US Scientists Awarded Nobel Prize In Medicine For Discovery Of MicroRNA

London: American scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have been honoured with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for 2024 for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.

“This year’s Nobel Prize focuses on the discovery of a vital regulatory mechanism used in cells to control gene activity. Genetic information flows from DNA to messenger RNA (mRNA), via a process called transcription, and then on to the cellular machinery for protein production. There, mRNAs are translated so that proteins are made according to the genetic instructions stored in DNA,” the Nobel Prize release read.

Curious about how different cell types form, Ambros and Ruvkun’s study and research led to discovery of microRNAs — tiny RNA molecules that play a key role in gene regulation.

The information in chromosomes acts like an instruction manual for all human cells. Every cell contains the same genes, but different cell types – such as muscle and nerve cells — have unique characteristics. This happens through gene regulation, where each cell activates only the genes it needs.

Discovery of MicroRNA brought in a new concept in gene regulation, which is crucial for multicellular organisms, including humans.

More about the Nobel winners

Victor Ambros — Born in 1953 in New Hampshire, USA, he earned his PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1979 and continued there as a postdoctoral researcher for six years. In 1985, he became Principal Investigator at Harvard University. From 1992 to 2007, he served as Professor at Dartmouth Medical School. Currently, he is Silverman Professor of Natural Science at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Gary Ruvkun — Born in 1952 in Berkeley, California, he received his PhD from Harvard University in 1982, did postdoctoral work at MIT from 1982 to 1985. In 1985, he became a Principal Investigator at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where he is now Professor of Genetics.