How Can We Tweak the Genetic Code with CRISPR?
Jennifer Doudna, co-winner of the 2018 Kavli Prize in Nanoscience, discusses her work in science at the atomic scale
This video was produced with support from the Kavli Prize by Scientific American Custom Media, a division separate from the magazine's board of editors.
Since the discovery of DNA, scientists have sought a simple, reliable, affordable way to change the genetic code. Jennifer Doudna, together with Emmanuelle Charpentier and Virginijus iknys, won the 2018 Kavli Prize in Nanoscience for their invention of the gene editing tool CRISPR-Cas9. This technique arose from research into how bacteria track down and destroy intruder DNA when infected by a virus. Now, scientists can reprogram the tool to disable or change almost any gene in order to research its function, heal an error, or add a helpful new trait.
To learn more about brilliant work of Kavli Prize Laureates, visit The Kavli Prize. To explore more of the biggest questions in science, click here.
This article is part of a special report, “The Biggest Questions in Science,” sponsored by The Kavli Prize. It was produced independently by Scientific American and Nature editors, who have sole responsibility for all the editorial content.
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
