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They are “afraid” of the aging process, and argued cancer is an incurable disease, has found the end of the tunnel of light through the discovery that led to the passage said.

Three scientists, Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider and Jack Szostak, Monday (5 / 10), received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2009 for discovering and identifying a key mechanism in the cell genetic operations, a discovery which has inspired new research in aging and cancer.

They are, in the late 1970s and the 1980s, has succeeded in solving major problems in biology, “How could chromosomes copy themselves perfectly as divide and how they protect themselves from degradation”, as written in sitat.

This was their second victory in three of them after they won the 2006 Lasker Prize for being able to predict and find an enzyme called telomerase that help block the cell chromosomes stay young. They found the solution at the end of chromosomes, called the telomere is often compared to the plastic at the ends of shoelaces shoelace holding it so as not to decompose (Kompas, 6 / 10). Greider says, “Our approach shows that when we do research to answer anything about the specific disease, we can only do so by following our noses (instincts).”

Deoxyribo nucleic acid molecules (DNA) is long like a thread, the bearer of human genes, collected into chromosomes. The resulting telomere telomerase is closed at the end. Telomere has actually found a few decades earlier, but Blackburn wanted to know how it was copied so they can prevent aging. “Hours do not roll back, but there is the question of how we can extend our health,” he said.

Their work is adjacent to the field of chemical work. Had alleged that they too will both receive Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2009. “The discovery of Blackburn, Greider, and Szostak has added a new dimension to our understanding of the cell, dropping the light on the mechanisms of disease, and stimulate the development of potential new therapies,” said the Nobel Prize Committee.

Chief Executive British Medical Research Council (Britain’s Medical Research Council) Sir Leszek Borysiewicz said in a statement, “Studies on the chromosome to help lay the foundation of future research on cancer, stem cells, as well as the aging process. These areas are very important. ”

No wait

Blackburn, who was born in Australia and now holds two nationalities, the U.S. and Australia, admitted he was not waiting for a call from the Nobel Prize Committee, although his name at the top of the list of award recipients. “I woke up and needed a time before realizing it,” he added.

He said it had been in Southern California the day before to visit the mother-in-law’s birthday to-95. “The phone rang, and I was groping in the dark to take it,” he said.

Blackburn, who dared to speak bluntly, was fired in 2004 from the Council formation Bioetik U.S. President George W Bush for criticizing its policies related to research on stem cells.

Other research is now conducted Blackburn showed that chronic stress and certain lifestyle behaviors can be lethal telomere and telomerase. This one day will be the entrance of a new understanding of the impact of stress and the emergence of disease-related premature aging process, such as blindness and cardiovascular disease.

To father

Greider dedicate his victory to his father, a physicist, who has encouraged him to plunge into the world of science.

“He’ll say, ‘We can do whatever you want to do, but you have to love what you do’,” he recalled his father.

He began a study telomerase in the late 1970s by Blackburn, who pioneered the academic advisor research on chromosomes and DNA at the University of California. He added that the Nobel Prize is recognition of the value of discovery-driven pure curiosity.

Stephen Desiderio, Director of the John’s Hopkins Institute for Basic Biomedical Sciences, where Greider worked, insisting, “As a fellow scientist, mentor, and women in the scientific world, he was the inspiration for this nation and the world.” Victory Greider made a very good university.

Greider says, “Our approach shows that when we do research to answer anything about the specific disease, we also can only do so by following our noses (instincts).”

Highest

Meanwhile, Szostak at the award as the highest award. So, a lot of fun receiving such recognition, and anyway could share with his classmates, colleagues. “I think we need a balance between basic science and applied research,” he said.

Szostak had since the 1970s constantly researching telomerase. According to Berg, “He’s trying to find how he can make a proto-cells and makes copying its genetic material. This is equivalent to actually create life in test tube. ”

Some companies have tried to get the telomerase research. Geron Corp. of Menlo Park, California, has launched a clinical trial to test the telomerase to see the possibilities to fight cancer.

There is no cure or treatment is in sight. UCSF counselor Susan Desmond-Hellmann says, “Research Blackburn became very important for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.” He was previously chief executive of biotechnology company Genentech.