CRISPR

CRISPR Cas9 explained. CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) are segments of prokaryotic DNA containing short repetitions of base sequences. is an RNA-guided gene-editing platform that makes use of a bacterially derived protein (Cas9) and a synthetic guide RNA to introduce a double strand break at a specific location within the genome.

Cas9 is an enzyme that snips DNA, and CRISPR is a collection of DNA sequences that tells Cas9 exactly where to snip.

New Brilliance of Berkeley course to feature Jennifer Doudna

March 4, 2024
College of Chemistry
On March 8, Jennifer Doudna will present the topic "The Chemistry of CRISPR: Origins and Opportunities of RNA-guided Genome Editing."

New CRISPR Center brings hope for rare and deadly genetic diseases

January 10, 2024
Jess Berthold | UCSF
Jennifer Doudna and colleagues CRISPR collaboration combines expertise from three UC schools to scale treatment for diseases that industry has largely passed by – until now.

Meet our alumni: David Liu

March 29, 2023
Manuel Ansede | El Pais
Alumnus David Liu

Photo of David Liu via wikipedia. Uncredited.

"We can correct the vast majority of DNA errors that cause genetic diseases"

The Harvard University magazine published almost a couple of decades ago that one of its professors, the chemist...

The future of biochemistry

January 12, 2018
College of Chemistry News

ACS Biochemistry Issue CoverThe ACS January 2018 Special Biochemistry Issue has included College of Chemistry professors Ming Hammond, Evan Miller, and David Savage among the 44 early career scientists identified as representing the future of biochemistry. These scientists are noted by the publication for tackling problems of biological relevance.

For more detailed information read the ACS...

How to edit the genes of nature’s master manipulators

December 6, 2022
by Aliyah Kovner | Berkeley Lab

Hourglass structure

Scientists are using CRISPR to engineer the viruses that evolved to engineer bacteria. Illustration Davian Ho.

CRISPR, the Nobel Prize-winning gene editing technology, is poised to have a profound impact on the fields of microbiology and medicine yet again.

A team led by CRISPR pioneer...

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Jennifer Doudna awarded Nobel Prize in Chemistry

October 7, 2020
UC Berkeley, College of Chemistry Press Release

Jennifer Doudna

Jennifer Doudna, 2020 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry. photo: Keegan Houser

For immediate release

The College of Chemistry is delighted to announce that biochemist Jennifer Doudna was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry today, sharing it with colleague Emmanuelle...

Reshaping evolution

January 10, 2022
TED Radio Hour | NPR

Illustration of DNA and parade of animals and man

Illustration of DNA with parade of animals and humans. (Adobestock)

New innovations in gene and stem cell technology have the power to shape ecosystems and even change humanity. This hour, TED speakers share the breakthroughs heralding the next scientific revolution.

Guests...

Genetically modified rice could emit fewer greenhouse gases

January 3, 2022
Eric Roston | Bloomberg

Rice planting

Photo: Worker planting rice. (Adobe Stock)

Fifteen years after their initial meeting to discuss what has become the CRISPR revolution, Professors Jill Banfield and Jennifer Doudna of UC Berkeley,...

Jennifer Doudna opens lab at the Gladstone Institutes

September 5, 2018
By Julie Langelier

Jennifer DoudnaBiochemist Jennifer A. Doudna, PhD, is moving part of her research efforts to the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco, where she will launch new collaborations that will help advance this breakthrough technique to solve some of humankind’s most intractable diseases.