By Justin Stebbing
Two scientists, Victor Ambros (UMass Chan Medical School in the USA) and Gary Ruvkun (Harvard Medical School in the USA), have won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine
Both received the prestigious award for discovering tiny molecules found in our cells called microRNAs. This discovery has not only changed our understanding of how our bodies work, but also opens up a whole new field of science. It even extends to the development of new treatments.
MicroRNAs can be considered tiny controllers within our cells, the building blocks of our bodies. They help decide which parts of our DNA, our genetic material, should be active and which silenced.
Think of them as the volume knobs for our genes, turning them up or down as needed. All our cells contain the same number of DNA letters, called bases: about 3 billion. In fact, these tiny molecules help control which of those letters are on or off—the volume of the switch—and, therefore, the behavior of our genes.
This is called gene regulation, and it's very important because it helps cells decide what type of cell they should be. It also plays many roles in diseases that are difficult to treat, such as cancer, and in neurological diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
A lifelong adjustment mechanism
MicroRNAs play a crucial role in our bodies throughout our entire lives. They guide our development from a single cell to a fully formed person with various organs and tissues.
As we grow and age, these tiny molecules continue to keep us healthy by adjusting the activity of our genes as needed. When microRNAs malfunction, they can lead to diseases such as cancer, which is why scientists are studying them to develop new treatments.
Interestingly, microRNAs also help explain why different parts of our body look and function differently, even though all our cells contain the same DNA letters. This makes them essential to both our overall health and our individual uniqueness.
Much of my research has focused on microRNAs, and we now know that there are thousands of them in our cells, all different.
The teams I've led have demonstrated their importance in many types of cancer and how they control cellular processes, such as growth and division, but also the spread that can occur in cancer. We've even discovered that they are key to awakening stem cells in cancer, rare populations that can give rise to an entirely new tumor.
A discovery in worms
Ambros and Ruvkun discovered these microRNAs while studying tiny worms. They realized that these molecules could control the growth of these organisms.
The fact that microRNAs are found in many species suggests that they have been important throughout evolutionary history and biology in general. Later, scientists discovered that humans and other animals also have microRNAs.
A better understanding of these molecules could lead to new ways of diagnosing diseases earlier and, more generally, to a deeper understanding of how our bodies work.
Scientists are exploring ways to use microRNAs, or molecules that target them, as treatments for various diseases. We've discovered that some microRNAs are very good at deactivating cancer cells, so they could even be useful as treatments in themselves.
In basic terms, the discovery of microRNAs is like finding a new set of tools that our bodies use to stay healthy. This knowledge provides scientists and doctors with new ways to help people when something goes wrong with their health.
The Nobel Prize recognizes the importance of this discovery for medicine and our understanding of life. The laureates' pioneering work with tiny worms led to the discovery of a fundamental biological mechanism that is crucial for life as we know it.
His Nobel Prize recognizes how this discovery has transformed our understanding of gene regulation and opened new avenues for medical research and treatment. It demonstrates that even the smallest components of our cells can have an enormous impact on our overall health and well-being.