Beginning in the late 1980s, the team’s collaborative efforts have significantly impacted the field of gene regulation science. This field is crucial in many diseases and has led to the team’s pursuit of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun’s discovery that microRNAs (miRNAs) exist opened the door to a previously unidentified primary mechanism for controlling gene expression, essential to most multicellular organisms, including humans. By studying the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, these researchers discovered that the lin-4 gene produces a short RNA that acts on the lin-14 gene by suppressing the translation of the mRNA generated from the gene into protein, rather than blocking the gene from being transcribed. 

This finding demonstrated that the function of miRs is not restricted to inhibiting genetic transcription alone, but that they can also complement target mRNA’s anti-sense sequences and obstruct protein synthesis, which was particularly noteworthy in terms of how gene regulation was perceived. Research has demonstrated that the human genome has over a thousand microRNA genes, many essential for normal cell division and development. When these genes’ activity are out of balance, illnesses like cancer can result.  

The Nobel Assembly acknowledged their discovery at the Karolinska Institute as a basic concept guiding the regulation of gene activity, an essential process for the growth and operation of multicellular organisms. Together with a medal and diploma, they will share a prize of 11 million Swedish kronor, or roughly $1.1 million. This esteemed honor emphasizes how their research has important ramifications for comprehending various health issues, such as genetic illnesses and cancer.