NaijWeb Keeping you informed…
Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine for their groundbreaking work on the discovery of microRNA, a crucial element in gene regulation.
The Nobel Prize committee, while announcing the award on Monday, October 7, praised the pair’s achievement as a significant milestone in biology, calling it
“an entirely new dimension to gene regulation.”
Their discovery, which highlighted that the human genome codes for over 1,000 microRNAs, has transformed the understanding of how gene activity is controlled within cells.
Ambros, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Ruvkun, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, conducted research on the roundworm C.
elegans, a model organism that mirrors cellular development in humans.
Through their studies, they revealed how different cell types, like muscle and nerve cells, are able to express specific genes despite having identical DNA.
The committee explained, “Gene regulation allows each cell to select only the relevant instructions, ensuring only the correct set of genes is active in each cell type.”
This remarkable discovery underscores the importance of continuous learning and research.
As society faces new challenges, there is always room to solve emerging problems through innovative thinking.
Governments and institutions must therefore invest heavily in education and research, providing necessary resources to encourage breakthroughs.
Such discoveries not only advance knowledge but also serve as inspiration for the next generation of researchers aiming to make significant contributions to society.
