Are you considering a career in science but can’t think of any women making important scientific discoveries in the last century? You have probably heard about famous women in history like Marie Curie, but have you ever wondered what discoveries women are making today? Look no further! Two modern women in science are Jennifer Doudna and Cynthia Kenyon.
Jennifer Doudna was born on February 19th, 1964 in Washington, DC, and is a professor of Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology. She went to Harvard Medical School as well as Pomona College. Dounda worked with Emmanuelle Charpentier to win the Nobel Prize in chemistry for the development of a method of genome editing. If you are wondering what this means, Doudna researched RNA, which is similar to DNA, but single-stranded and regulates gene expression) biology and discovered CRISPR-Cas9.
This is a tool that can alter, add, or remove DNA strands. The Cas9’s job is to cut the DNA so other strands can be added or the strand can be edited. A guide piece of RNA can help that the Cas9 will cut in the right space. The Cas9 cuts through both the old and new strand after it is bound so that when the cell recognizes it, it will be repaired. This is an amazing piece of technology that can be used in the future to cure many diseases such as cancer. Her work is truly inspirational.
Another important woman in science today is Cynthia Kenyon. Cynthia Kenyon was born on February 21, 1954, in Chicago Illinois. She is a Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics and is an American Cancer Society Professor. She attended the University of Georgia and earned the title of valedictorian. She also attended the prestigious school MIT and received her Ph.D. She formerly served as president of the Genetics Society of America. Kenyon studies aging C. Elegans worms and her findings might have the capability to extend life in the future. She was able to double a worm’s life naturally through a daf2 hormone receptor mutation. She was able to complete the same process on mice as well.
This technology works by slowing the aging process so that middle-aged people would appear to be teenagers. It was also proven that those who had the daf2 hormone were less likely to contract serious diseases such as cancer. Theoretically, this could work in the future on humans to extend life by 100 years, and that is what Kenyon is working on now. Her work is revolutionary and one day might succeed in making humans live longer. Imagine getting to see your great-great-grandchildren grow up!
These two women have accomplished some amazing things and hopefully, this information will help you whether you are choosing a career path or just curious about women in STEM!
About The Author
Kenzie Fassinger is a senior at Northwood High School. Kenzie likes dance, reading, and theatre and she loves watching Star Wars and marvel movies!
Sources
“4 Female Scientists Today Who Are Changing the World.” SRG, www.srgtalent.com/blog/4-female-scientists-today-who-are-changing-the-world.
“Cynthia Kenyon | UCSF Profiles.” Profiles.ucsf.edu, profiles.ucsf.edu/cynthia.kenyon.
“Jennifer A. Doudna | College of Chemistry.” Chemistry.berkeley.edu, chemistry.berkeley.edu/faculty/chem/doudna.
Jennifer A. Doudna – Nobel Lecture. NobelPrize.org. Nobel Prize Outreach AB 2021. Mon. 29 Nov 2021. <https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2020/doudna/lecture/>
“Jennifer A. Doudna | Research UC Berkeley.” Vcresearch.berkeley.edu, vcresearch.berkeley.edu/faculty/jennifer-doudna.
“The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020.” NobelPrize.org, 7 Oct. 2020, www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2020/press-release/.
yourgenome. “What Is CRISPR-Cas9?” Yourgenome, 19 Dec. 2016, www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-crispr-cas9. Accessed 29 Nov. 2021.
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