I find it very contradicting that Collins is supposedly all about the science and availability of the human genome, yet he made little to no effect to collaborate with Venter in his efforts. For the good of all, the human genome could have been sequences much earlier if the two combatants had put down their weapons and combined efforts. I understand that Collins was looking out for the intent of a public human genome, but from the start, a public library of the genes and genome were an important aspect to Venter. A quote that really stood out to me while reading was “This isn’t about a race with them,” Venter said, “and it isn’t about making money, either. It’s about looking for meaning is having existed. To call what I’m doing a success, we have to actually change society” (181 Shreeve). Once, the race was well on its way, there was no turning back; Collins saw it as a race, but Venter saw it as a global issue simply trying to be solved.
I may be the only one to feel this way, or at least the only one to admit it, but personally I am quite a fan of Craig Venter. Of course, there are the negatives about him, but no one’s perfect! By the end of the book, I viewed Collins as conventional and manipulative. This may be a result of the point of view of the novel, and the access that Venter gave to James Shreeve in his process of writing The Genome War, but all in all, I was truly rooting for Venter.
Sources:
Shreeve, James. The Genome War: How Craig Venter Tried to Capture the Code of Life and Save the World. New York: Ballantine, 2005. Print.
I remember thinking multiple times throughout the book that if everyone had just worked together and shared some of their knowledge that the genome could have completed much earlier and more smoothly than it was. I like that you brought that idea up regarding Collins. How dedicated to the cause are you if you aren't willing to sacrifice a little ego for the sake of collaboration?
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Rachel. How can you truly expend all your efforts and energy into decoding the human genome when you are partially focused on undermining the opposing side? If both Venter and Collins had a decent agreement between them, they could have very well accomplished decoding the genome much more quickly and accurately. Both Venter and Collins did not want to lessen their ego through the entire "war." Venter refused to work for the government program after Watson dismissed his decoding idea, and Collins didn't want to ask for help. How much were they dedicated to the project when they weren't willing to risk their ego?
ReplyDelete(P.S. I was rooting for Venter too!)
After reading our post I agree that Venter was able to get things finished and that Collins, on more occasions than one, was manipulative. When he refused to collaborate and instead instigate a new method that beat Venter's company by one year, it proved his inability and resistance to be a team player. I also think, however, that Venter should have tried more to push the public program into collaborating instead of boasting about his shotgun method.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, I think Craig Venter didn't have everything perfect but I honestly liked him as well. He knew what he wanted and what he wanted to achieve and he worked his hardest to that goal. Even though he may not have completely succeeded, he did a lot for the human genome. I think how driven he was is the most inspiring part for me. Whether he was passionate about the project or the success is another question but either way his drive is admirable.
ReplyDeleteWhile I mostly agree with you, I can't completely blame Collins for not wanting to work with Venter. While Venter may have extended an olive branch to Collins later on in the game, I think he sabotaged any chance for a partnership when he first announced that he was going to start a private company to sequence the genome. His attitude towards Collins and his dismissive comments regarding the mouse genome were most likely a huge blow to Collins' ego. Like many of his peers, Collins was most likely rather proud, and Venter should have weighed this more heavily when deciding how to address Collins at the beginning.
ReplyDeleteWhile I mostly agree with you, I can't completely blame Collins for not wanting to work with Venter. While Venter may have extended an olive branch to Collins later on in the game, I think he sabotaged any chance for a partnership when he first announced that he was going to start a private company to sequence the genome. His attitude towards Collins and his dismissive comments regarding the mouse genome were most likely a huge blow to Collins' ego. Like many of his peers, Collins was most likely rather proud, and Venter should have weighed this more heavily when deciding how to address Collins at the beginning.
ReplyDelete