The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNA and its essential role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.
Their work revealed an entirely new mechanism of gene regulation, showing how microRNAs, a newly discovered class of small RNA molecules, are fundamental for the development and physiology of multicellular organisms, including humans. Today we know that the human genome encodes over a 1000 microRNAs, which are essential for normal physiological processes.
Ambros and Ruvkun research focused on understanding how different cell types develop, leading them to identify microRNAs - molecules that regulate gene expression. These critical regulators ensure that each cell expresses the specific genes necessary for its proper function.
These findings have major implications for understanding human development and disease. Dysregulation of microRNAs has been linked to various diseases, including cancer and neurological disorders. Their work has paved the way for further investigations into the role of microRNAs in health and disease, promising advancements in diagnostics and treatment strategies.
This year’s prize, which includes an award of 11 million Swedish crowns, is the first of the 2024 Nobel announcements, with others to follow in physics, chemistry, literature, peace and economics.
