The Setting

   The cool summer breeze puts a blanket of chill over your skin. It is not cold enough to shiver, but it isn’t warm enough to perspire. All the while, the squawking of seagulls fills the salty air. Let us go on a tour of the birthplace.

            We are now in the belly of the monster: The University of California, Berkley. The gates that surround the university make it seem almost closed off to the world’s opportunities. However, what was discovered at this lab will surely expand science.

Chien, Leonard. "spring flowers" 03/03/09 via flickr
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            The building and the laboratory do not match in style. The door creaks louder than the “scary doors” you see in movies. As soon as you are inside, a world of possibilities unfolds before your eyes. The place seems to be a wonderland with brighter colors than you could ever imagine. Most of the colors are a vibrant yellow that put forth joy and opportunity in your heart. What you see before you are not an amusement park but a laboratory.

            Not only does it look like a main attraction but it feels like a main attraction. There are dozens of people buzzing all over the laboratory. This is much like a scene you’d see at the center of a bee hive. These kinds of bees have lab coats on and graduate degrees in their hands. The king bee of the entire operation is Jennifer Doudna (who co-discovered CRISPR/Cas-9). The noise of the entire place almost drowns itself out so that you have a quiet mind.

            The modern inside appears to have no odor to it at first sniff. However, as you get further in to the lab, your nose starts to crinkle as the scents of seemingly strong vinegar fill the air. Rest assured, those are actually toxic acids that you’re smelling.