HUMAN GENOME PROJECT HISTORY 7: PRESS VIEWS OF PUBLIC VS PRIVATE SEQUENCING 28/2/01. By Giles Newton When Celera announced that it planned to sequence the human genome, the race between the public and private efforts was on (in the media's eyes at least).

The entry of Celera into the genome sequencing arena, and the idea of patenting genes, met with little approval from the UK press. Describing Craig Venter as "The gene genie racing to grab a fast billion", the Telegraph asked "Could there be a National Health Service broken by the costs of royalty payments, mainly to American biotechnology companies, for diagnostic tests?" (21 May 1998).

The race between the public and private efforts was on (in the media's eyes at least), and the milestones of the sequencing project came ever more rapidly.

On 26 November 1999, the billionth letter of the human genome was deposited in the public databases — "Milestone as researchers hit G-spot of human DNA" wrote The Financial Times of the guanine DNA base which took the honours. And on 1 December 1999, the publication by the Sanger Centre of the sequence of the first human chromosome - chromosome 22, or the "first chapter of the manual of man" as the Telegraph described it (2 December 1999) - launched an ever increasing analysis of the role of the private and public sectors.

The Sunday Times took it just to be another pitstop in "The race for the Croesus code", and argued: "What is at stake is the future of medicine, maybe even the future of social improvement via genetical modification of behaviour." (5 December 1999).

In March 2000, Prime Minister Tony Blair and President Bill Clinton entered the "Battle to control the human genome blueprint" (The Times) when they called for all raw data on human genes to be made freely available to scientists everywhere.

"Gene panic sparks slump" wrote the Sunday Business as the share prices of Celera and other biotech companies plummeted. The Economist came to the defence of the private sector companies, describing them as "In-gene-uous" and saying that "in genomics, the British and American governments are meddling in things that do not concern them" (18 March 2000).

If the Blair-Clinton announcement was intended to "tell scientists to end the gene war" (the Telegraph), the media were not to be diverted. "DNA: It's War" headlined the Guardian Weekend's profiles of Craig Venter and John Sulston (6 May 2000). "Decoding the human genome will change the world. But it's not just about science; it's UK vs US; public spirit vs private enterprise. And it's personal."

As journalists readied themselves for the announcement of the first draft of the human genome, the Telegraph asked two popular science writers, "Has the genome been overhyped?" "Yes," said Steve Jones, "There's more to life than chemistry". "No," countered Matt Ridley, "It really is a BIG DEAL."