2009 Nobel for Medicine

[hummingwolf]

Elizabeth H. Blackburn, Carol W. Greider, and Jack W. Szostak are this year's winners for the Nobel Prize in medicine for their research into telomeres (the tips of chromosomes) and telomerase (the enzyme that builds telomeres); discoveries which, in the words of the prize committee, "have added a new dimension to our understanding of the cell,

Comments

[flewellyn]

I was quite amused by that.

There's a gene found in fruit flies which, when mutated, doubles the average lifespan of each fly. They call it INDY, short for "I'm Not Dead Yet!"

[hummingwolf]

That's cute. I remember reading an article once about fun names used in biology, but I have sadly forgotten all the ones I learned.

[szeretni]

Thanks for the congratulation! :D
*hugs*

[szeretni]

BTW do you have Facebook or MSN or something?

[hummingwolf]

Nope, I'm pretty much just here. Well, here and at DreamWidth and InsaneJournal, but mostly here on LJ.

[hasufin]

It's awesome that they're getting well-deserved recognition - understanding telomeres has the potential for so much, from cracking cancer and genetic diseases to anti-senescence drugs.

It does kind of sadden me, in way, though... I have never known a time when we did not have a basic comprehension of telomeres, and yet it's only just now that this honor is offered. I know that especially in the sciences it's important to have some delay to see if research truly meets its potential, but surely we can do better than three decades?

[hummingwolf]

I wonder what the average time from first discovery to Nobel is?

[hasufin]

Dunno about the prize for medicine, but the Peace Prize seems to have one hell of a fast turnaround.

[hummingwolf]

Why, whatever do you mean? Barack H. Obama has put in decades of hard work not being George W. Bush!!