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The discoverer of microRNA won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine |
Nobel Prize Winner's "Little Secret" with 22 Bases: The Story of microRNA is More Exciting Than You Can Think!
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been announced, with two scientists, Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun, winning for their discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their role in gene regulation. As soon as this news came out, the circle of friends was instantly swiped, and many people were confused: microRNA? What is this thing? Does it have anything to do with my life?
Don't worry, let me take you into this 22-base "little secret" in the most down-to-earth way!
1. The "manual" of genes and the naughty "small edit"
Our genome is like the "manual" of all the cells in the body, which records various instructions that determine our height, weight, and even personality. But the amazing thing is that although each cell has the same "manual", it can differentiate into a variety of different cells, such as muscle cells, nerve cells, and so on. How?
The answer is gene regulation! It's like a shrewd editor who picks out only the parts of the cell that need it from the vast "instructions" to execute. And microRNA is an extremely important group of "small editors" in this editorial team. They are small, only 22 bases (the "letters" of DNA), but they can pinpoint the target gene and "edit" it to affect the expression of the gene.
2. The "accidental" discovery of the two Nobel laureates
The discoveries of the two professors, Ambros and Ruvkun, are quite "unintentionally planted in the willows". In the process of studying the development of Caenorhabditis elegans (a small transparent bug known as "guinea pigs" in biological research), they accidentally discovered lin-4, an RNA molecule with only 22 bases, which can regulate the expression of another gene, lin-14! This was a game-changing discovery at the time!
Imagine that scientists originally thought that gene regulation only occurs at the DNA level, but they didn't expect RNA to join in the fun, and it was such a small RNA! It's like thinking that only the chef can decide the taste of the dish, but you find out that the vegetable cutter can also secretly put some spices!
The discovery of Ambros and Ruvkun is like opening a Pandora's box and opening a new chapter in gene regulation. Since then, thousands of miRNAs have been discovered, which play a key role in the development and function of various organisms.
3. The "power" of miRNAs: from development to disease
Don't think that miRNA is just an obscure small role, its "power" should not be underestimated!
The baton of development: miRNAs are involved in the developmental process of living organisms, without which neither cells nor tissues can develop properly.
"Accomplices" of disease: abnormal regulation of miRNAs, which can lead to many diseases such as cancer. DICER1 syndrome, for example, is caused by a mutation in a protein involved in miRNA production, which has been linked to a variety of cancers.
So, don't underestimate these 22 base "little edits", they are a big deal about our health!
4. The legendary lives of two Nobel laureates
The life stories of the two winners are equally exciting. Ambros wanted to be an astronaut when he was young, but later he "changed careers" to become a biologist because of his poor math, and this wave of "curve to save the country" operation finally won him the Nobel Prize!
Ruvkun briefly left science at a young age to plant trees and travel, but eventually became attracted to the charm of science and returned to scientific research, which eventually led to success. Their stories tell us that the path of life is not static, as long as you stick to your dreams enough, there will always be a bright day!
5. Conclusion: The charm of science and the power of perseverance
Ambros and Ruvkun received the award not only as an acknowledgment of their personal achievements, but also as an encouragement for basic scientific research. Their stories also tell us that the charm of science lies in the continuous exploration of the unknown, and behind the success is unremitting efforts and persistent pursuit of dreams.
Finally, let us pay tribute to the two Nobel laureates and look forward to more scientists in the future to uncover more mysteries of life sciences for us!
(Note: The information in this article is mainly derived from the news reports provided, and is collated and interpreted in combination with public academic materials.) In order to facilitate understanding, some of the content has been popularized, but efforts are made to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of the information. )
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