Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 has been awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional Gene Regulation.
About the Discovery
In 1993, Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun discovered microRNA and its role in gene regulation after transcription.
Discovery revealed a completely new principle of gene regulation that turned out to be essential for multicellular organisms, including humans.
About microRNA (miRNA)
It is a small non-coding RNA (single-stranded molecules playing a key role in turning DNA instructions into proteins) that helps cells regulate gene expression.
Significance/Application of the Discovery
Discovery of microRNA helps in understanding different aspects related with gene regulation and role played by it different process such as:
- Cellular Development: miRNAs are involved in the self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells and development of tissues and organs.
- Immune Response: miRNAs regulate innate and adaptive immune responses.
- Oncogenesis: Abnormal regulation by microRNA can contribute to cancer, and mutations in genes causing conditions such as congenital hearing loss, eye and skeletal disorders.
- Disease diagnostics: Used as biomarkers for human cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic targets.
