2024 Nobel Prize: Big Discoveries From a Tiny Worm

Scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine Monday for work with a tiny roundworm, C. elegans, that led to groundbreaking discoveries about how cells function and communicate. One of their key findings was the identification of microRNA, small molecules that play a crucial role in regulating gene expression.

After discovering the key role of the lin-4 gene microRNA in C. elegans worms, they discovered the let-7 gene, which is widely present in the animal kingdom, also has a microRNA with a similar regulatory role for the genes. Hundreds of microRNAs were discovered over the next several years, paving the way to a new understanding of gene expression in humans.

But what exactly is C. elegans, and why is it so important to science?

C. elegans is a small, transparent worm that measures about 1 millimeter in length. It might seem unremarkable at first glance; however, this worm has driven numerous biological discoveries for decades. With a well-characterized nervous system and a fully mapped genome, it’s an ideal model organism for studying fundamental processes like cell development, aging and disease.

This year’s Nobel Prize winners studied C. elegans to explore how cells communicate and exchange information — research that is helping understand how cells work together in more complex organisms, including humans. The insights from these studies have implications for a wide range of diseases, from neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s to cancer. (LEARN MORE About 2023’s Winners Here)

Animal models have contributed to several Nobel-winning breakthroughs over the years, proving once again that animals, no matter how small, play a big role in advancing medical science. Thanks to research using this simple worm, scientists are making strides toward new treatments and therapies that could improve countless lives.

By supporting biomedical research with animals, we continue to unlock the mysteries of life and disease, paving the way for tomorrow's medical miracles.

(Featured image credit: Ill. Niklas Elmehed © Nobel Prize Outreach)