In 1993, two scientists, Victor Ambrose (professor of natural science at UMass Chan) and Gary Ruvkun (genetics professor at Harvard), made a discover that completely rewrites our understanding of gene regulation and genetics as a whole. Unfortunately, this discovery was met with "deafening silence from the scientific community" (Nobel Committee). Finally this year, the two were granted with a long-overdue Nobel Prize of Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of microRNA, and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.
To further explain, the two began researching C. elegans (1-millimeter-long roundworm) in the late 1980s as postdoctoral fellows at MIT. After separating, they both continued to research the roundworm and Ambros made an interesting discovery. While looking into a mutation, he noticed a small fragment of RNA (microRNA) blocking the lin-14 gene by binding to mRNA. Before this discovery, it was believed that gene regulation was controlled only by transcription factors, which would give cells specialized purposes. Thus, skin cells would function as skin cells and not brain cells, as an example. Even facing criticism that this was unique to simpler organisms like the C. elegans, the two published this finding in 1993 and furthered their research into the animal kingdom.
In 2000, the two found that the same mechanism of microRNA plays a titular role in gene regulation in many species in animals as well. Since then, they have identified over 1,000 different genes for microRNA in humans. Additionally, each microRNA regulates many different types of genes, as well as genes being regulated by many types of microRNA.
These findings are nothing short of incredible and it is amazing that Ambrose and Ruvkun are getting the recognition for this discovery in such a big way. I am excited to see what will come next for the two, and it is always very intriguing to see the "laws" of genetics being rewritten even today.
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