• Home
  • Articles
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Biotech News – Featured
    • Biotech News
    • BioGadgets
  • Interviews
    • Interviews – Academia
    • Interviews – Industry
  • Issues
  • Subscribe
  • Board
  • Advertise
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • BioAsia 2023 to be held in February 24-26 in Telangana, India
  • Praj Industries and ESIIC partner to further bioeconomy in Egypt
  • Who is The Real Anthony Fauci? A true Doctor, liar, pharma profiteer or a totalitarian?
  • Guestorial: MALNUTRITION ACCELERATES THE METABOLIC AGE
  • Event: Australia’s biggest week in biotech kicks off in Perth
  • $3 trillion growth reported for biotech sector in USA
  • Event : FABA’s Whale Tank Event – “Venture Capital – Biotech Start-up Connect”
  • Vaccination, Rising Deaths, And The False Narrative
Biotech Express Magazine
  • Home
  • Articles
  • COVID-19
  • News
    • Biotech News – Featured
    • Biotech News
    • BioGadgets
  • Interviews
    1. Interviews – Academia
    2. Interviews – Industry
    Featured
    January 16, 20211

    Interview – Prof Rajeev K Varshney “The Youngest Indian Scientist (47)” who achieved an h-index of 100 recently

    Recent
    July 26, 2022

    We are making best hygiene solutions through Biotech applications: Dr Rachna Dave, founder MicroGO

    March 30, 2022

    Interview- Bioenergy: India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy started almost four decades ago…but did not catch up…, Professor Ashok Pandey

    January 24, 2022

    Interview: Prof Kailash Chander Bansal, Secretary, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), India

  • Issues
  • Subscribe
  • Board
  • Advertise
Biotech Express Magazine
You are at:Home»Articles»The 2020 Nobel Prizes in Sciences

The 2020 Nobel Prizes in Sciences

0
By Biotech Express on October 15, 2020 Articles, Articles- Editorials

by Kamal Pratap Singh

Emmanuelle Charpentier, now at the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens in Berlin, and Jennifer Doudna, at the University of California, Berkeley were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020 for discovering one of gene technology’s sharpest tools: the CRISPR/Cas9 genetic scissors. And The 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice for the discovery of Hepatitis C virus.

Using components of the CRISPR system, researchers can add, remove, or even alter specific DNA sequences. This technology has introduced new opportunities in cancer therapies, curing inherited diseases and also in plant inbreeding. CRISPR is an abbreviation for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats.

Emmanuelle Charpentier who was studying a bacteria called Streptococcus pyogenes, noticed a previously unknown molecule called tracrRNA. Further studies revealed that this tracrRNA was part of the bacteria’s immune system and it helps the bacteria destroy viral DNA. She published this discovery in 2011.
The same year, along with Jennifer Doudnathey, she succeeded in recreating the bacteria’s scissors and reprogramming it. Charpentier and Doudna then proved that they can now use these scissors to cut any DNA molecule at a required site.

Doudna and Charpentier and their colleagues did critical early work characterizing the system, but several other researchers have been cited — and recognized in other high-profile awards — as key contributors in the development of CRISPR. They include Feng Zhang at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, George Church at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, and biochemist Virginijus Siksnys at Vilnius University in Lithuania.

CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) is a family of DNA sequences found in the genomes of prokaryotic organisms such as bacteria and archaea. These sequences are derived from DNA fragments of bacteriophages that had previously infected the prokaryote. They are used to detect and destroy DNA from similar bacteriophages during subsequent infections. Hence these sequences play a key role in the antiviral (i.e. anti-phage) defense system of prokaryotes.

RNA harboring the spacer sequence helps Cas (CRISPR-associated) proteins recognize and cut foreign pathogenic DNA. Other RNA-guided Cas proteins cut foreign RNA. CRISPR are found in approximately 50% of sequenced bacterial genomes and nearly 90% of sequenced archaea.
CRISPR technology has been applied in the food and farming industries to engineer probiotic cultures and to immunize industrial cultures (for yogurt, for instance) versus infections. It is also being used in crops to enhance yield, drought tolerance and nutritional homes.

By the end of 2014 some 1000 research papers had been published that mentioned CRISPR. The technology had been used to functionally inactivate genes in human cell lines and cells, to study Candida albicans, to modify yeasts used to make biofuels and to genetically modify crop strains. CRISPR can also be used to change mosquitos so they cannot transmit diseases such as malaria. CRISPR-based approaches utilizing Cas12a have recently been utilized in the successful modification of a broad number of plant species.

In July 2019, CRISPR was used to experimentally treat a patient with a genetic disorder. The patient was a 34-year-old woman with sickle cell disease. In March 2020, CRISPR-modified virus was injected into a patient’s eye in an attempt to treat Leber congenital amaurosis.

The 2020 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was jointly awarded to Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton and Charles M. Rice for the discovery of Hepatitis C virus

Alter, an American, is a medical researcher for the National Institutes of Health in Maryland. Born in 1935 in New York City, he earned a medical degree at the University of Rochester before joining the NIH in 1961.

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne virus and causes Hepatitis C disease which affects the liver. According to WHO, “globally, an estimated 71 million people have chronic hepatitis C virus infection and a significant number develop cirrhosis or liver cancer.” In 2016, it was estimated that approximately 3,99,000 people died globally from hepatitis C.

Harvey J. Alter who was studying hepatitis in patients who had received blood transfusions, found many unexplained infections. Tests for Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B virus infection showed that they were not the cause. His team demonstrated that blood from these patients could transmit the disease to chimpanzees, and more studies showed that an unknown infectious agent was behind this. The mysterious new illness was termed “non-A, non-B” hepatitis.

This new virus could not be isolated for several years using the traditional techniques for virus isolation. Michael Houghton and his team created a collection of DNA fragments from the blood of an infected chimpanzee and thoroughly searched it. They found a novel RNA virus belonging to the Flavivirus family and named it the Hepatitis C virus.

To understand if this new virus alone could cause hepatitis, Charles M. Rice used genetic engineering, generated an RNA variant of the virus and injected it into the liver of chimpanzees. The virus was detected in the blood and the chimpanzees exhibited changes similar to those seen in humans with the disease. This was the final proof that the virus alone was the cause behind the unexplained cases of transfusion-mediated hepatitis. Rice, born in Sacramento, California, in 1952, is a professor at Rockefeller University in New York. From 2001-18, he was the scientific and executive director at the Center for the Study of Hepatitis C. He earned his doctorate from the California Institute of Technology in 1981.

The discoveries by the three Nobel laureates have helped design sensitive blood tests that have eliminated the risk of transfusion-transmitted hepatitis. Their discovery also helped develop antiviral drugs directed at hepatitis C. This has now raised hopes of eradicating the virus from the world population.

Houghton, born in Britain, is a Canada Excellence Research Chair in Virology and the Li Ka Shing professor of virology at the University of Alberta. He is also director of the Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute at the university. He earned his doctorate from King’s College London in 1977.

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Biotech Express
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

ISSN: 2454-6968 | Biotech Express Magazine publishes articles in the field of biotechnology and allied sciences in a way that have never been presented earlier. It publishes Editorials, Guest Articles, Reports, Interviews, Current News of Govt. Academics and Business, Research Highlights and Notifications of Events, Jobs, Research Proposals in the field of Biotechnology, Biological Sciences, Life Sciences, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Neurosciences, Genetics, Medical Sciences, BioPharma etc.

Related Posts

Who is The Real Anthony Fauci? A true Doctor, liar, pharma profiteer or a totalitarian?

Guestorial: MALNUTRITION ACCELERATES THE METABOLIC AGE

Event : FABA’s Whale Tank Event – “Venture Capital – Biotech Start-up Connect”

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Current Issue – October 2022
Upcoming Event

                   VIEW SUBSCRIPTION PLANS

JOBS/NOTIFICATIONS

   

         CLICK HERE FOR RECENT NOTICES

Recent Posts
  • BioAsia 2023 to be held in February 24-26 in Telangana, India January 10, 2023
  • Praj Industries and ESIIC partner to further bioeconomy in Egypt November 10, 2022
  • Who is The Real Anthony Fauci? A true Doctor, liar, pharma profiteer or a totalitarian? November 1, 2022
  • Guestorial: MALNUTRITION ACCELERATES THE METABOLIC AGE October 31, 2022
  • Event: Australia’s biggest week in biotech kicks off in Perth October 26, 2022
  • $3 trillion growth reported for biotech sector in USA October 25, 2022
  • Event : FABA’s Whale Tank Event – “Venture Capital – Biotech Start-up Connect” September 21, 2022
  • Vaccination, Rising Deaths, And The False Narrative September 20, 2022
  • Guestorial: Genome Mapping Techniques and its Application in Aquaculture September 19, 2022
  • Bombay HC Issues Notice To Bill Gates, Serum Institute, DGCI, Others Over Plea On Alleged ‘Vaccine Death’ September 5, 2022
  • Deaths due Covid-19 vaccines should be compensated by vaccine makers: Expert hope on Kerala HC remark August 21, 2022
  • Maker of Dolo-650, pandemic’s ‘magic pill’, faces income tax searches and PIL petitions August 20, 2022
  • Anthony Fauci, Controversial US Top-doc FINALLY, To Retire By Year-end August 20, 2022
  • SII’s Cervevac: The new DCGI approved vaccine without published clinical trial results August 20, 2022
  • Pitch your Start-up to National/International Venture Capitalists – first ever opportunity provided to Bio-Start-ups by FABA August 19, 2022
  • India’s Clinical Trial Registry might disappear soon and so the history of pharma record August 19, 2022
  • Nearly Half of Pregnant Women in Pfizer Trial Miscarried August 10, 2022
  • Researchers develop Cellulose shoes made by bacteria August 9, 2022
  • Biocon Sdn. Bhd. Enters Malaysia Book of Records as the First & the Largest Integrated Insulin Manufacturing Facility August 5, 2022
  • CBI Arrests of CDSCO officials, a Biocon official & Intermediaries in an alleged bribery case exposed Corruption in Govt and Pharma sector July 27, 2022
  • We are making best hygiene solutions through Biotech applications: Dr Rachna Dave, founder MicroGO July 26, 2022
  • EVENT HIGHLIGHTS: Genome editing as a novel technology for sustainable development July 24, 2022
  • US Military Doctor Testifies under Oath That She Was ORDERED To ‘Cover up’ COVID Vaccine Injuries July 24, 2022
  • Climatic Effect on Marine Biodiversity and their impact on coral reefs July 23, 2022
  • Highlights of India’s first Biotech startup Expo June 13, 2022
  • NTU Singapore scientists develop a ‘fabric’ that turns body movement into electricity June 6, 2022
  • Researchers who jumped into the field from distant disciplines published lower impact work, study finds May 30, 2022
  • Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham gets CDSCO nod for clinical trials of first-of-its-kind synthetic jaw-bone graft May 26, 2022
  • AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines which uses a chimpanzee adenovirus inked to monkeypox outbreak May 25, 2022
  • Concerns Mount Over COVID-19 ‘Rebounds’ After Treatment With Pfizer’s Paxlovid May 25, 2022
Archives
Categories
  • Articles
  • Articles- Editorials
  • Articles- Guestorials
  • BioControversial
  • BioEvents
  • BioGadgets
  • BioPolicies
  • BioResearch – Academic
  • Biotech News
  • Biotech News – Featured
  • Contents
  • Interviews
  • Interviews – Academia
  • Interviews – Industry
  • SARS- CoV2 & COVID-19 Updates
  • startups
About Us

Biotech Express Magazine publishes articles in the field of biotechnology and allied sciences in a way that have never been presented earlier. It publishes Editorials, Guest Articles, Reports,  Interviews, Current News of Govt. Academics and Business, Research Highlights and Notifications of Events, Jobs, Research Proposals in the field of Biotechnology and allied sciences like Biological Sciences, Life Sciences, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Neurology, Genetics, Medical Sciences, BioPharma etc.

Call us: _91-9311986177

Email – biotechexpressindia@gmail.com

About Us

About Biotech Express

Advisory and Editorial Board

Contact Us

Policy and Guidelines

Submission policies

Peer review policy    

Copyright policy

 

Follow Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
We use cookies to help provide and enhance our service and tailor content and ads. By continuing you agree to the use of cookies. Copyright © 2013-2020 Biotech Express except certain content provided by third parties.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.