2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine Awarded for Groundbreaking Discovery of Gene-Regulating microRNAs
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to American scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNAs, tiny molecules that regulate gene activity. This discovery has revolutionised our understanding of how genes are controlled, impacting areas such as embryological development, normal physiology, and diseases like cancer.
Ambros and Ruvkun first made their discovery while studying mutant strains of the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans in the 1980s. Though they initially worked together in the same lab, Ambros later moved to Harvard University, and Ruvkun continued his research at Massachusetts General Hospital. Despite the separation, their collaborative efforts led to groundbreaking findings.
Nobel Assembly praise work of Ambros and Ruvkun
The Nobel Assembly at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute praised their work, describing microRNAs as introducing “a new and unexpected mechanism of gene regulation.” These molecules can control multiple genes, and a single gene can be influenced by many microRNAs. Their discovery provides insights into complex biological processes, such as how organisms develop and how certain diseases manifest.
Prize winners to receive cash award of 11 million Swedish crowns alongside the Nobel
In addition to recognizing their contributions to science, the Nobel Prize comes with a cash award of 11 million Swedish crowns (about $1.1 million). This year’s medicine prize is the first of several Nobel Prizes to be announced, with physics, chemistry, literature, peace, and economics set to follow in the coming days.
This year’s prize continues the tradition of celebrating remarkable achievements in science. Last year, the prize went to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their contributions to mRNA research, which was crucial in developing COVID-19 vaccines.
Ambros and Ruvkun join Einstein, Mandela and Mother Teresa in list of Nobel Prize winners
Nobel Prizes have been awarded since 1901, following the wishes of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor of dynamite. Over the years, recipients have ranged from scientists like Marie Curie and Albert Einstein to leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Mother Teresa. However, not all awards have aged well, with some, like the 1949 medicine prize for lobotomy, facing criticism in hindsight.
The Nobel prizes will be presented on December 10th, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, in a grand ceremony followed by a banquet in Stockholm. A separate event will be held in Oslo for the Peace Prize winner.
