Jennifer Doudna (19 fev 1964 ano – 14 h 14 m, 8 nov 2025 ano)

Descrição:

Jennifer Doudna (February 19, 1964 - Present), Biochemist

Life:
Doudna’s interest and desire to understand the biological mechanisms of the environment and life began in her childhood years in Hawaii. Inspiration to go into the field of science stemmed from reading James Watson's book The Double Helix in sixth grade, and her 10th grade chemistry teacher - Ms. Jeanaette Wong. Additionally, she worked at the University of Hawaii at Hilo in the lab of noted mycologist Don Hemmes suring one of her Summers as a high school student. She earned her B.A. in Biochemistry from Pomona College biochemistry.Bachelor of Arts in 1985. She earned a Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology in 1989 from Harvard Medical School.

Contributions to Science:
Doudna is best known for winning the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry along with Emmanuelle Charpentier for their discovery of CRISPR in. However, her contributions to science also include the first X-ray based structure of catalytic RNA and RNA interference (RNAi). From 1991 to 2001, Doudna worked at the University of Colorado and then Yale University to understand the structure and function of ribozymes and her group was the first to crystallize the core structure of the active site of ribozymes, respectively. Ribozymes are enzymes responsible for making long chain proteins, RNA processing, replication of viruses and much more. After her work at Yale, Doudna accepted a faculty position at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2012, Doudna and Charpentier were able to successfully manipulate the CRISPR system to cut and edit DNA using different RNAs, thereby allowing a better tool for scientists to perform gene editing.

Fun Facts:
When Doudna was in 6th grade, her father gave her a copy of James Watson’s book, The Double Helix. She notes this as one of her many inspirations in her childhood to pursue biochemistry.

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