MicroRNA and Gene Regulation

The chapter discusses the groundbreaking work of Nobel Prize winners Victor Ambros and Gary Ravkin, who discovered microRNA and its critical role in gene regulation. MicroRNA acts as a regulator that binds mRNA and controls protein production after the mRNA has already been synthesized, illustrating a significant mechanism in cellular biology. Initially found in the roundworm C. elegans, this discovery was later recognized as a fundamental component across the animal kingdom, with thousands of microRNA genes now identified in humans. The implications of this research extend to potential health applications, including cancer biomarkers and treatments, highlighting the importance of understanding the regulation of gene expression.