On Monday, October 7, 2024, the Nobel Prize in Medicine kicked off the season of prestigious awards. This year, the prize was awarded to Americans Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun in recognition of their discovery of micro-RNAs and their essential role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.
Discovery of Micro-RNAs
Discovered in the late 1990s, micro-RNAs (often abbreviated as “miRNAs”) are short nucleotide sequences that can pair with target messenger RNAs (mRNAs). During this pairing, the mRNA is cleaved, thereby blocking the genetic expression of the protein. miRNAs play a crucial role in various cellular processes, including development, differentiation, cell proliferation, and apoptosis (programmed cell death).
Nobel Prize 2024 Favorites
Among other potential candidates was American biologist Kevan Shokat, recognized for his research on KRAS gene mutations, which lead to cell proliferation and can cause difficult-to-treat cancers, such as lung, colon, and pancreatic cancers. Neuroscientists Ann M. Graybiel, Okihide Hikosaka, and Wolfram Schultz were also mentioned for their work on the neuronal mechanisms governing behavior. Additionally, epigenetics research, led by Davor Solter and Azim Surani, was highlighted for its contributions to understanding the cellular mechanisms controlling gene activity without altering DNA.
The announcement of the laureates was broadcast live from Stockholm starting at 11:30 am.
Recap of Previous Nobel Prizes
- 2023: Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman received the Nobel Prize in Medicine for their discoveries that enabled the development of mRNA vaccines, particularly in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- 2022: The prize was awarded to Swedish geneticist Svante Pääbo for his pioneering research in paleogenetics, revealing the presence of Neanderthal DNA in modern humans.
2024 Nobel Prize Calendar
- Tuesday, October 8: Nobel Prize in Physics at 11:45 am
- Wednesday, October 9: Nobel Prize in Chemistry at 11:45 am
- Thursday, October 10: Nobel Prize in Literature at 1:00 pm
- Friday, October 11: Nobel Peace Prize at 11:00 am
- Monday, October 14: Nobel Prize in Economics at 11:45 am
Source: Sciences et Avenir