Essay Example on Jennifer Doudna: Pioneering CRISPR-Cas9 Genome Engineering Expert

Introduction

Jennifer Doudna is the co-inventor of CRISPR- Cas 9, a technology for editing genomes. She is a leading expert on genome engineering, RNA- protein biochemistry, and CRISP biology. Currently, she is a cell and molecular biology as well as chemistry professor at the University of California, Berkeley, where her institute and research laboratory is also situated. CRISPR technology allows scientists to edit DNA in cells in an ultra-precise manner, which could provide a breakthrough in delivering the cure for diseases like cancer and genetic deformities.

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Born in 1964 to parents who were conversant with science, Jennifer's passion for biochemistry started when she was still young while growing up in Hawaii (Hoopes, 2019). Her father, who was an American literature professor, would often take her to the library on Saturdays, where she read many books about science. Examples of the books she read include the double helix on the structure and discovery of DNA and Richards Dawkins, which talks about the selfish DNA which replicates itself but offers no help to the organism (Hoopes, 2019).

She was fascinated by the discussions she had with her father after they read the books, and as years went by, her interest in science grew more and more. She, however, made up her mind to pursue science while in junior high school when a

Lady, who was a scientist, visited their class. She talked to them about volcanology oceanography and marine biology, which mesmerized her. However, she narrowed down her interests to biochemistry. She acquired her Ph.D. from Harvard University and her B.A in biochemistry from Pomona College.

Jennifer Doudna's Contribution to Science

CRISPR is an acronym that stands for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats. Its function in the body is identifying viral DNA and destroying it. Jennifer's research on protein-Cas 9, a part of CRISPR, which seeks out, cut, and degrades viral DNA, is the one that led to the discovery of genetic engineering technology. The study aimed at finding out how bacteria fight viral infections. The technology acts as a tool to edit the DNA genomes by providing researchers with the opportunity to modify some gene functions and alter DNA sequences.

With CRISPR technology, genetic manipulation is unlimited, even in previously challenging contexts, like human cells. Specific bits of DNA can be inserted or deleted with incredible precision (Fellmann et al., 2016). Although DNA editing and gene manipulation are not a new technology, earlier techniques of editing genome are self-limiting in their impacts, which attributes to the extensive laboratory techniques required (Hoopes, 2019).CRISPR, on the other hand, is astonishing with its accuracy at editing genomes. The method is also inexpensive.

CRISPR- Cas 9 technology works through combined efforts by two elements. CRISPR guides the Cas 9 enzyme, which is molecular scissors, to the part of the DNA targeted. Both CRISPR and Cas 9 then work together to either disable a gene, repair or insert something new where Cas 9 scissors cuts. The researchers can also activate gene expression, which allows them to study the gene function instead of cutting it.

The Significance of Jennifer Doudna's Contribution to Science

CRISPR has resulted in various start-ups due to the low barrier in deploying the technology. They include CRISPR Therapeutics, Intellia Therapeutics, and Editas Medicine (Doudna, 2015). These biotechnology companies use CRISPR technology in editing genome in a bid to develop curative genes or transformative medicines that can potentially and positively transform the lives of people with severe and life-threatening conditions. An example includes certain types of cancer, among other heritable disorders.

CRISPR has also been used in preselecting viable embryos to avoid genetic defaults and even in preselecting the sex of a child in a process called "pre-implementation genetic diagnosis." The process of changing genes human embryos has happened in China. CRISPR technology has also been carried out in Philadelphia to remove the DNA of an integrated virus in human cells (Doudna, 2015). However, there have been severe ethical and societal concerns on the implication of this advancement.

The technology has also proven successful in changing the DNA in animals. For instance, at Beijing Genomics institute in china, "micro pigs," which are pigs, the size of dogs, are bred and sold as pets (Doudna & Sternberg, n.d.). It has also successfully changed the DNA in monkeys, mice, and other organisms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jennifer Doudna's groundbreaking technology for editing genomes has taken technology to a higher notch. It has created hope for a possibility for a cure to genetic deformities and some diseases like certain types of cancer in human beings. The DNA of animals is also possible to manipulate and produce animals with specific genetic mutations. However, there have been ethical and social concerns about the implications of this technology in altering genes.

References

Doudna, J. (2015). How CRISPR lets us edit our DNA. Ted.com. https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_doudna_how_crispr_lets_us_edit_our_dna#t-299493.

Doudna, J., & Sternberg, S. (2017). A crack in creation: Gene editing and the unthinkable power to control evolution. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Fellmann, C., Gowen, B., Lin, P., Doudna, J., & Corn, J. (2016). Cornerstones of CRISPR-Cas in Drug Discovery and Therapy. Gaming Law Review and Economics, 20(10), 859-868. https://www.nature.com/articles/nrd.2016.238/

Hoopes, L. (2019). Opening Doors: Joan Steitz and Jennifer Doudna of the RNA World. Laura L. May Hoopes.