The woman who is changing our DNA
Image: Dr Jennifer Doudna. Photo: Keegan Houser, UC Berkeley
American chemist, Nobel Laureate, and pioneer of gene editing technology, Dr Jennifer Doudna, will share the wonders, mysteries and dangers of DNA modification when she visits Australia in May. Dr Doudna will discuss her ground-breaking work on stage at the Opera House for one night only.
Dr Doudna and fellow scientist, Emmanuelle Charpentier, were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020 for their discovery and development of a new technique in genome editing using a particular family of DNA sequences known as CRISPR.
Their research has hastened advances in the fields of biology, agriculture, and medicine, and the technology is being applied to treat genetic illnesses including cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and sickle cell disease, and to prevent childhood asthma. Solutions are also being developed in response to agriculture and climate related challenges such as reducing methane emissions of cattle and other livestock.
CRISPR technology has an enormous potential for good but also for harm, and it is currently the subject of heated debate regarding its ethics and safety. Dr Doudna will address these issues and more.
“We are honoured to present Jennifer Doudna and thrilled that in doing so Sydney Opera House can play a role in ensuring we all gain a better understanding of both the benefits and the potential ethical quandaries we face as the CRISPR gene editing revolution she has sparked starts to spread. Will this technology save people’s lives? Yes. Does it have the potential to be used unethically? Yes. Dr Doudna will delve into all the implications for us in an event that is sure to inspire and perhaps spark our own imaginations,” said Sydney Opera House Head of Talks & Ideas, Chip Rolley.
The Gene Editing Revolution with Dr Jennifer Doudna is presented by Sydney Opera House, Big Questions Institute, Sydney Writers’ Festival and UNSW Sydney.
May 21
Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
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