2017 (33rd) Japan Prize
"Life Science" field
Prof. Emmanuelle Charpentier (France)
Dr. Jennifer A. Doudna (United States)
Prof. Emmanuelle Charpentier was
born in 1968 in Juvisy-sur-Orge,
a suburb on the outskirts
of Paris, France.
She loved playing
piano as a child
and her dream was to
become a ballet dancer.
In her studies, she was
especially good at biology,
and in 1991, she advanced to the
Department of Life Science at
the University of Paris VI to study
biochemistry, bacteriology and genetics.
Upon graduation,
she advanced to the
Pasteur Institute graduate
school, and in 1995,
received a PhD on her research on
antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Thereafter, she moved to the
United States to further her
bacteriology research study,
and from 2002, began working as
an assistant professor of
bacteriology and immunobiology
at the University of Vienna.
Dr. Jennifer Doudna
was born in 1964,
in the city of Hilo on
the island of Hawaii.
Her childhood was spent in
the rich nature of Hawaii.
During junior high
school, she became
evermore curious about the
mechanisms of nature.
In 1981,
Dr. Doudna advanced to
Pomona College in
California to study biology.
Upon graduation,
she advanced to
Harvard Medical
School in 1985 and
received a PhD on
her research of
RNA enzymes (Ribozymes) in 1989.
In 2002, she became a professor of
biochemistry and molecular biology
at the University of
California, Berkeley.
In 1987, a research team
led by Dr. Yoshizumi Ishino of
Osaka University discovered the
existence of a mysterious
repeating base sequence
in the DNA of E. coli.
The biological mechanism of
this repeating base sequence,
which was later named CRISPR,
was unknown at the time.
Prof. Charpentier who had
been researching the
adjustment mechanism of
RNA molecules became
 interested in CRISPR
though her research.
Upon becoming an assistant
professor at
Umea University, Sweden
in 2009, she came up with
a hypothesis during her research,
proposing that an enzyme called
the Cas9 and two RNA enzymes
inside the genome of
Streptococcus pyogenes play
an important role in the
immune system of
this bacterium.
Meanwhile, Dr. Doudna,
who had been researching the
functions of RNA at Berkeley, learnt
of Prof. Charpentier’s hypothesis
on the role of CRISPR in the
immune system of bacteria,
and was undertaking further
research to understand the
role of RNA in this mechanism.
In March 2011, the two female
researchers finally met each other
for the first time at a Microbiology
conference in Puerto Rico.
Having hit it off on their
research themes,
the two began
collaborative research on the
immune system of bacteria
immediately thereafter.
In the CRISPR system of a
bacterium, the DNA of the
invading virus is fragmented
by the Cas9 enzyme,
and the DNA fragment of a particular
base sequence is then stored
and memorized
inside the CRISPR.
If the bacterium detects
a recurring invasion of the
same virus, the RNA using the
memorized DNA stored in the
CRISPR detects the virus's DNA.
The Cas9 guided to the
virus's DNA by the RNA
then cleaves the
target DNA.
Furthermore, they
synthesized a guide RNA
and inserted it into the cell
with a re-engineered Cas9.
By doing so, they
demonstrated that
even with multiple target DNA,
it is possible to find the
target with pinpoint accuracy
and trigger the incision.
The incision site of target
DNA is recombined by
the intracellular repair mechanism, 
but the DNA may become mutated
due to the shift that occurs
in the base sequence
or with the insertion of
a different sequence.
 Even under such
circumstances, the site could be
targeted and repaired by
inserting a normal gene
with Cas9 into the cell.
This innovative genome
editing technology which was named
"CRISPR/Cas9" was almost instantly
adopted by researchers worldwide,
for it was radically simple and
accurate, more economical,
and highly versatile compared
to previous technologies.
From gene therapy, drug
development to plant transformation,
it has great potential for
application in various fields.
It is anticipated that
the emergence of this
revolutionary genome editing
technology that can change
the course of the
evolution of life will bring
positive changes ahead for
the future of mankind.
The innovative findings of
their joint research caused a
sensation around
the globe and
they have received many prestigious
science awards.
I want to see this technology applied
in the research of gene therapy
to cure intractable diseases.
I'm also hoping that it could be used
to develop drought-tolerant crops.
These words by Prof. Charpentier
reflect her strong desire to
see this technology
put to good use.
Prof. Charpentier continues
to be a pioneer in
future genome editing
technology as she exchanges ideas
and works with researchers
from various fields.
Dr. Doudna, on the other
hand, says passionately says that
there are still many mysteries
in genome editing.
Application for fertilized human
embryos still poses a high risk,
and therefore requires a great deal
of discussion on its ethics.
As genome editing technology
progress rapidly, there is also a
growing concern over the
issues of bioethics and
the negative impact
on biodiversity.
Dr. Doudna continues to explore
the future potential of genome editing
while advocating and discussing
these newly raised issues
with the scientific community.
Believe in your ideas and
follow your intuition.
Don't be rigid in thoughts,
instead keep an open mind
and absorb new ideas.
Curiosity, an open mind, knowledge and
a spirit of inquiry to understand
led to our discovery
of CRSPR-Cas9.
I deeply wish that our recognition
by the Japan Prize will strongly
encourage you to nurture
curiosity, cultivate sensibility
and pursue fundamental
questions.
- Emmanuelle Charpentier
The essence of science
is discovery.
Do not simply memorize facts,
but try to elucidate the unknown.
How you reach the answer to
your question is the most essential part.
In doing research,
tracing coincidences and
observations can reveal
interesting factors.
The joy of making discoveries
through collaborations is
another great
aspect of science.
Science is fun!
- Jennifer A. Doudna
