Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNA (miRNA) and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. This discovery has significantly advanced our understanding of how gene activity is controlled, influencing diverse biological processes such as development, immunity, and aging.
About Their Research
The Nobel Committee recognized Ambros and Ruvkun for revealing a fundamental mechanism of gene regulation. Genes in our chromosomes act as instruction manuals for cells, but not every gene is active in every cell. MicroRNAs are small RNA molecules that help regulate which genes are turned on or off, ensuring that cells function properly and develop their distinct identities (e.g., muscle or nerve cells).
Their work revealed that the human genome contains over a thousand microRNAs, which play essential roles in regulating gene expression. The discovery has had widespread implications for understanding diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders, as well as for potential therapeutic approaches.
Who is Victor Ambros?
Victor R. Ambros is a renowned developmental biologist and professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Born in 1953 in Hanover, New Hampshire, he grew up in Vermont and later studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he completed his graduate research on poliovirus under David Baltimore.
Ambros is most celebrated for discovering the first microRNA in 1993 while researching the genetic pathways of developmental timing in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). This discovery was pivotal in shaping his future work on the role of miRNAs in development and gene regulation.
Who is Gary Ruvkun?
Gary Ruvkun, born in 1952 in Berkeley, California, is a molecular biologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his PhD in biophysics from Harvard University.
Ruvkun’s research complemented Ambros’ work by demonstrating how the lin-4 microRNA identified by Ambros regulates messenger RNA translation. He further discovered the second microRNA, let-7, which was found to be evolutionarily conserved across many species, including humans. Ruvkun’s research has contributed significantly to understanding RNA interference mechanisms and gene regulation.
Impact of Their Discovery
The discovery of microRNAs opened a new dimension in molecular biology, revealing a complex layer of gene regulation that was previously unknown. These findings have profound implications for biomedical research, offering new insights into diseases like cancer and paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies targeting miRNAs.
Ambros and Ruvkun’s pioneering work continues to influence scientific inquiry, advancing our understanding of the fundamental processes that govern cell behavior, health, and disease.
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