According to those responsible for the prize, “the groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that has proven essential for multicellular organisms, including humans.”
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to American scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their research on microRNAs.
Ambros, 70 years old, is a biologist and professor of Molecular Medicine at the University of Massachusetts (USA).
Ruvkun, 72, is a molecular biologist and teaches genetics at Harvard University School of Medicine.
The duo’s work has helped explain how our genes work within the human body and how this gives rise to the body’s different tissues and systems.
The winners share a prize worth 11 million Swedish kronor (R$5 million, at current prices).
Every cell in the human body contains the same raw genetic information, stored in our DNA.
But the cells that make up the bones, nervous system, skin, heart, immune system, and other parts of the body use this genetic code in different and highly specialized ways.
The work of the American duo helps explain in detail how this happens.
The winners of the Medicine and Physiology awards are selected by an assembly of the Karolinska Institute of Sweden.
According to those responsible for the prize, “the groundbreaking discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that has proven essential for multicellular organisms, including humans.”
“It is now known that the human genome encodes more than a thousand microRNAs,” the note specifies.
This report is being updated and more details will be published soon.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
