Walter Isaacson's latest best-selling biography follows the life and scientific achievements of Jennifer Doudna, the Nobel-Prize-winning biochemist who discovered the ability to edit the human gene. This summary of his 500-page tome offers a breakdown of the complicated science, the dozens of other scientists who contributed to the discovery, and the drama for patents and recognition in the biggest scientific discovery of the century.

What Does This SNAP Summary Include?

• Synopsis of the original book
• Key takeaways from each chapter
• Breakdown of the complex science behind the gene-editing tool, CRISPR
• The life and scientific discoveries of Jennifer Doudna
• Details of the battle for patents from competing scientists working to unlock CRISPR
• A thought-provoking guide to the complex ethical dilemmas that CRISPR raises
• Timeline of key events on the journey to from discovering DNA to editing the human gene
• A guide to the dozens of scientists who contributed to the research
• An in-depth editorial review of Isaacson's book
• Background on Walter Isaacson

About the Original Book:

Walter Isaacson's best-selling biography of Jennifer Doudna and the science behind CRISPR reaches far beyond the confines of your average biography. The near-500-page narrative weaves seamlessly between the history of genetic engineering and advancements over the past century, detailed explanations of the science behind CRISPR, broad ethical debates about its use in humans, glimpses into the life of Jennifer Doudna, and the personal relationships, professional collaborations, and minor characters that colored her path to the Nobel Prize. It is a rich, detailed, thoughtful, and enthralling look at the complex scientific journey that started with some strange bacteria and a couple of yogurt scientists and grew into what is potentially the most important biotechnological discovery in human history.