The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA and its role in regulating genes after transcription.
The information in our chromosomes functions as an instruction manual for all cells. Although every cell carries the same genes, different types, such as muscle and nerve cells, display unique characteristics. This occurs through gene regulation, allowing each cell to activate only the genes it requires.
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun were intrigued by how different cell types develop. They discovered microRNAs—tiny RNA molecules that play a vital role in gene regulation. This groundbreaking discovery introduced a new concept in gene regulation that is crucial for multicellular organisms, including humans. The human genome contains over a thousand microRNAs, which are essential for development and proper function.
“This year’s Nobel Prize focuses on the discovery of a vital regulatory mechanism used in cells to control gene activity. Genetic information flows from DNA to messenger RNA (mRNA), via a process called transcription, and then on to the cellular machinery for protein production. There, mRNAs are translated so that proteins are made according to the genetic instructions stored in DNA.,” The Nobel Prize release read.
The prestigious award is given annually by the Nobel Assembly, which comprises 50 professors at the Karolinska Institutet, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of medicine for the benefit of humanity.
The 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for their discoveries related to nucleoside base modifications, which paved the way for the development of effective mRNA vaccines against Covid-19.
The Nobel Prize announcements are highly anticipated each October, with committees in Stockholm and Oslo convening to reveal the laureates.
Since its inception in 1901, the Nobel Prize has been awarded to scientists who have made significant discoveries for the benefit of humanity.
When the inventor, entrepreneur and businessman Alfred Nobel died, his will stated that his fortune was to be used to reward “those who, during the preceding year, shall have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.”