TechStuff The Story: ON CRISPR: The Story of Jennifer Doudna with Walter Isaacson
Sep 24, 2025
Walter Isaacson, bestselling biographer known for his works on figures like Steve Jobs, dives into the life of Jennifer Doudna, a pioneer of CRISPR technology. He explores Doudna's early curiosity in Hawaii and the influential role models that shaped her. The conversation highlights Baby KJ, the first recipient of personalized CRISPR treatment, marking a significant achievement in gene editing. Isaacson discusses CRISPR's historical significance and the ethical dilemmas it presents, emphasizing Doudna's awareness of its potential misuse.
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First Successful Personalized CRISPR Case
- Baby KJ received a personalized CRISPR-based treatment targeting a single DNA letter causing his urea cycle disorder.
- Within days he improved, and after two months doctors reported he was growing and thriving with no side effects.
Decades Built The Breakthrough
- The KJ therapy was possible because of roughly 30 years of foundational biological research.
- Isaacson frames CRISPR as the result of long-term curiosity-driven science plus technological development.
Curiosity Fueled A Scientific Path
- Jennifer Doudna's childhood curiosity about nature propelled her scientific career.
- A paperback of The Double Helix showed her a model of science as a detective story and opened her eyes to women in science.
