2020 Nobel Prize Winner, JENNIFER DOUDNA, and her work on the CRISPR-Cas9 is the focus of a new biography by the renowned author, Walter Isaacson, who brought us such best sellers as Leonardo de Vinci, Einstein, and Steve Jobs. The book debuted at number one on The New York Times nonfiction best-seller list for the week ending March 13, 2021.
“Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues are driven by a passion to understand how nature works and a strong desire to create inventions,” said James Watson, author of The Double Helix, “and this discovery is THE most important biological advance since my co-discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953.”
This S/DG will investigate the history and contemporary events surrounding Jennifer Doudna. It is a thrilling detective tale that involves the most profound wonders of nature, from the origins of life to the future of our species. The story captures scientific progress and the impact of the role of chance. It also introduces us to characters that deserve or at least claim credit as part of this important discovery.
Possible presentations:
1. CRISPR-Cas9 patents and the conflicting patent claims
2. Curing diseases in humans, i. e., multiple sclerosis or depression
3. First demonstration of CRISPR-Cas9 in the food industry
4. Ethics and moral questions surrounding CRISPR-Cas9, such as “Should we allow parents, if they can afford it, to enhance the height or muscles or IQs of their kids?”
5. Possible use in crops to improve yield and increase drought-tolerance
6. Gene drives, which can aid in controlling the spread of diseases such as malaria
7. Invasive species eradication and pesticide resistance reversals
An Amazon reviewer said, “Reading Isaacson is a pleasure, and I was fascinated by the introduction of an international scene of brilliant young scientists who worked together to achieve the amazing CRISPR technology.”
Common Reading: The Code Breaker, Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race, by Walter Isaacson (March 2021)