Emmanuelle Charpentier of France and Jennifer Doudna of the United States on Wednesday won the Nobel Chemistry Prize for developing the gene-editing technique known as the CRISPR-Cas9 DNA snipping “scissors”. “Using these, researchers can change the DNA of animals, plants and microorganisms with extremely high precision,” the Nobel jury said. “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.” Charpentier, 51, and Doudna, 56, are just the sixth and seventh women to receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Among the backers of the scientists’ work was Hong Kong’s Li Ka Shing Foundation, which supported them in 2010 and 2011. Doudna began working on the CRISPR-Cas9 technology in 2011 at the University of California, Berkeley, where she took up the Li Ka Shing Chancellor’s Chair position. While researching a common harmful bacteria, Charpentier discovered a previously unknown molecule – part of the bacteria’s ancient immune system that disarms viruses by snipping off parts of their DNA. After publishing her research in 2011, Charpentier worked with Doudna to recreate the bacteria’s genetic scissors, simplifying the tool so it was easier to use and apply to other genetic material. They then reprogrammed the scissors to cut any DNA molecule at a predetermined site – paving the way for scientists to rewrite the code of life where the DNA is snipped. US-British trio win Nobel Prize in medicine for hepatitis C discovery The CRISPR-Cas9 technique had been tipped for a Nobel nod several times in the past, but speaking to reporters in Stockholm via telephone link, Charpentier said the call was still a surprise. “Strangely enough I was told a number of times (it might happen) but when it happens you are very surprised and you feel that it’s not real,” she said. “But obviously it is real so I have to get used to it now,” she added. “I think that we show them that a woman in science can also be awarded prizes, but more importantly that a woman in science can also in fact also do the research they are performing,” said Charpentier. “It is very important not only for women, we see a clear lack of interest in following the scientific path, which is deeply worrying.” The CRISPR/Cas9 tool has already contributed to significant gains in crop resilience, altering their genetic code to better withstand drought and pests. The technology has also led to innovative cancer treatments, and many experts hope it could one day make inherited diseases curable through gene manipulation. Nobel Prize in Physics split between three for black hole research In 2017, Charpentier travelled to Hong Kong to meet billionaire Li and explained to him the gene-editing process using a 3D-printed Lego set. Li joked then he would “give the toy LEGO set – the world’s coolest – to my grandchild”. On Wednesday, after the scientists’ win was announced, Li was said to have “shed happy tears”. “He believed in their research direction, and supported their work in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Li appreciate their hard work, which has brought changes and hope to the world,” the Li Ka Shing Foundation said in a statement. Charpentier and Doudna will share 10 million Swedish kronor (US$1.1 million). They would normally receive their Nobel from King Carl XVI Gustaf at a formal ceremony in Stockholm on December 10, the anniversary of the 1896 death of scientist Alfred Nobel who created the prizes in his last will and testament. But the in-person ceremony has been cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic and replaced with a televised ceremony showing the laureates receiving their awards in their home countries. Trump thanks Norwegian politician who nominated him for Nobel Peace Prize The first time a woman was honoured with the chemistry prize was in 1911 when Marie Curie, who also took the physics prize in 1903, won for discovering the elements radium and polonium. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded 112 times between 1901 and 2020. Curie win in 191 was for the discovery of the elements radium and polonium. Other female winners were Ada E Yonath in 2009, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin in 1964, and Irene Joliot-Curie in 1935. The latter was the oldest daughter of Marie and Pierre Curie. To date, Frederick Sanger is the only researcher to win two chemistry prizes, one in 1958 and another in 1980. His first win was for work on the structure of proteins, in particular insulin. Additional reporting by DPA