Emmanuelle Charpentier & Jennifer Doudna

Emmanuelle Charpentier & Jennifer Doudna, the scientists who earned the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on CRISPR-Cas9.

The gene-editing technology is considered one of the most significant biological breakthroughs since discovering the structure of DNA.

Born in France, Dr. Emmanuelle Charpentier earned her PhD in microbiology from the Pasteur Institute in 1995. Her work focused on bacterial RNA molecules, eventually leading her to the UCMR - Umeå Centre for Microbial Research at Umeå university in Sweden, where she made her groundbreaking CRISPR discoveries.

Born in the US, Dr. Jennifer Doudna completed her PhD in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School in 1989. As a professor at Yale University, she made a major breakthrough in RNA research by visualizing one of the first complex RNA molecules.

Their Journey Together:

► 2011: Dr. Charpentier discovered tracrRNA, a critical molecule in the CRISPR system, while studying harmful bacteria.
► Early 2012: She partnered with Dr. Doudna, an RNA expert, to transform this discovery into a unique new DNA-editing tool.
► Late 2012: Their work led to CRISPR-Cas9. Described as molecular "scissors," CRISPR-Cas9 is a genetic tool that allows scientists to precisely edit DNA sequences.

Why it matters: CRISPR is revolutionizing science and medicine. It holds immense potential for treating genetic conditions such as cancer, hepatitis B, and high cholesterol. In agriculture, it’s helping develop pest-resistant crops and improve food security. Researchers are even exploring bold possibilities like reviving extinct species.

Dr. Charpentier and Dr. Doudna did not only transform genetic science but also made history, becoming the first all-female team to win a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. 😎

Ps. Jennifer Doudna was recently awarded the National Medal of Tech and Innovation by ex-President Joe Biden.