Two US scientists whose pioneering work helped discover genetic codes that could unlock early tests for killer cancer, were today awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine.
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun were credited with finding microRNA, tiny genetic codes that controls raft of bodily functions.
One application could eventually be tests to diagnose certain cancers because microRNA becomes altered with certain diseases.
Every cell in the human body contains the same raw genetic information, locked in our DNA.
But the pair discovered that despite starting with identical genetic information, cells in the human body use this code in wildly different ways.
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun were credited with finding microRNA, tiny genetic codes that controls raft of bodily functions
The duo’s ‘ground-breaking discovery’ has revolutionised medicine’s understanding of how our genes work inside the human body, the Nobel Assembly said. Pictured, Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun
The electrical impulses of nerve cells for instance distinct from white blood cells that produce antibodies to fight infection.
The duo’s ‘ground-breaking discovery’ has revolutionised medicine’s understanding of how our genes work inside the human body, the Nobel Assembly said.
‘If gene regulation goes awry, it can lead to serious diseases such as cancer, diabetes, or autoimmunity.
‘Their groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans,’ the Assembly added.
‘It is now known that the human genome codes for over one thousand microRNAs.’
Thomas Perlmann, secretary of the Nobel Committee, announced this year’s winner at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.
He told the ceremony he had not yet reached Professor Ambros but had spoken to Professor Ruvkun by phone, waking him up early in the morning in the US.
‘His wife answered. It took a long time till he came to the phone and he was very tired,’ he said, adding the biologist was ‘very enthusiastic’.
Professor Ruvkun, 72, also told Swedish public radio SR he was shocked to receive the prize committee’s call in the early hours.
‘It’s a big deal. It’s a big one. It’s an earthquake,’ he said.
‘The dog is confused by why it’s dark outside and we are running around the house.’
Professors Ambros and Ruvkun made the discovery by studying mutant strains of a roundworm called Caenorhabditis elegans.
Their work began while they were working in the same lab.
Ambros then moved to Harvard University and Ruvkun to Massachusetts General Hospital, where they continued studying the mutant strains.
Past winners in the field include a string of famous researchers, notably Alexander Fleming, who shared the 1945 prize for the discovery of penicillin.
The prizes carry a cash award of 11million Swedish kronor (£810,000).
Thomas Perlmann, secretary of the Nobel Committee, announced this year’s winner at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden
The money comes from a bequest left by the prize’s creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, who died in 1896.
This year’s award is the 115th Nobel prize to be presented in physiology or medicine since 1901. Of the 229 winners, only 13 have been women.
Last year, the Medicine Prize went to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman whose pioneering work helped create mRNA Covid vaccines.
Before mRNA jabs were rolled out to millions of people worldwide to protect them against Covid, such technology was considered experimental.
Researchers are now exploring if it could help beat cancer and other diseases.
The Nobel season continues this week with the announcement of the winners of the Physics Prize tomorrow and the Chemistry Prize on Wednesday.
They will be followed by the much-anticipated prizes for Literature on Thursday and Peace on Friday.
The Economics Prize winds things up on Monday, October 14.
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