Researchers now know more about Craig Venter than ever before. Or, at least, the part of him that's defined by his genes. A paper published this week in the journal PLOS Biology reveals the genetic sequence from both sets of chromosomes making up Venter's genome. Though the Human Genome Project was completed several years ago, the new work provides a much more detailed look at the genetics of an individual. We'll talk about the work, and what it means for the field of genetics research.

Then, we'll turn our attention to immigration policy and high-tech workers. Although the most recent immigration reform bill died in Congress at the start of the summer, the issue of immigration isn't going to go away. Under the current system, a limited number of highly-skilled workers can receive special documents, known as H1B visas, allowing them to live and work in the U.S. However, the workings of that system have been criticized on several fronts, with some arguing that many more skilled workers should be allowed visas, while others argue that the H1B system is broken and is being manipulated by companies seeking to hold down labor costs. In this segment, Ira and guests talk about the immigration issue, and how it affects the scientific and technology communities. Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (2-3 Eastern). Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests:
Huntington Willard
Director, Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina

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Martin Lawler
Author, "Professionals: A Matter of Degree" (American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2003)
Immigration lawyer
Lawler & Lawler
San Francisco, California

Ron Hira
Author, "Outsourcing America: What's Behind Our National Crisis And How We Can Reclaim American Jobs" (2005, AMACOM Books)
Research Associate, Economic Policy Institute
Assistant Professor, Public Policy
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rochester, New York

Mirjam Zegers
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
The University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

Books/Articles Discussed:

"Professionals: A Matter of Degree," by Martin Lawler. American Immigration Lawyers Association, 2003.

"Outsourcing America: What's Behind Our National Crisis And How We Can Reclaim American Jobs," by Ron Hira . AMACOM Books, 2005.

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This segment produced by Karin Vergoth