The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2024 was jointly awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation [1]. Here are some key details about this year’s prize:
The Laureates
Victor Ambros was born in 1953 in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA. He received his PhD from MIT and is currently the Silverman Professor of Natural Science at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Gary Ruvkun was born in 1952 in Berkeley, California, USA. He received his PhD from Harvard University and is now a Professor of Genetics at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
The Discovery
The laureates made a breakthrough discovery regarding a fundamental principle of gene regulation:
- They discovered microRNA, which are short RNA molecules that play a crucial role in controlling gene activity.
- Their work revealed a new mechanism of gene regulation that occurs after transcription (the process of creating mRNA from DNA).
- This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of embryonic development, normal cell physiology, and diseases like cancer [2].
Significance
The discovery of microRNA has:
- Unveiled a novel and surprising mechanism of gene regulation.
- Enhanced our comprehension of embryonic development and standard cell physiology.
- Provided new insights into diseases, particularly cancer.
- Opened up potential avenues for innovative treatment strategies.
The Prize
- This marks the 115th Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine awarded since 1901.
- The announcement was made by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden.
- Each laureate will receive 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $993,000) [2].
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2024 is the first of six prizes to be announced this year, with Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences to follow in the coming days[3].
References:
[1] https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/lists/all-nobel-prizes/
[2] https://www.newsweek.com/map-most-nobel-prize-winners-1964877
[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/07/health/nobel-prize-medicine.html
Also checkout The Nobel Prize in Physics 2024: https://top2percentscientists.com/nobel-prize-in-physics-2024/