If you can get this US radio program, on Monday's Fresh Air: CRISPR Scientist's Biography Explores Ethics Of Rewriting The Code Of Life Terry Gross interviewed Walter Isaacson about his new book Code Breaker that describes the process of developing these vaccines. He follows Jennifer Doudna who was instrumental in the process.

Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier won the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their role in developing this technology. (And what is so incredibly remarkable about this? Not only is it two women who won this prize, they're both still in the prime of their lives and not dusted off to receive recognition for work performed decades ago!)

The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are the first vaccines to be activated by mRNA — and would not have been possible without the invention of the gene editing technology known as CRISPR.

In his new book, The Code Breaker, author Walter Isaacson chronicles the development of CRISPR and profiles Jennifer Doudna, who, along with Emmanuelle Charpentier, won the 2020 Nobel prize in chemistry for their roles in developing the technology.

CRISPR has already led to experimental treatments for Huntington's disease and sickle cell anemia, as well as certain cancers. Isaacson likens its technological capabilities to "Prometheus snatching fire from the gods — or maybe Adam and Eve biting into the apple."

There is a lot more text on the site even if you can't hear or download the podcast.