How Curiosity-Driven Research on a Worm Won Four Nobel Prizes

Sub : Sci

Sec : Biotech

Why in News

Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering microRNAs and their role in gene expression using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). This tiny nematode has contributed significantly to biological research, leading to four Nobel Prizes, showcasing how fundamental, curiosity-driven studies can have profound societal impacts.

Caenorhabditis elegans:

Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a small, transparent nematode (roundworm), approximately 1 mm long.
It is widely used as a model organism in biological research due to its simplicity, rapid lifecycle, and genetic tractability.
First introduced as a model organism by Sydney Brenner in the 1960s.
Comprises 959 somatic cells in adults (hermaphrodite).
Contains ~20,000 protein-coding genes.
Has 302 neurons, making it ideal for studying neural circuits.
Short lifecycle of 3-4 days, enabling rapid generation turnover.
Can reproduce through self-fertilization (hermaphrodites) or cross-fertilization (males).

Why C. elegans is Ideal for Research:

Can be grown on agar plates or in liquid media.
Economical to maintain compared to higher organisms.
Availability of mutants and tools for genetic manipulation.
Many genes and pathways are conserved between C. elegans and humans, making findings relevant across species.

Major Contributions to Science:

Programmed Cell Death (Apoptosis): Research by H. Robert Horvitz, John Sulston, and Sydney Brenner (2002 Nobel Prize). Identified genes regulating cell death, with parallels in human biology.
RNA Interference (RNAi): Andrew Fire and Craig Mello demonstrated gene silencing using double-stranded RNA (2006 Nobel Prize). Applications include gene therapy and cancer research.
- Introduced double-stranded RNA to silence specific genes, a process called RNA interference (RNAi).
MicroRNAs (miRNAs): Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun (2024 Nobel Prize). Identified miRNAs’ role in regulating gene expression.
Ageing and Lifespan: Research by Cynthia Kenyon and others identified insulin signaling pathways involved in lifespan regulation.
Neuronal Circuits and Behavior: Mapping of the elegans connectome provided insights into neural network functions and behaviors.
Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) Technology (2008 Nobel Prize): Osamu Shimomura isolated GFP from jellyfish. Martin Chalfie introduced it into live C. elegans in 1994. Enabled tracking of gene expression and cellular processes in real-time.