The Nobel Prize in chemistry began being awarded in 1901. In the century that has passed since then, only five women have won the award. As of 2020, Jennifer Doudna, a biochemist, and Emmanuelle Charpentier, a professor and researcher specializing in biology, microbiology, genetics and biochemistry, now bring that list of laureates up to seven, marking the first time two women have ever won this Nobel Prize. The two were honored for their development of the gene editing tool CRISPR, which acts like scissors clipping specified DNA molecules—a discovery that could potentially cure inherited diseases.
“I wish that this will provide a positive message specifically for young girls who would like to follow the path of science…and to show them that women in science can also have an impact with the research they are performing,” Charpentier told BBC.
