The Code Breaker

Walter Isaacson chronicles the life of Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna and the revolutionary discovery of CRISPR, a tool that allows scientists to edit the human genetic code. The book explores the race to understand DNA’s “neglected sibling,” RNA, and how this “life-science revolution” is enabling us to cure diseases and fight viruses like COVID-19. Beyond the science, Isaacson dives into the moral dilemmas of “evolution-hacking,” questioning whether we should use this power to enhance human traits or if we risk creating a new era of genetic inequality.