In a monumental achievement, American biologists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have been awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their pioneering discovery of microRNAs, small but powerful molecules that regulate gene expression. Their research, which began in the early 1990s using the model organism C. elegans, uncovered how microRNAs bind to messenger RNA (mRNA) to control protein production, a process that shapes cellular development and influences disease progression.
This groundbreaking work has transformed our understanding of genetics, revealing that microRNAs play a universal role across all multicellular organisms, including humans. Their discovery has opened new doors for potential therapies, especially in conditions like cancer, although clinical applications are still in the research phase.
First published in 1993, Ambros and Ruvkun’s research continues to have far-reaching implications in molecular biology, with the discovery of thousands of human microRNA genes. The Nobel Committee has recognized their collaborative efforts for expanding our grasp of gene regulation and offering hope for future medical breakthroughs.
