NOBEL PRIZE IN CHEMISTRY AWARDED TO TWO FEMALE SCIENTISTS

THE NOBEL PRIZE WAS AWARDED EMMANUELLE CHARPENTIER AND JENNIFER DOUDNA FOR THEIR WORK ON GENE EDITING.

This year, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to scientists Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna. The team was jointly given the award for their advancements in CRISPR-Cas9 technology, which can cut DNA at a precise point. The technology can be used to prevent debilitating conditions such as sickle cell disease.

It’s not without its controversy and there was a big to-do over a doctor in China last year, who used the technology to modify embryos. Doudna herself has called for the technology to be regulated.

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to 185 people between 1901 and 2020, and only 7 have been women. So it’s quite wonderful to see it going to not one, but two remarkable women this year. According to the National Science Foundation only 28% of people who work in STEM are women. We’re sure the accomplishments of Charpentier and Doudna will help inspire a new generation of female scientists.

And this is far from the most important thing about them, but we can’t help but remark - wow! What great style!

By Claire Kalikman.

https://thewardrobecrisis.com/the-noticeboard/2020/10/16/nobel-prize-in-chemistry-awarded-to-two-female-scientists