Kolter assigned Doudna to study how bacteria make molecules that are toxic to other bacteria. She was responsible for cloning (making an exact DNA copy of) genes from the bacteria and testing their functions. She thought of a novel way to set up the process, but Kolter declared it wouldn’t work. Doudna was stubborn and went ahead with her idea. “I did it my way and got the clone,” she told him. He was surprised but supportive. It was a step in overcoming the insecurity that lurked inside her.
