Two U.S. scientists, Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, received the Nobel Prize in Medicine on Monday for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNA and its essential role in controlling gene activity. The distinction lays bare how scientists know how gene activity is orchestrated, something scientists have long been enthralled by over the decades.
MicroRNA is a class of small RNA molecules crucial for determining how genes are to be expressed in the various tissues. The Nobel Jury considered this discovery important: when gene regulation is disrupted, it leads to serious health problems including cancer, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases. According to the jury, Ambros and Ruvkun’s work discovered “a new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans.”
In their work, the two researchers studied the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans to identify underlying causes of cellular mutation. This duo identified microRNA as a major mechanism where cells can select the relevant genetic instructions and delete others. Their results were published in two groundbreaking articles in 1993 that greatly defined research into gene regulation.
Thomas Perlmann, secretary general of the Nobel Assembly, refers to the impact that their discovery entails: “MicroRNAs are important for our understanding of embryological development, normal cell physiology and diseases such as cancer.” This PowerPoint presentation further underlines how important gene regulation is for health and disease.
Victor Ambros, 70, is a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Gary Ruvkun, 72, holds a professorship at Harvard Medical School. Both scientists will receive from King Carl XVI Gustaf their Nobel Prize: diploma, gold medal, and the cash award, $1 million on December 10, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death, who established the prizes in his will.
The work of Ambros and Ruvkun falls at a particularly exciting time for the medical community, which is witnessing a revolution in the understanding of the genetic underpinnings of various diseases. It is foundational for new therapeutic strategies in the correction of gene regulation disorders. At such a time, when mRNA technology has received worldwide attention through advances that hastened COVID-19 vaccines, the work done by Ambros and Ruvkun becomes a gem, a shining light that has been lit.
The season for Nobles continues this week with announcements of winners in the disciplines of physics and chemistry, followed by literature and peace prizes. These come at a time when the world is facing certain big challenges: there is conflict brewing in the Middle East; the setbacks in Ukraine, and climate change – all of which pose severe threats and doubts about environmental futures. Generations and contributions from many have, through history, been recognized in various disciplines by the prizes awarded by the will of Nobel.
There has been wild speculation about who might win prizes, especially candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize. Favorites of most analysts and commentators are the name of the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and women’s rights activists. Advancements in technologies have likewise been discussed including campaigning against autonomous weapon systems.
In conclusion, the recognition by Ambros and Ruvkun underlines a fundamental connection of gene regulation with human health. It was groundbreaking work with microRNA that brings new avenues of study and therapeutic approaches, hinting that there may be a continued quest in genetics as the Nobel Prize season unfolds to reflect ongoing challenges and accomplishments in science and humanitarian efforts.
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