About the Author

DR. JENNIFER A. DOUDNA runs a research laboratory and institute at UC Berkeley and is a leading expert on RNA-protein biochemistry, CRISPR biology, and genome engineering. Along with Emmanuelle Charpentier, she was awarded the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their research on CRISPR-Cas9.

DR. SAMUEL H. STERNBERG is a biochemist and CRISPR expert and will start his own laboratory as assistant professor at Columbia University, beginning in 2018.

Reviews

"Urgent, riveting, and endlessly fascinating, A Crack in Creation is a journey through the past, present, and future of one of biology's most significant discoveries. Combining deep historical perspectives, personal narrative, and scientific data, Doudna and Sternberg bring the story of CRISPR and 'gene editing' alive with pointed honesty and clarity. This book is destined to become an instant classic. Read it and understand its implications if you want to understand our biological future."--Siddhartha Mukherjee, Pulitzer Prize-winning author ofThe Geneand The Emperor of All Maladies

"The technology of gene editing will be the most important advance of our era, one that will create astonishing opportunities combined with frightening moral challenges. In the tradition of The Double Helix, one of the pioneers of the field describes the exciting collaborative and competitive hunt for the key breakthrough and what it portends for our future."--Walter Isaacson, best-selling author ofSteve Jobs, Einstein, and The Innovators "A Crack in Creation, by one of the most pioneering women in science, is both exhilarating and frightening. Jennifer Doudna and her coauthor Samuel Sternberg challenge us to confront the possible dangers of gene editing, even as we embrace its incredible potential. This book is a roadmap to our future."--Arianna Huffington, best-selling author ofThriveand The Sleep Revolution "Jennifer Doudna is the true pioneer who built the bridge between the basic science of CRISPR and its diverse applications in agriculture and medicine. Writing with Samuel Sternberg, she has crafted a beautifully written book with A Crack in Creation--a pure pleasure for both neophyte and expert. Now is the time to read about the revolution that could change our world."--George Church, professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School and author ofRegenesis "We are developing ever more powerful tools that allow us to change the genetic makeup not only of life around us but also of ourselves. Describing the potential benefits of these tools as well as some of the risks and ethical issues they present to society, A Crack inCreation is a scientific thriller and a gripping read, framed as a personal voyage by a brilliant scientist who played a major role in developing what is currently one of the most promising and powerful ways of editing our genomes."--Venki Ramakrishnan, president of the Royal Society and winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry