This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63121338

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Three scientists win Nobel for chemistry 'lego' Three scientists win Nobel for chemistry 'Lego'
(about 1 hour later)
Carolyn Bertozzi was able to map the biomolecule glycan, glowing green hereCarolyn Bertozzi was able to map the biomolecule glycan, glowing green here
The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has gone to three scientists for their work on linking molecules together, known as click chemistry. The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has gone to three scientists for their work on linking molecules together, known as "click" chemistry.
Carolyn Bertozzi, Morton Meldal, and Barry Sharpless will share prize money of 10 million Swedish krona (£800,000). Carolyn Bertozzi, Morten Meldal, and Barry Sharpless' work allows molecules to link together, like Lego pieces.
Their work is used to explore cells and track biological processes, and can be applied in cancer treatment drugs. It is used in developing cancer treatments and directly targeting tumour cells.
"Click" chemistry is about linking together molecules like those in living cells. The work transformed how chemistry can be done, making it simpler and more effective.
The Nobel committee praised their work for making chemistry functional and said they had an enormous impact on science. Carolyn Bertozzi, who pioneered bioorthogonal chemistry that links living cells, is the eighth woman to win the Chemistry Nobel.
"This year's prize deals with not overcomplicating matters, instead working with what is easy and simple," says Johan Åqvist, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.
Carolyn Bertozzi, who pioneered the work on bioorthogonal chemistry, is the eighth woman to win the Chemistry Nobel.
"I'm absolutely stunned. I can hardly breathe," Professor Bertozzi said from the US when the Nobel Committee called her in the middle of the night."I'm absolutely stunned. I can hardly breathe," Professor Bertozzi said from the US when the Nobel Committee called her in the middle of the night.
One of the crucial applications of her work is in medicine and drug delivery, she said. Professor Barry Sharpless, also from the US, has now won the Nobel Prize twice. The first time was in 2001 for chiral catalysts.
It means scientists can do "chemistry inside the human body, to make sure drugs go to the right place and stay away from the wrong place." Professor Morten Meldal, from Denmark, told BBC News he was "shaking for half an hour" after he found out he won.
It is also a "biological discovery tool" that allows scientists to see new molecules that we didn't know existed, she explained. Winners Carolyn Bertozzi, Morten Meldal, and Barry Sharpless
Barry Sharpless, from the US, has now won the Nobel Prize twice. The first time was in 2001 for chiral catalysts. Prof Sharpless and Prof Meldal worked independently but together laid the foundations of "click" chemistry.
Professor Sharpless and Professor Morten Meldal, from Denmark, worked independently but together laid the foundations of "click" chemistry. To understand it, think about how Lego works. One piece has bumps and one piece has holes. You press them together and they click to join.
Professor Alison Hulme at University of Edinburgh, UK, explains that the same process applies in click chemistry.
"Two chemical partners are perfectly designed to match each other so that when they come into contact with each other in the right environment, they just click together," she told BBC News.
But at first it could not be used in living cells - essential for understanding disease - because it involved the use of copper which kills cells.
Professor Bertozzi's groundbreaking discovery made click chemistry work in living cells. She was able to bypass the copper ions by using other components that react.
Her work means scientists can do "chemistry inside the human body, to make sure drugs go to the right place and stay away from the wrong place", she said.
It is also a "biological discovery tool" that allows scientists to see new molecules that we didn't know existed, she explains.
First celebration! @ChemKUniversity @UCPH_Research @NobelPrize pic.twitter.com/pQAytyP3U2First celebration! @ChemKUniversity @UCPH_Research @NobelPrize pic.twitter.com/pQAytyP3U2
The Nobel committee praised the scientists' work for making chemistry functional and said they had an enormous impact on science.
"This year's prize deals with not overcomplicating matters, instead working with what is easy and simple," said Johan Åqvist, chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.
The winners share prize money of 10 million Swedish krona (£800,000).
Last year's award also went to two scientists who developed tools for building molecules.Last year's award also went to two scientists who developed tools for building molecules.
On Monday, the committee gave the Physiology or Medicine prize to Svante Paabo for work on human evolution.On Monday, the committee gave the Physiology or Medicine prize to Svante Paabo for work on human evolution.
Tuesday's Nobel Prize in Physics rewarded research into quantum mechanics - the science that describes nature at the smallest scales.Tuesday's Nobel Prize in Physics rewarded research into quantum mechanics - the science that describes nature at the smallest scales.
Previous winners of the Nobel Prize in ChemistryPrevious winners of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry
2021 - Benjamin List and David MacMillan won the prize for their work on building molecules that are mirror images of one another.2021 - Benjamin List and David MacMillan won the prize for their work on building molecules that are mirror images of one another.
2020 - Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna received the award for developing the tools to edit DNA.2020 - Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna received the award for developing the tools to edit DNA.
2019 - John B Goodenough, M Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino share the prize for their work on lithium-ion batteries.2019 - John B Goodenough, M Stanley Whittingham and Akira Yoshino share the prize for their work on lithium-ion batteries.
2018 - Discoveries about enzymes earned Frances Arnold, George P Smith and Gregory Winter the prize2018 - Discoveries about enzymes earned Frances Arnold, George P Smith and Gregory Winter the prize
2017 - Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson were awarded the prize for improving images of biological molecules2017 - Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson were awarded the prize for improving images of biological molecules
2016 - Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Fraser Stoddart and Bernard Feringa shared the prize for the making machines on a molecular scale.2016 - Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Fraser Stoddart and Bernard Feringa shared the prize for the making machines on a molecular scale.
2015 - Discoveries in DNA repair earned Tomas Lindahl and Paul Modrich and Aziz Sancar the award.2015 - Discoveries in DNA repair earned Tomas Lindahl and Paul Modrich and Aziz Sancar the award.