| Citation | Jennifer Doudna has made seminal contributions to RNA biology through structural and functional studies. Her major contributions fall broadly into three areas. Firstly, understanding the folding principle of large RNAs. Secondly, structural understanding of ribonucleoprotein particle functions, including Signal Recognition Particle and Dicer. Thirdly, elucidation of the molecular mechanism of CRISPR-Cas systems and the transformative discovery that the ability of Cas9 to cut DNA can be programmed by changing the guide RNA sequence. This landmark study provided the biochemical framework for development of CRISPR-Cas9 as a versatile tool for genome engineering in multiple cell types and organisms, revolutionizing biological research. |