The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine announced: Two American scholars awarded for their gene research
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was announced on the 7th, awarded jointly to American developmental biologist Victor Ambros and American molecular biologist Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNAs and their role in gene regulation.
Ambros, a 70-year-old professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Ruvkun, a 72-year-old professor at Harvard Medical School, collaborated on research involving the one-millimeter-long *Caenorhabditis elegans* (nematode) to identify the causes and timing of cellular mutations. They were recognized for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNAs and their critical role in gene regulation. This year's Nobel Prize money amounts to 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately 34.14 million TWD), with each recipient receiving about 1.7 million TWD.
The Nobel Prize committee emphasized that research on the regulation of gene activity has been an important goal for several decades. Abnormalities in gene regulation can lead to severe diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, or autoimmune disorders. The scholars' groundbreaking findings reveal a completely new mechanism of gene regulation, allowing each cell to select relevant instructions, which is crucial for multicellular organisms, including humans.
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