I'm willing to do anything non-invasive,” Dr. Venter joked, “But I'm not giving a brain biopsy…”
So far the studies on Dr. Venter's DNA, led by Samuel Levy at the Maryland-based J. Craig Venter Institute and analyzed by Steve Scherer's team at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children, suggest he carries 857 genes with variants that have been linked to diseases, but it is unclear what role they play.
His father died of a sudden heart attack at age 59. But his 84-year-old mother still golfs.
Dr. Venter carries genes linked to both heart disease and longevity. He also carries genes linked to Alzheimer's, macular degeneration and high cholesterol and so takes cholesterol-lowering drugs just in case.
“As a scientist, I love this; it's about statistical probabilities,” he said.
Dr. Venter often calls his team to find out about himself when new information surfaces. He has learned, for instance, that his genes suggest he is more of a morning person than a night owl, that he is not predisposed to substance abuse, alcohol dependence or disorderly conduct.
And while he carries up to seven gene types linked to tobacco addiction, he has a dozen with variants that could save him from cigarettes. Dr. Venter smoked a little during his tour of duty in Vietnam, but never picked up the habit full time.
Some critics have condemned Dr. Venter's willingness to decode himself as an egotistical publicity stunt. But never being one to colour inside the lines, he argued it was a logical step if others are to be expected to offer up their genomes for science to examine.
“We don't need to fear our genetic codes,” he said. “They are not life or death sentences.” Not even his blue eyes are a certainty written into his DNA, he pointed out.
Dr. Scherer of Sick Kids agrees: “He was really criticized early on. … Many people thought it was a selfish thing to do, but I think it's pretty unselfish … It's a gift to science.”
