Emmanuelle Charpentier of France and Jennifer Doudna of the USA on October 7, 2020 won the Nobel Chemistry Prize for the gene-editing technique known as the CRISPR-Cas9 DNA snipping “scissors”
- The first time a Nobel science prize has gone to a women-only team. Ms. Charpentier, 51, and Ms. Doudna, 56, are just the sixth and seventh women to receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
- According to the Noble Committee, using the tool, researchers can change the DNA of animals, plants and microorganisms with extremely high precision .
- This technology has had a revolutionary impact on the life sciences, is contributing to new cancer therapies and may make the dream of curing inherited diseases come true.
- The CRISPR-Cas9 tool has already contributed to significant gains in crop resilience, altering their genetic code to better withstand drought and pests.
- The technology has also led to innovative cancer treatments, and many experts hope it could one day make inherited diseases curable through gene manipulation.
- There is enormous power in this genetic tool, which affects us all. It has not only revolutionised basic science, but also resulted in innovative crops and will lead to ground-breaking new medical treatments.
(Source: The Hindu and Nobel Committee)
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