George Church

1984 Harvard PhD included the first direct genomic sequencing method and molecular multiplexing tags, which lead to automation and software used for the first commercial genome sequence -- pathogen, Helicobacter in 1994. This multiplex solid-phase sequencing evolved into polonies (1999), ABI-SOLiD (2005), open-source Polonator.org (2007), and Complete Genomics (2008). Innovations in DNA reading, writing and cell/tissue engineering lead to consumer-directed genomics (23andme, Knome), synthetic biology (SynBERC, Joule, LS9) & new ethics, safety and security strategies. He founded PersonalGenomes.org, which provides the world's only open-access information source for human genomic, environmental and trait data (GET). He is National Academy of Sciences member, Hoogendijk Prize awardee and Franklin Laureate (Bower Prize) for Achievement in Science.