In 1951, two years before the double-helical structure of DNA was discovered, Barbara McClintock gave a lecture on her newest research into maize genetics, which revealed something truly surprising—certain genes were able to jump from one region of the genome to another. These jumping genes appeared to have a pronounced effect on the regions where they landed, disrupting and inactivating nearby genes. In maize (i.e., corn), these effects were easily visualized as changes in the color pattern of kernels over generations. Despite compelling evidence, McClintock’s lecture was met with confusion and open hostility from the scientific community because it conflicted…
Comments closedTag: Nobel Prize in Medicine
The 2020 Nobel Prize in Medicine, announced a day before the Physics prize we talked about last week, was awarded to Harvey J. Alter, Michael Houghton, and Charles M. Rice for their discovery of the blood-borne virus Hepatitis C. Hepatitis, a predominantly viral disease characterized by liver inflammation, can be caused by one of five different viruses (hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E). Hepatitis A (HAV) is commonly transmitted through contaminated food or water, and it usually resolves within six months without treatment. Similarly, Hepatitis E (HEV) is transmitted through unsanitary drinking water and usually clears up on its…
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