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Jennifer Doudna

Biochemist

A Berkeley biochemist whose RNA research and collaboration with Emmanuelle Charpentier helped develop CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing. Her original reading answers identify books that influenced her.

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Science Biology

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2Recommended books

Books Jennifer Doudna recommends, documented so far

Each book appears once; every source record and quote remains linked to its evidence and the canonical book profile.

Genetics Biology Science Memoir

The Double Helix

by James Watson · 1968

Author signal

James Watson · Nobel molecular biologist

2 source records

Documented citation: Jennifer Doudna names The Double Helix as an influential book that made her think about becoming a scientist.

Documented citation · Recommended

Evidence details

Jennifer Doudna and Siddartha Mukherjee conversation transcript

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Berkeley News · 2018-01-18 · accessed 2026-10-01

interview · Own influential-books answer

Her own positive reading answer, separate from the other speaker.

Open source

Documented citation: Jennifer Doudna describes The Double Helix as a revelation about how science gets done.

Documented citation · Recommended

Evidence details

Influence of Jim Watson’s The Double Helix

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Oral History · 2023-08-17 · accessed 2026-10-01

interview · Own formative reading account

Original transcript explicitly labels Recorded:17Aug2023 and identifies the book, author and her positive reading response.

Open source

Amazon Audible Bookshop.orgAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details

Literature Essays

The John McPhee Reader

by John McPhee · 1976

Documented citation: Jennifer Doudna recommends The John McPhee Reader as captivating formative reading.

Documented citation · Recommended

Evidence details

Jennifer Doudna and Siddartha Mukherjee conversation transcript

This source documents the book relationship, but the displayed text is a catalog summary rather than a verbatim quote.

Berkeley News · 2018-01-18 · accessed 2026-10-01

interview · Own influential-books answer

Her own named selection in answer to the influential-books question.

Open source

Bookshop.orgAffiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission when you buy through some links. Recommendations are included because of the source, not because of the retailer. Details