2024 Nobel Prize Awarded for Discovery of microRNA

Why in the news?

  • The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 went toS. scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for discovering microRNA, a key molecule in gene regulation.
  • Their groundbreaking work has revolutionised understanding of how cells function and opened new avenues for medical research in cancer and other diseases.

2024 Nobel Prize Awarded for Discovery of microRNA

Nobel Prize Winners and Their Discovery:

  • The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, two American biologists, for their discovery of microRNA.
  • MicroRNA regulates gene expression by controlling how genes are activated, aiding in the development and function of organisms.
  • Their groundbreaking research reveals new insights into how genes give rise to different cell types.

Impact of MicroRNA Discovery

  • MicroRNA helps control protein production in cells, affecting cancer and conditions like hearing loss and skeletal disorders.
  • It is essential for understanding how cells function, regulate gene activity, and develop in organisms.
  • This discovery influences many fields of biology and medicine, offering future potential for therapeutic applications.

Nobel Prize Announcement

  • The prize, announced by Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet, includes a cash reward of 11 million Swedish kronor (approx. 1 million USD).
  • The discovery was initially met with skepticism but is now recognized as a vital breakthrough in gene regulation.
  • The award is the 115th Nobel Prize in Medicine since 1901; of the 229 recipients, only 13 have been women.

What is Gene Regulation?

  • Genes act as instructions for how cells function.
  • All cells in the body contain the same genetic code, yet they behave differently (e.g., muscle vs. nerve cells).
  • This difference is due to gene regulation, where specific genes are turned on or off based on the cell’s function.
  • Gene regulation is essential for growth, development, and cell differentiation.

Discovery of MicroRNA:

  • Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun discovered microRNA (miRNA), tiny RNA molecules that regulate gene activity.
  • MicroRNAs control which genes are active in cells, affecting various biological processes.
  • Humans have over a thousand different microRNAs, playing key roles in growth and development.
  • Their research has provided insight into diseases like cancer, where gene regulation fails.

Biographies of Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun:

  • Victor Ambros:
  • Born in 1953 in Hanover, New Hampshire.
  • Discovered the first microRNA (lin-4) in 1993 from the roundworm C.elegans.
  • Professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, awarded for his pioneering work.
  • Gary Ruvkun:
  • Born in 1952 in Berkeley, California.
  • Studied how lin-4 controls messenger RNA, later discovering the second microRNA (let-7).
  • Professor at Harvard Medical School, honoured for contributions to genetics.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times