ILLUSTRATION. 2020 Nobel Prize Winner. Photo: Twitter The Nobel Prize
Reporter: SS. Kurniawan | Editor: SS Kurniawan
KONTAN.CO.ID – STOCKHOLM. The 2020 Nobel Prize for Chemistry went to Emmanuelle Charpentier from France and Jennifer A. Doudna from the United States (US). This is the first time in history that two women have won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
According to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences’ Nobel Committee for Chemistry, the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry went to Charpentier and Doudna for method development genome editing or change an organism’s DNA.
“Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna have discovered one of the sharpest tools of gene technology: the CRISPR / Cas9 genetic scissors,” the Nobel Committee for Chemistry said on Wednesday (7/10), as quoted TASS.
Using the method, the Nobel Chemistry Committee said in a statement, the researchers could change the DNA of animals, plants and microorganisms with very high precision.
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“This technology has a revolutionary impact on life sciences, contributes to new cancer therapies and can make dreams of curing congenital diseases come true,” said the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.
The Nobel Chemistry Committee added that the “genetic scissors” made it possible “to change the code of life in just a few weeks.”
For example, CRISPR / Cas9 can be used to remove AIDS / HIV from human cells, for the treatment of diabetes, and schizophrenia.
“There is tremendous power in this genetic tool, which affects all of us. This tool not only revolutionizes basic science, but also produces innovative plants and will lead to new medical treatment breakthroughs,” said Claes Gustafsson, Chair of the Nobel Chemistry Committee.
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