Nobel Prize In Medicine Awarded To Two Researchers Who Discovered MicroRNAs The Nobel Prize Committee has announced that this year’s Nobel Prize in Medicine will be awarded jointly to American scientists Victor Ambrose and Gary Ravkan. According to the Nobel committee, it was decided to award him this prize for the discovery of microRNA and its role in the regulation of genetic systems. The winners will jointly receive a cash prize of 1.1 million Swedish kroner and a medal.
So far this year, 114 people have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Ambrose and Ravkan conducted their research on a species of small leech. MicroRNA genes have been evolving and expanding in multicellular organisms for over 500 million years. More than 1000 genes for different microRNAs have been discovered in mankind. As this year’s award winners discovered, gene regulation by microRNAs occurs in all multicellular organisms.
Then such information reaches the system inside the cell for protein production. There is a ‘translation’ of mRNA so that proteins are produced according to the genetic instructions stored in DNA.
‘Gene regulation’ by microRNA was discovered for the first time by Ambrose and Ruvkan. It is believed that the development of organisms with complex structures was possible due to this method. Each human cell contains genetic information within DNA. Bone cells, nerve cells, skin cells, white blood cells, heart cells and various other cells use such signals in a very specific way. Now research by award-winning scientists has explained how that happens.
When regulation by microRNA is abnormal in humans, it has been observed that cancer and gene mutation can occur. It can cause congenital hearing loss and eye and bone problems.
