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Go Back Facebook X (Twitter) WhatsApp LinkedIn Pinterest Copy link Who were the winners of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020? Last updated: 07/11/24 Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in the year 2020, for their major contributions in reducing the number of components in the CRISPR-Cas9 system. An outline of their discovery CRISPR-Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) can be used, by removing, adding, or altering particular DNA sequences and may edit specific parts of the genome. A four-part mechanism called the Cas9 endonuclease consists of two small molecules. By combining these two RNA molecules into a "single-guide RNA," by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, the Cas9 endonuclease was redesigned into a more manageable two-component system that could locate and cut the DNA target defined by the guide RNA- CRISPR/Cas9 ‘genetic scissors’. It can silence or activate genes as well as add or remove others. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded in 2020 in recognition of this contribution. Some advantages of this technology: quick easy adaptable innovative, unique Disadvantages: distribution challenges extremely conservative ethical issues some off-target effects some negative outcomes Significance of this discovery This discovery is important in preventing disease and is such a revolutionary tool. It does not just help humans but also animals, plants and even bacteria. CRISPR has already been applied to various disorders, such as cancer and infectious diseases. By making it possible to make changes to the target cells' genomes, which were previously challenging to do, the procedure offers a new perspective on biological treatment and demonstrates how important this tool is. But since this technology is still recent, scientists must develop straightforward processes and techniques to monitor and test its progress, performance, and outcomes. Jennifer Doudna Hailing from Washington DC., USA, Jennifer Doudna was born in 1964. As a professor of biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology, Doudna’s main research focus is on RNA, and its variety of structures and functions. It was her research lab’s work that led to the discovery of CRISPR-Cas9 as an extraordinarily powerful tool to cut and edit the human genome to treat disease. This remarkable discovery was a decade ago in 2012, when Doudna and others were able to copy a bacterial system to create molecular scissors, in order to edit the genetic code. In October 2020, at the time of her being awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Doudna was affiliated to the University of Berkeley, in California. Emmanuelle Charpentier Coming from a French background, Emmanuelle Charpentier is a professor and researcher in microbiology, genetics, and biochemistry. Born in 1968, researcher Charpentier has made tremendous progress in her respective field. From being the director at the Berlin Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology in 2015, to founding her own independent research institute- the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens in the year 2018, and of course being jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020; it is true that Charpentier has added new, valuable research in her work and has come a long way in her career. Why the CRISPR/ Cas9 system fascinates us We find CRISPR fascinating because as biological science students, we know this tool is vital for genetics and can help cure present incurable diseases such as sickle cell disease as well as cancer, showing what a revolutionary tool this is. It does not just help humans but also animals, plants and even bacteria showing how broad biology is and different fields can be linked to one another. Researchers are constantly coming up with new ways to use CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology to solve problems in the real world, such as epigenome editing, new cell and gene therapies, infectious disease research, and the conservation of endangered species. The advantages of this technology are that it is quick, easy and adaptable, but its disadvantages include distribution challenges, extremely conservative ethical issues, some off-target effects, and some negative outcomes. By making it possible to make changes to the target cells' genomes, which were previously challenging to do, the procedure offers a new perspective on biological treatment and demonstrates how important this tool is. Written by Jeevana Thavarajah, and Manisha Halkhoree Scientia News founder and managing director Related articles: Female Nobel prize winners in Chemistry and in Physics

Entrance Exam Preparation Resources to help you with university admission for: medicine , dentistry, natural sciences , physics , maths , engineering . Do note these entrance exams are mainly for UK universities, but can be used for international unis too. It is advised to check with the university when applying. You may also like: A-level resources, IB resources and Extra resources MEDICINE: University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) UCAT resources: UCAT website / The Medic Portal / 6med UCAT Books: 1300 UCAT Practice Questions / 1250 UKCAT Practice Questions / UCAT 700+ UCAT online course: Medify Help with medical exams DENTISTRY: UCAT and BioMedical Admissions Test (BMAT; for University of Leeds only) Dentistry application preparation BMAT: online mastery course / Medify guide / Past papers / 700 BMAT Practice Questions / BMAT ebook For UCAT resources, see above OTHER ADMISSION TESTS Engineering: STEP / PAT University of Cambridge: natural sciences (NSAA) / engineering (ENGAA) / maths (STEP) / physics (PAT)

Ecology Articles Our planet's ecosystems are teeming with life! Navigate the intricate web of interactions in these intriguing articles. How do organisms relate to one another and their surroundings? You may also like: Biology, Zoology Galápagos Tortoises An end at the beginning: their conservation COMING SOON COMING SOON COMING SOON

Dentistry Articles Step into the intricate field of dentistry and learn more about dental tourism, tooth decay, water fluoridation- and more. You may also like: Medicine Water fluoridation Diving deep Dental tourism What is 'Turkey teeth'? Tooth decay And how to prevent it COMING SOON

Medicine Articles This page features articles which tackle imminent health problems such as smoking, childhood obesity and depression, and pre-diabetes. Skin disease, Crohn's disease, anaemias, and endometriosis are also explored. You may also like: Dentistry , Biology Interventions for smoking cessation Public smoking health interventions The problem with childhood obesity What is childhood obesity? How many does it affect, and what can we do to tackle this? Pre-diabetes Pre-diabetes is the period before the onset of diabetes Anaemias Anaemia is a blood disease. Article #1 in a series about anaemia. Endometriosis breakthrough The latest breakthrough in endometriosis: the bacterium theory AI in medicinal chemistry How can it help the field? Depression in children And how we can help them Iron-deficiency anaemia Anaemia is a blood disease. Article #2 in a series about anaemia. The power of probiotics And how they are effective Blood: a vital fluid The role and importance of blood Smart bandages What are they and how can they be better than traditional bandages? Why whales don't get cancer Discussing from Peter's Paradox perspective Anaemia of chronic disease A type of anemia. Article #3 in a series about anaemia. Erasing memory Is it possible to wipe your memories clean? Herpes vs. skin disease From foe to ally: a Herpes-based gene therapy treats dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa The foremothers of gynaecology An International Women's Month collab with Publett Healthcare serial killers A disturbing reality The gut microbiome Also known as: the microbiota, gut microflora Crohn's disease A summary of the condition Personalised medicine Tailoring medication to a patient's DNA Allergies Why do some people have them? Next

Zoology Articles Conservation, diseases, animal behaviour, adaptation and survival. Expand your knowledge on the incredible diversity of life on Earth with these articles. You may also like: Biology , and Ecology Deception by African birds The species Dicrurus adsimilis uses deception by flexible alarm mimicry to target and carry out food-theft attempts An experiment on ochre stars Investigating the relative fitness of the species Pisaster ocharceus Orcinus orca Facts about the killer whale Rare zoonotic diseases We all know about COVID-19. But what about the other zoonotic diseases? Marine iguanas Their conservation The cost of coats 55 years of vicuna conservation in South America. Article #1 in a series on animal conservation around the world. Conserving the California condor These birds live on the west coast of North America. Article #2 in a series on animal conservation around the world.

Biology Articles Dive into the latest biological research! Explore the profound impact of negligent exercise on well-being, discover breakthroughs in organoid and iPSC research, and gain insights into how biomarkers are enabling disease diagnosis and prevention. You may also like: Cancer , Ecology , Genetics , Immunology , Neuroscience , Zoology , and Medicine Can a human brain be uploaded to a computer? Uncovering the possibilities of transferring information from your brain to a computer Impacts of negligent exercise on physiology How to avoid negligent personal training as it can harm the individual Key historical events in public health A timeline of discoveries in the history of public health Influence of different environmental factors on exercise How different environmental factors can affect exercise Why bacteria are essential to human survival The benefits of bacteria Will diabetes mellitus become an epidemic? Diabetes mellitus is when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or becomes resistant to it Correlation between a country's HDI and COVID-19 mortality rate HDI stands for Human Development Index, i.e. how much a country is developed considering various factors such as wealth Rising food prices Food deserts and malnutrition Organoids in drug discovery What organoids are, their applications in drug discovery and more The genesis of life What came first: the chicken or the egg? Challenges in endometriosis Form underreporting to under-research iPSCs and organoids iPSC stands for induced pluripotent stem cells PCOS and endometriosis These two diseases are very similar, but how are they different? Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) A biomarker for renal damage Childhood stunting Its issue in developing countries Innovations in the biosciences The biggest ones currently Various health models Understanding health through different stances Medicinal Manuka The benefits of using Manuka honey as medicine The dual role of mitochondria A mechanism for survival, or death? Next

Neuroscience Articles The secrets of the brain are secrets no longer; the field of neuroscience is rapidly expanding day by day. Read articles which discuss Parkinsonism, Huntington’s, degeneration, Alzheimer’s, and more. You may also like: Biology , Immunology , Medicine Synaptic plasticity and London taxi drivers Synaptic plasticity and navigating our surroundings Stress and neurodegeneration And how the hormone cortisol plays a significant role Markers for Parkinsonism Exploring the role of TDP43 The wonders of the human brain A basic overview of brain function The brain-climate connection Can rising temperatures really affect our brains? Schizophrenia and accelerated ageing A complex medical phenotype Squid axons And how they were fundamental to discoveries in neuroscience Alzheimer's disease Its pathology and potential treatment Serial killers Their neurological basis Huntington's disease A rare, inherited, debilitating neurological disease Electricity in the body Luigi Galvani 's work PTSD and intrusive memories Article #1 in a series on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and traumatic memories Mobility disorders Hypermobility spectrum disorders vs. Hypermobile Ehler-Danos Syndrome Brief neuroanatomy of autism Autism is a neurological and developmental disorder Oliver Sacks Who was this famous neuroscientist? A treatment for Huntington's disease Antisense oligonucleotide gene therapy PTSD and Tetris Article #2 in a series on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and traumatic memories The dopamine connection The link between the brain and the digestive system Neuromyelitis optica (NMO)- Devic disease How is it different to Multiple Sclerosis? DFNB9 How was this form of deafness treated for the first time? Next

International Baccalaureate (IB) Are you a student currently studying the IB, or about to commence your IB program? You're in the right place! You may also like: A-level resources , University prep and Extra resources What is the IB? Jump to resources It is an International Academic Program which is another alternative to A levels. This is a highly academic program with final exams that prepare students for university and careers. You select one subject from each of the five categories, which include two languages, social sciences, experimental sciences, and mathematics. You must also choose either an arts subject from the sixth group or another from the first to fifth groups. How is the IB graded? Subjects might differ from schools and countries but these are the ideal subjects given in the IB. IB is graded through a point system (7 being the highest and 1 being the lowest) and the highest mark you can achieve in total is 45. For the 6 subjects you study you can achieve a maximum of 42 points. Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay are combined to gain 3 extra bonus points. These 2 subjects will be marked from A (highest) to E (lowest) and then will be converted to points. What are the benefits of studying the IB? Even though there are a lot of subjects, this program is great for students to gain new skills and be an all- rounder. IB also helps students have a better idea of how work will be in university especially with coursework and that is one of the main things you will work on when studying IB and it is known as Internal Asssessment (IA). Doing CAS is also a great opportunity for students to be independent and find activities / services to do outside of school to build up their portfolio on CAS as well as their CV/ personal statement when applying for university. The marking matrix used in the IB. How do universities use the IB to select students? All universities around the world accept the IB as a qualification gained in secondary school. Depending on the degree you are applying to, universities mainly focus on your Higher Level (HL) subjects. Each university has their own requirements for students applying to study a course at their institution. The most common way is considering your total point score out of 45, and your total point score of your HL subjects. Another way is asking applicants to achieve a certain grade in a particular grade at HL or at standard level (SL). If you complete the IB programme well enough, universities may prefer you over the other qualifications e.g. A-levels. Benefits of completing the IB programme. Resources for revision Websites to help Official IB website and the IB Bookshop Maths IA ideas Maths Analysis and Approaches SL and HL practice questions Biology- BioNinja Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths- Revision Village Biology, Chemistry, Maths- IB Dead IB Psychology IB Computer Science resources YouTube channels to help Chemistry- Richard Thornley Physics- Chris Doner Textbooks for both HL and SL Bio: Oxford IB Diploma Programme: Biology Course Biology for the IB Diploma by Brenda Walpole Chem: Chemistry Oxford IB Diploma Programme: Chemistry Course Chemistry for the IB Diploma Coursebook with Cambridge Elevate Enhanced Edition b y Steve Owen Physics: Physics Oxford IB Diploma Programme: Physics Course Physics for the IB Diploma with Cambridge by T. A. Tsokos Maths: Maths Oxford IB Diploma Programme- IB Mathematics: analysis and approaches / applications and interpretations

Physics Articles These articles range from astrophysics and space science to nuclear physics, harmonic motion, and thermodynamics. You may also like: Maths, Technology , Engineering The liquid viscosity of castor oil An experiment determining the liquid viscosity of castor oil using spheres Summary of a pendulum experiment An experiment on the pendulum and its relation to gravity Female Nobel Prize winners in physics Who were they and what did they achieve? The Northern Lights in the UK What determines the Northern Lights to be seen in your country? The James Webb Space Telescope And its significance in space exploration Geoengineering Will it work to save the environmental crisis? The Lyrids meteor shower What is it and when does it happen? Nuclear fission Unleashing the power of the stars Colonising Planet Mars Which fuel would be used to colonise Mars? Superfluids And their incredibly slippery nature Total solar eclipses A description of them Mercury The closest planet to the Sun The DESI instrument DESI stands for the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Cumulus clouds How they form and their link to the weather Hubble Tension The cause of the Hubble Tension discrepancy is unknown Artemis The lunar south pole base A room-temperature superconductor? The search for one Physics in healthcare Incorporating nuclear medicine The Crab nebula In the constellation of Taurus The physics of LIGO LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory Next