Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna win Nobel Prize for Chemistry

Sweden’s Nobel Committee on Wednesday announced the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry to two women scientists Emmanuelle Charpentier (Professor of French origin) and Jennifer Doudna (US). Both scientists have made an important discovery of genetic scissors. Through this, by changing the DNA of animals, plants, microorganisms, treatment of serious diseases will be possible. The Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physics have been announced on October 5 and 6 respectively.

Important contribution in gene technology

Charpentier and Doudna have developed CRISPR / Cas9, an important tool for gene technology. It is named Genetic Scissorrs. This will allow changes in the DNA of animals, plants and microbes. This will help cure many serious and genetic diseases including cancer.

Charpentier is director of the Max Planck Unit for Science of Pathogens in Berlin and Doudna works at University of California.

Marie Curie received Nobel in both Physics-Chemistry

Marie Curie is the only scientist in the history of Nobel to have received the award for different subjects 2 times. In 1903, Marie received an award for radio activity (physics) with her husband Pierre Curie and Henri Becquerel. In 1911, the prize for the discovery of radium was in the subject of chemistry.

Important information about the Nobel of Chemistry

• Between 1901 and 2019, 111 Nobel Prizes were awarded in chemistry.
• So far 5 women have been awarded in chemistry.
• Frederick Sanger is the only scientist to be awarded chemistry twice (1958 and 1980).
• Frederick Juliet was the youngest scientist to have received the Nobel. He was 35 when he was given the award in 1935. Frederick was jointly presented with his wife and Marie Curie’s daughter Irene. Irene was 38 at the time.
• The oldest scientist to get the Nobel Chemistry was John B Goodenough. He was 97 when he received the award.