American scientists Dr Victor Ambros and Dr Gary Ruvkun have beenof the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
The scientific duo has been recognised for discovering microRNA cells — tiny molecules that can regulate how our genes function.
It’s hoped their research will lead to new treatments for cancer and other diseases.
Here’s what they discovered.
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes were established after the 1896 death of Swedish inventor, Alfred Nobel.
The wealthy entrepreneur left his fortune to be awarded to those who “have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind.”
Theprizes are awarded in five categories recognising “outstanding efforts” in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace.
2024 Nobel Prize winners will receive a cash prize worth around $AU1.6 million.
Ambros & Ruvkun
Dr Victor Ambros is a Professor of Natural Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.
Dr Gary Ruvkun is a Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School.
Ambros and Ruvkun began their research together in the 1980s. The pair were interested in studying how genes are regulated in the human body.
Like an instruction manual for your body, genes tell your cells (the basic building blocks of life) how to function. They are inherited from your parents.
Genes
Genes are made up of long strands of DNA. They form the building blocks to help your body do things like digest food and fight infections.
Some genes determine traits like the colour of your eyes and hair, blood type, and height.
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Along with inherited traits, your genetic function can also be influenced by your lifestyle and environment.
microRNA
Some people might be more susceptible to certain illnesses because of their genetic makeup. For example, you might be at a higher risk of heart disease if it “runs” in your family.
Ambros and Ruvkun became the first scientists to discover microRNA — tiny pieces of genetic material that alter how genes work at the cellular level.
Their research on a species of roundworm, “revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential” for all living organisms. So, how do microRNAs work, and why does it matter?
Genes are afor body development and function.
RNAsthat carry genetic information to your cells, for protein production.
MicroRNAs arethat can stop these instructions from getting delivered. They do this by attaching to RNAs to act as a roadblock.
“Abnormal regulation by microRNA can contribute to cancer, and mutations in gene coding for microRNAs have been [linked to] congenital hearing loss, eye and skeletal disorders,” according to Ambros and Ruvkun’s research.
Winners
The Nobel committee that selected the winners said, “microRNAs are proving to be fundamentally important for how organisms develop and function.”
They called the discovery “unexpected”, and said it would have major implications for the future of medicine.
It’s hoped that Ruvkun and Ambros’ discovery will help researchers develop new treatments and cures for genetic disorders. For example, microRNAs could be used to block harmful genes that might cause tumour growth.
This week, Ambros and Ruvkun accepted their Nobel Prize at the University of Massachusetts — a place they both said had helped their win become a reality.
“You can have all kinds of attributes as a human being, and all kinds of shortcomings as a scientist, and it’s still okay, you can contribute,” Ambros said.
“Ambros and Ruvkun’s seminal discovery… revealed a new dimension to gene regulation, essential for all complex life forms,” the Nobel Assembly said.
