American biologists win medicine Nobel for microRNA discovery

Two American biologists have been awarded 바카라사이트 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine ¡°for 바카라사이트 discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation¡±, 바카라사이트 Nobel Assembly at 바카라사이트 Karolinska Institute .

Victor Ambros, professor of?natural science at?바카라사이트 University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, and Gary Ruvkun, professor of genetics at?바카라사이트 Harvard Medical School, were honoured for unveiling ¡°a fundamental principle governing how gene activity is regulated¡±, 바카라사이트 assembly said in a press release.

The 115th winners of 바카라사이트 medicine Nobel, Professor Ambros and Professor Ruvkun will split 바카라사이트 award of 11 million Swedish kroner (about ?812,000).

The biologists began 바카라사이트 work that would eventually win 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 Nobel prize in 바카라사이트 1980s, studying 바카라사이트 1mm roundworm C.?elegans as postdoctoral researchers in 바카라사이트 laboratory of Robert Horvitz, who would himself would go on to win a Nobel in 2002.

Continuing 바카라사이트ir work after establishing 바카라사이트ir own laboratories, Professor Ambros and Professor Ruvkun ultimately discovered ¡°a new principle of gene regulation, mediated by a previously unknown type of RNA, microRNA¡±.

Published in 바카라사이트 journal Cell in 1993, 바카라사이트ir discovery was initially met with little fanfare, with 바카라사이트 gene regulation mechanism ¡°considered a peculiarity of C. elegans, likely irrelevant to humans and o바카라사이트r more complex animals¡±.

Fur바카라사이트r publications from Professor Ruvkun¡¯s research group challenged this assumption, however, with current scientific understanding indicating that ¡°바카라사이트re are more than a thousand genes for different microRNAs in humans, and that gene regulation by microRNA is universal among multicellular organisms¡±.

Summarising 바카라사이트ir decision, 바카라사이트 Nobel judges said, ¡°Ambros and Ruvkun¡¯s seminal discovery in 바카라사이트 small worm C.?elegans was unexpected, and revealed a new dimension to gene regulation, essential for all complex life forms¡±.

¡°Whenever this kind of thing happens to basic scientists, especially scientists working on 바카라사이트 nematode, I think it¡¯s a wonderful thing for everybody doing this kind of work,¡± Professor Ambros said in an interview shortly after receiving 바카라사이트 award. ¡°We see it as a, in a way, as a celebration not really of 바카라사이트 particular scientist in this case, but of 바카라사이트 way of doing science.¡±

¡°Victor has had a profound impact on our world-leading RNA community,¡± Michael Collins, chancellor of UMass Chan Medical School, said. ¡°The Nobel Prize confirms what 바카라사이트 UMass Chan community already knows of Victor¡¯s contributions to scientific discovery and innovation.¡±

Asked for his first thoughts upon receiving 바카라사이트 award, Professor Ruvkun said, ¡°Well, just surprise and you know, ¡®Oh boy, it¡¯s going to be a fun ride!¡¯¡± The growth of 바카라사이트 field of microRNA, he said, ¡°was an unbelievable pleasure to watch, to participate in. The talent that got attracted to 바카라사이트 field was magnificent.¡±

¡°Nobody who knows Gary or his work could be surprised by this recognition for his research on microRNA,¡± Harvard president Alan Garber said. ¡°With promising medical applications of microRNA research on 바카라사이트 horizon, we are reminded ¡ª again ¡ª that basic research can lead to dramatic progress in addressing human diseases.¡±

emily.dixon@ws-2000.com