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| Nobel prize for genetic discovery | Nobel prize for genetic discovery |
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| Two US scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine for their pioneering work in genetics. | Two US scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine for their pioneering work in genetics. |
| The work of Dr Andrew Fire and Dr Craig Mello could lead to new treatments for a range of illnesses, including viral infections and cancer. | The work of Dr Andrew Fire and Dr Craig Mello could lead to new treatments for a range of illnesses, including viral infections and cancer. |
| They discovered a phenomenon called RNA interference, which regulates the expression of genes. | They discovered a phenomenon called RNA interference, which regulates the expression of genes. |
| The process has the potential to help researchers shut down genes which cause harm in the body. | The process has the potential to help researchers shut down genes which cause harm in the body. |
| This year's Nobel Laureates have discovered a fundamental mechanism for controlling the flow of genetic information Nobel citation | This year's Nobel Laureates have discovered a fundamental mechanism for controlling the flow of genetic information Nobel citation |
| Dr Craig Mello is based at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Dr Fire at Stanford University School of Medicine. | Dr Craig Mello is based at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Dr Fire at Stanford University School of Medicine. |
| RNA interference occurs in plants, animals and humans. | |
| It plays a key role in mobilising the body's defences against infection, and in keeping unstable genes under control. | It plays a key role in mobilising the body's defences against infection, and in keeping unstable genes under control. |
| The process is already being widely used in science as a method to study the function of genes. | The process is already being widely used in science as a method to study the function of genes. |
| Genetic instructions | Genetic instructions |
| The Nobel citation, issued by Sweden's Karolinska Institute, said: "This year's Nobel Laureates have discovered a fundamental mechanism for controlling the flow of genetic information." | The Nobel citation, issued by Sweden's Karolinska Institute, said: "This year's Nobel Laureates have discovered a fundamental mechanism for controlling the flow of genetic information." |
| Our genome operates by sending instructions for the manufacture of proteins from DNA in the nucleus of the cell to the protein synthesizing machinery in the watery cytoplasm. | Our genome operates by sending instructions for the manufacture of proteins from DNA in the nucleus of the cell to the protein synthesizing machinery in the watery cytoplasm. |
| These instructions are conveyed by another form of genetic material called messenger RNA (mRNA). | These instructions are conveyed by another form of genetic material called messenger RNA (mRNA). |
| In 1998, Dr Mello and Dr Fire published a paper in the journal Nature detailing how RNA interference can subvert this process - effectively shutting specific genes down. | In 1998, Dr Mello and Dr Fire published a paper in the journal Nature detailing how RNA interference can subvert this process - effectively shutting specific genes down. |
| Tiny snippets of RNA dupe the cell into destroying the gene's mRNA before it can produce a protein. | Tiny snippets of RNA dupe the cell into destroying the gene's mRNA before it can produce a protein. |
| Scientists have speculated that the mechanism developed hundreds of millions of years ago as a way to protect organisms against invading viruses, which sometimes create double-stranded RNA when they replicate. | Scientists have speculated that the mechanism developed hundreds of millions of years ago as a way to protect organisms against invading viruses, which sometimes create double-stranded RNA when they replicate. |
| The Nobel Prize is worth $1.4m. |