Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for discovery of microRNA
On 7 October 2024, the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for the discovery of microRNA.
Summary
On 7 October 2024, the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine jointly to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun 'for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation'. Working on the roundworm C. elegans, they showed that the lin-4 microRNA turns off the lin-14 gene by binding to complementary sequences in its mRNA; the results were published in 1993 in two articles in the journal Cell. In 2000, Ruvkun's group discovered another microRNA, encoded by the let-7 gene, which is conserved across the animal kingdom. The human genome codes for over one thousand microRNAs.
Key facts
- Announced
- 7 Oct 2024
- Laureates
- Victor Ambros, Gary Ruvkun
- Awarded by
- Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet
- Discovery
- microRNA and post-transcriptional gene regulation
- Model organism
- C. elegans (roundworm)
- Key genes
- lin-4, lin-14; let-7 (2000)
- Published
- 1993, journal Cell
Practice MCQs 4 questions
Who were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine?
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Correct answer: B — Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun
Nobel press release (7 Oct 2024): the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded jointly to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun.
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded for the discovery of:
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Correct answer: D — microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation
Nobel press release (7 Oct 2024): the prize was awarded 'for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation'.
On which model organism did Ambros and Ruvkun make the discovery honoured by the 2024 Medicine Nobel?
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Correct answer: C — C. elegans (roundworm)
Nobel press release (7 Oct 2024): they studied the 1 mm long roundworm C. elegans, including the lin-4 and lin-14 mutant strains.
Consider the following about the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine: 1. Ambros and Ruvkun published their microRNA findings in 1993 in the journal Cell. 2. In 2000, Ruvkun's group discovered another microRNA, encoded by the let-7 gene. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct. Nobel press release (7 Oct 2024): the results were published in 1993 in two articles in the journal Cell; in 2000 Ruvkun's research group published the discovery of another microRNA, encoded by the let-7 gene.