Gary Ruvkun and Victor Ambros won the Nobel Prize 2024 in Medicine or Physiology

Two scientists have been recognized with this year's Nobel Prize 2024 in Medicine for their groundbreaking discovery in the regulation of gene activity. Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun were awarded the prestigious honor for their work on microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene control.

Gary Ruvkun and Victor Ambros Receive $1.1 Million Prize Money

The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute Medical University in Sweden selects the recipients in the field of medicine. Both Gary Ruvkun and Victor Ambros will share a prize of 11 million Swedish crowns, or approximately $1.1 million. Their discovery on the regulation of gene activity plays a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of biology and its impact on healthcare.

According to an official statement, "Every cell has the exact same set of genes and instructions because every cell has the same chromosomes." Yet, different cell types—like nerve and muscle cells—have distinct properties. The solution to how this happens lies in gene regulation, which ensures that only the appropriate genes are active in each type of cell, determining its specific role.

What is a MicroRNA Molecule?

MicroRNAs are tiny RNA molecules that regulate gene expression, and their discovery has introduced a revolutionary concept in gene regulation. This discovery is vital for multicellular organisms, including humans. The human genome codes for over a thousand microRNAs, and their presence marks a completely new aspect of gene control. The findings of Ruvkun and Ambros highlighted the critical role microRNAs play in the development and functioning of organisms.

Through transcription, genetic information is transferred from DNA to messenger RNA (mRNA), which then guides the cellular machinery responsible for producing proteins. This process, known as translation, ensures that proteins are made according to the genetic instructions encoded in DNA, which was a fundamental discovery of mid-20th century science.

Despite all cells in our organs and tissues containing the same genetic information, different cells express proteins in unique patterns. The key to this is turning the right genes on in each specific cell type, a process enabled by precise control of gene activation.

Gene activity must also adjust to changing conditions in our bodies and environments. If gene regulation is disrupted, serious illnesses, including cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune disorders, may arise. Understanding how gene activity is regulated has therefore been a major goal in biomedical research.

The Nobel Prize in Medicine

The Nobel Prize in Medicine is the first of the seven Nobel Prizes announced each year. This prestigious award is often regarded as one of the most influential honors in the world of science. Gary Ruvkun and Victor Ambros have expressed their deep gratitude for receiving the Nobel Prize 2024, underscoring its importance in advancing our understanding of gene regulation.

Their work is a crucial step forward in unraveling how gene activity impacts health and disease, shaping future research in medical science.

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