DNA Alley

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The Bethesda-based campus of the NIH houses the world's foremost medical-research center. It consists of 26 institutes and centers, including the Genome Institute--Celera's fiercest competitor--led by Francis Collins. The NIH's research is deep in scientific expertise and wide in scope, from uncovering the genetic roots of the rarest cancers to understanding the molecular basis of the common cold. Venter got his start here, bringing both glory and controversy to the Institutes during eight stormy years.

7 CELERA PRESIDENT: J. Craig Venter FOUNDED: May 1998 EMPLOYEES: 741 WHAT IT DOES: Maps genomes and sells access to its rapidly growing databases

After several pit stops along the Rockville-Bethesda corridor, Venter established his brainchild--Celera--in Rockville. Here he built the world's largest collection of genome-sequencing computers and won the race to map the 3 billion letters of human DNA (as well as the genomes of several other species). But with the NIH's Human Genome Project publishing much of the same data free on its website, Venter must now convince corporate customers that his DNA maps are more accurate and his proprietary software tools indispensable.

8 FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONER: Jane Henney FOUNDED: 1927 EMPLOYEES: 9,000 WHAT IT DOES: Inspects, approves and sets safety standards for foods and drugs

The final hurdles before any new drug--conventional or genomic--can come to market are the FDA's extensive testing procedures for safety and efficacy, which can take up to 15 years. Despite recent well-publicized recalls, the agency's rigorous standards and safety record are the envy of the industrialized world.