The first individual genome ever sequenced — a complete DNA blueprint of celebrity scientist Craig Venter — has revealed genetic variation among humans far richer than previously imagined.
Published on Tuesday in the online open-access journal PLoS Biology, the 2.8-billion contiguous bits of genetic code will also hasten advances in preventative medicine, said Venter.
Within five years, faster and cheaper sequencing techniques could produce complete genomes for 10,000 people, laying the foundation for “an era of individualised genomics”, he predicted.
“Once we have those, we will  be able to sort out every fundamental question about nature versus nurture,” he said.
The findings overturn what had in a few short years become genetic gospel: that all human beings are, genetically speaking, 99.9 pc identical.