2009 Noble prize in medicine has been awarded to three American Scientists.

1. Carol W. Greider of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

2. Jack W. Szostak of Massachusetts General Hospital

3. Elizabeth H. Blackburn of the University of California, San Francisco.

This is for the first time when more than one woman has been awarded with Noble prize in medicine. They contributed to solve a problem of cell biology. Their contribution may give solutions to many unanswered questions regarding cancer and aging. The value of the prize is $1.4 million which the contributors will share equally.

Their work basically deals with the ends of chromosomes that preserve genetic information. These ends are called “telomeres”. With the passage of time telomeres becomes shorter as and when a cell divides until it reaches the stage of senescence. Telomeres control the number of times a cell can get divided and this very feature may play an important role in cancer and aging treatment. Trials are going on to see whether cancer can be treated by inhibiting telomeres.

Author: Susovan Saha (Kolkata)

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