Seven Years of Silence, Finally Awarded: 2024 Nobel Prize inPhysiology or Medicine Unveiled
Stockholm, Sweden, October 7, 2024 – The Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet today announced the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, awarding the prestigious honor to American scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their groundbreaking discoveries of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their role in gene regulation. This transformative discovery unveiled apreviously unknown dimension of life’s intricate control, profoundly impacting our understanding of biological processes.
Victor Ambros from the University of Massachusetts Medical School and Gary Ruvkun from Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School are the recipients of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. (Image Source: Nobel Prize Committee in Physiology or Medicine)
MicroRNAs: A New Regulator of Gene Expression
To grasp the significance of this discovery, we must first understand the fundamental process of gene expression.
In biology, genetic information encoded within DNA undergoes a series ofsteps to ultimately produce proteins, the primary molecules responsible for carrying out life’s functions. Ambros and Ruvkun’s discovery added a new layer of regulation to this intricate process.
Every cell contains the same set of chromosomes and therefore the same set of genes. Cell-type specific functions arise because only a specific subset of genes is activated in each cell type. (Image Source: Nobel Prize Committee in Physiology or Medicine. Illustration: Mattias Karlén)
The microRNAs they discovered are short RNA molecules, typically only 20-24 nucleotides long. These tiny molecules do not produce proteins; instead, they regulate gene activity by influencing other RNA molecules.
We can liken microRNAs to precise volume knobs. Just as we canadjust the volume of sound using a knob on a stereo, microRNAs can fine-tune the intensity and timing of gene expression.
From Worms to Humans: A Striking Discovery
This monumental discovery originated from Ambros and Ruvkun’s research on a remarkably simple organism – the nematode worm. Inthe 1980s, while investigating the physiological mechanisms governing worm growth, Ambros and Ruvkun stumbled upon a peculiar commander. This commander was the lin-4 gene.
Genes typically act as blueprints for protein production. However, the lin-4 gene was different. It didn’tcode for a protein; instead, it produced a short RNA molecule, later identified as a microRNA. This discovery revolutionized our understanding of gene regulation, revealing that a small RNA molecule could exert significant control over gene expression.
A New Era of Understanding
Ambros and Ruvkun’s groundbreaking discoveryof microRNAs opened a new era in our understanding of gene regulation. Their work has profound implications for various fields, including:
- Human Health: MicroRNAs are involved in a wide range of biological processes, including development, immunity, and metabolism. Dysregulation of microRNAs has been linked to various diseases, includingcancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.
- Therapeutic Development: The discovery of microRNAs has paved the way for developing new therapeutic strategies targeting specific microRNAs to treat diseases.
- Basic Research: MicroRNAs have become a powerful tool for researchers to study gene regulation and explore the complexity of biological systems.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is a testament to the enduring impact of Ambros and Ruvkun’s work. Their discovery of microRNAs has transformed our understanding of life’s intricate mechanisms and continues to inspire groundbreaking research in the field of biology.
References:
- Nobel Prize Committee in Physiology or Medicine.(2024). The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024. Retrieved from https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2024/summary/
- Ambros, V. (2004). The functions of animal microRNAs. Nature, 431(7006), 350-355.
- Ruvkun, G. (2001). Glimpses of a tiny RNA world. Science, 294(5543), 797-799.
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