CRISPR-Cas9: Transforming Life sciences through bacteria

Einstein Lecture Berlin

  • Date: Oct 25, 2018
  • Time: 06:00 PM - 07:30 PM (Local Time Germany)
  • Speaker: Prof. Emmanuelle Charpentier, Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens and Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology
  • Location: Freie Universität, Henry-Ford-Bau, Garystr. 35, 14195 Berlin
  • Host: Max Planck Society & Freie Universität Berlin
  • Contact: mpgberlin@gv.mpg.de
 CRISPR-Cas9: Transforming Life sciences through bacteria
The discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology is considered one of the most important biotechnology breakthroughs of our times.

Initially described as a bacterial immune system, the understanding of the CRISPR-Cas9 mechanism led to its development as RNA programmable molecular scissors that can modify DNA and its expression in multiple ways. Similar to a text editing software, the CRISPR-Cas9 technology can correct typos, delete or exchange letters and sentences in the DNA of living cells.

In only six years, CRISPR-Cas9 has developed into one of the most dynamic and fastest-moving fields in life sciences with innovative applications in biotechnology, agriculture and medicine at the horizon.

The lecture by Charpentier will focus on the individual steps of research that ultimately led to the discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 technology, and on some relevant applications in life sciences.

Welcome

Prof. Dr. Günter M. Ziegler, President of Freie Universität Berlin

Introduction

Prof. Dr. Stefan Mundlos, Institute of Medical Genetics and Human Genetics at Charité Berlin & Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics

Einstein Lecture 2018 : CRISPR-Cas9: Transforming life sciences through bacteria

Professor Emmanuelle Charpentier, Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens & Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology

Einstein Lecture

The Einstein Lectures Dahlem, hosted by Freie Universität Berlin since 2005 in partnership with several external institutions, are dedicated to the epochal work of Albert Einstein. Einstein was the director of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Physics for almost two decades. Since 2017, this first-rate, interdisciplinary colloquium held at the traditional center of scientific research Berlin–Dahlem, is hosted in cooperation with the Max Planck Society, the legal successor of the Kaiser Wilhelm Society. The lectures address a broad academic public and cover various scientific disciplines influenced by Einstein’s thinking.

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