Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna

Drs. Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna are the coinventors of CRISPR-Cas9, a process for editing genes of the DNA of any cell. Both trained as biochemists—Dr. Charpentier in France, and Dr. Doudna in the United States. They met at a conference and established a very fruitful collaboration. The CRISPR technology relies on two key molecules: one to bind to the DNA at a desired location, and the other to cut the DNA strands. New genetic material can then be inserted as the DNA tries to repair itself. This technology is being exploited to treat genetic diseases such as sickle cell disease. They were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020, the first team of two women so honored. Gene editing raises many ethical considerations, discussed in this chapter.