The bestselling author of Leonardo da Vinci and Steve Jobs returns with a “compelling” (The Washington Post) account of how Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and her colleagues launched a revolution that will allow us to cure diseases, fend off viruses, and have healthier babies.When Jennifer Doudna was in sixth grade, she came home one day to find that her dad had left a paperback titled
The Double Helix on her bed. She put it aside, thinking it was one of those detective tales she loved. When she read it on a rainy Saturday, she discovered she was right, in a way. As she sped through the pages, she became enthralled by the intense drama behind the competition to discover the code of life. Even though her high school counselor told her girls didn’t become scientists, she decided she would. Driven by a passion to understand how nature works and to turn discoveries into inventions, she would help to make what the book’s author, James Watson, told her was the most important biological advance since his codiscovery of the structure of DNA. She and her collaborators turned a curiosity of nature into an invention that will transform the human race: an easy-to-use tool that can edit DNA. Known as CRISPR, it opened a brave new world of medical miracles and moral questions. The development of CRISPR and the race to create vaccines for coronavirus will hasten our transition to the next great innovation revolution. The past half-century has been a digital age, based on the microchip, computer, and internet. Now we are entering a life-science revolution. Children who study digital coding will be joined by those who study genetic code. Should we use our new evolution-hacking powers to make us less susceptible to viruses? What a wonderful boon that would be! And what about preventing depression? Hmmm…Should we allow parents, if they can afford it, to enhance the height or muscles or IQ of their kids? After helping to discover CRISPR, Doudna became a leader in wrestling with these moral issues and, with her collaborator Emmanuelle Charpentier, won the Nobel Prize in 2020. Her story is an “enthralling detective story” (
Oprah Daily) that involves the most profound wonders of nature, from the origins of life to the future of our species.
In "The Code Breaker", Walter Isaacson delves into the captivating world of gene editing and its revolutionary impact on human health and biology, centering on the remarkable story of Jennifer Doudna, a brilliant biochemist and Nobel laureate.
Isaacson takes readers on an enthralling journey through the scientific advancements that led to CRISPR, a groundbreaking gene-editing technology. With clarity and precision, he explains the complex science behind CRISPR, making it accessible to readers from all backgrounds.
The book chronicles Jennifer Doudna's unwavering dedication, resilience, and perseverance in her pursuit of scientific discovery. It highlights the remarkable collaboration between Doudna and her colleagues, as well as the ethical and societal implications of CRISPR.
"The Code Breaker" delves into the transformative potential of gene editing. From curing genetic diseases to eradicating infectious diseases and enhancing human traits, Isaacson explores the vast possibilities and challenges that lie ahead in this rapidly evolving field.
With his signature storytelling prowess, Isaacson weaves together scientific breakthroughs, personal narratives, and historical context, culminating in a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of gene editing's profound implications for the future of human existence.
