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https://theconversation.com/nobel-prize-in-medicine-awarded-for-discovery-of-micrornas-the-molecules-that-control-our-genes-240736>
"Two scientists, Victor Ambros (UMASS Chan Medical School in the US) and Gary
Ruvkun (Harvard Medical School in the US), have won the 2024 Nobel prize in
medicine or physiology.
They received the prestigious award for discovering tiny molecules in our cells
called microRNAs. This discovery has not only changed our understanding of how
our bodies work, but opens up a whole new area of science as well. It even
extends into new treatments.
These molecules, microRNAs, can be simply thought of as tiny controllers inside
our cells, the building blocks of our bodies. They help decide which parts of
our DNA, our own genetic material, should be active and which should be quiet.
Think of them as volume knobs for our genes, turning them up or down as needed.
All our cells contain the same number of DNA letters called bases – there’s
about 3 billion. These tiny little molecules themselves, in fact, help control
which of those letters are on or off, how loud that volume switch is and, in
doing so, how our own genes behave.
This is called gene regulation and is so important, helping cells decide what
type of cell they should be. They also have lots of roles in hard-to-treat
diseases such as cancer and neurological diseases such Alzheimer’s and
Parkinson’s.
MicroRNAs play crucial roles in our bodies throughout our lives. They guide our
development from a single cell into a fully formed person with various organs
and tissues.
As we grow and age, these tiny molecules continue to keep us healthy by
fine-tuning our genes’ activity as needed. When microRNAs malfunction, it 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, despite all our cells containing the same DNA
letters. This makes them essential for both our overall health and our
individual uniqueness."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
