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Nobel Prize for Chemistry awarded to two women for first time in history

According to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences’ Nobel Committee for Chemistry, the Prize has been awarded "for the development of a method for genome editing"

Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier Alexander Heinl/dpa via AP

Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier

© Alexander Heinl/dpa via AP

STOCKHOLM, October 7. /TASS/. The 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to France’s Emmanuelle Charpentier and the US’s Jennifer Doudna. This is the first time in history that the Chemistry Award has been won by two women.

According to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences’ Nobel Committee for Chemistry, the Prize has been awarded "for the development of a method for genome editing."

"Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer A. Doudna have discovered one of gene technology’s sharpest tools: the CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors. Using these, researchers can change the DNA of animals, plants and microorganisms with extremely high precision. This technology has had a revolutionary impact on the life sciences, is contributing to new cancer therapies and may make the dream of curing inherited diseases come true," the committee said.

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According to the committee, these "genetic scissors" make it possible "to change the code of life over the course of a few weeks."

For example, CRISPR / Cas9 could be used to remove the AIDS/HIV from human cells, for treatment of diabetes and schizophrenia.

"There is enormous power in this genetic tool, which affects us all. It has not only revolutionized basic science, but also resulted in innovative crops and will lead to ground-breaking new medical treatments," says Claes Gustafsson, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.

The awarding ceremony will take place on December 10. This year, the ceremony will take place online, due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will be livestreamed from the Stockholm city hall, and will be attended only by a handful of people.

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