- The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology was awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for discovering microRNA (miRNA), a key element in post-transcriptional gene regulation.
- Their work revealed that miRNA precisely controls gene expression, allowing specific cells, such as muscle or nerve cells, to perform specialized functions.
- Previously, biologists believed gene regulation stopped once transcription began. Transcription and Translation are steps in the complex process of forming the protein.
- Malfunctioning miRNAs can cause diseases like cancer, autoimmunity, and disorders affecting sight, hearing, and skeletal growth.
- Their discovery builds on earlier work that revealed plants use similar processes to combat viruses.
- Their research is now inspiring global studies on how miRNA could be targeted to treat or prevent various diseases.
| Key Concepts: Transcription: During Transcription a cell copies a DNA sequence into messenger RNA (mRNA) in the nucleus. The mRNA moves from the nucleus, through the cell fluid, and attaches itself to the ribosome. Translation: During Translation, another type of RNA called transfer RNA (tRNA) brings amino acids to the ribosome, where they are linked together in the order specified by the mRNA to make a protein. Post Transcriptional Gene Regulation: MicroRNA or miRNA regulates the production of proteins by bonding with and subsequently silencing the mRNA at an appropriate juncture. The process is called post-transcriptional gene regulation. |
Dig Deeper: Read about the prospects of miRNA in the prevention of diseases.
