Mon Oct 07 11:52:12 UTC 2024: ## 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine Awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for Discovery of MicroRNA
**Stockholm, Sweden:** Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have been jointly awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet announced on Monday. This marks the 115th Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine awarded since 1901.
The renowned scientists were recognized for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNA, a class of small RNA molecules that play a crucial role in gene regulation. Their research, driven by curiosity about how different cell types develop, revealed an entirely new principle of gene regulation vital for multicellular organisms, including humans.
Ambros and Ruvkun’s discovery has revolutionized our understanding of gene expression. MicroRNAs, which are now known to be encoded by over a thousand genes in the human genome, are fundamental to how organisms develop and function.
“Their discovery has opened up an entirely new dimension in our understanding of gene regulation,” the Nobel Committee stated. “MicroRNAs are proving to be fundamental for the development and function of organisms.”
The Nobel Prize, which comes with a prize sum of 11 million Swedish kronor, is awarded annually to a maximum of three individuals. The prestigious award, given in recognition of outstanding contributions to humanity, will be followed by the announcement of the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences over the next few days.
Last year, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their groundbreaking research on mRNA, which paved the way for the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.
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