Chinese name: Craig Melo mbth: Craig C. Melo Nationality: American Date of Birth: 1960 Occupation: Biologist Graduate School: Harvard University Major Achievements: Experience and contribution to winning the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, the road to science, theoretical contribution, friendship award, Nobel Prize and testimony, award introduction, award-winning feelings, media reports, RNA interference mechanism, etc. Melo, born in 1960, was introduced into science by dinosaur bones. Melo's father is a paleontologist. As a child, Melo often followed his father to the western United States to look for fossils. Since then, he has been fascinated by ancient times, the history of the earth and the origin of human life. When Craig Melo was in high school, Melo's interest gradually shifted to genetic engineering. At that time, scientists cloned human insulin gene and inserted its DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) into bacteria, so that unlimited amount of insulin could be synthesized artificially. This achievement has brought good news to millions of diabetics around the world. Melo recalled: "The idea that scientific research can really have an impact on human health intrigued me." From 65438 to 0998, Melo and Farr published a paper in Nature, which was called "one of the most exciting discoveries in molecular biology in recent years" by their peers. Theoretical Contributions Craig Melo and Andrew Fire discovered the key mechanism of controlling gene information flow. The human genome produces protein by sending instructions from DNA in the nucleus to protein's synthesis mechanism, and these instructions are transmitted through mRNA. They found a way to degrade the mRNA of a specific gene. In this RNA interference phenomenon, double-stranded RNA inhibits gene expression in a very clear way. Laboratories all over the world are using Andrew Fire's technology to determine which genes play an important role in various diseases. Craig Melo's RNA interference exists in plants, animals and humans, which is of great significance to the management of gene expression, the protection against virus infection and the control of active genes. RNA interference is a biological process in which double-stranded RNA inhibits gene expression in a very clear way. Since 1998 was discovered, RNA interference has become a powerful "gene silencing" technology. RNA interference, as a research method to study gene manipulation, has been widely used in basic science, and may produce new treatments in the future. Scientists believe that RNA interference technology is not only a powerful tool to study gene function, but also may be used to "silence" pathogenic genes directly from the source in the near future to treat cancer and even AIDS, and it will be promising in agriculture. From this perspective, "silence" is really golden. Laboratories all over the world are using Andrew Fire's technology to determine which genes play an important role in various diseases. Friendship Award 20 15, won the "Friendship Award" in China. Craig Cameron Melo is currently the head of Guangdong Innovation Introduction Team and Professor Einstein of China Academy of Sciences. The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded by Caroline Medical College in Stockholm, Sweden according to alfred nobel's living will. The award ceremony is held every year on 65438+February 10, the anniversary of Nobel's death. The Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine is to commend people who made important discoveries or inventions in the field of physiology or medicine in the previous year. Craig Melo's award-winning feeling Melo: We are still young. Melo received a phone call from the Nobel Prize judging committee at his home in America at about 4: 40 local time. Melo told the media that he was "very surprised" and "has not recovered". He said: "I have a hunch that I may win the prize, but I am only 45 years old." I thought 10 or I would win the prize in 20 years. " Melo said that part of his prize money will be used for charity. Craig Melo and Farr reacted differently, and Melo expressed the same feeling in another way. "I have a vague feeling that winning the Nobel Prize may happen," Melo told Reuters. "But I am only 45 years old, so I think that even if I win the prize, it should be 10 or 20 years later." Melo stressed to the Associated Press that he and Farr were "both quite young" and their prize-winning achievement was published only eight years ago, namely 1998. Of course, as a professor of molecular medicine at the University of Massachusetts, he thinks that winning the world's top medical prize is really "a great good thing". I haven't had time to really understand. "Therefore, the two researchers will share the prize of100000 kronor (nearly1.4000 USD) at the award ceremony on February this year. As for the use of this bonus, Melo told reporters that he intends to donate part of it to charity; When Farr was interviewed at 7am EST, he seemed at a loss to get the cash prize and replied, "I haven't got any ideas yet. In an interview with Discovery magazine, Craig Melo said: This project is still young and has not attracted the attention of * * *, but it will have a bright future. The Nobel Foundation recognized this discovery so early because they hoped it would attract people's attention. We need a lot of money to complete this research, and I hope the authorities can seize this opportunity. This research has opened up a new world for medicine. People get sick and die because of lack of understanding of diseases. But now, we are about to fully understand this disease, and the cost of this research is limited. Speaking of inspiration, he said that it comes from communication with students and colleagues. " Andrew, in particular, has many extraordinary ideas. We exchange and cooperate together and win prizes together. "Review: Basic Principles of Awards The Nobel Prize in Science has always focused on rewarding research achievements that have been verified for many years. It seems unconventional to award the medical prize to Farr and Melo, who published the relevant results in the British magazine Nature eight years ago. In this regard, Goran Hanson, chairman of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine at Karolinska Medical College in Sweden, explained, "We reward the discovery of a basic principle ... The principle discovered by Farr and Melo has been verified by other scientists all over the world. It's officially confirmed, and now it's time to award the Nobel Prize. "The achievements of the two American winners, named RNA interference mechanism, have opened up a new research field, which is expected to inhibit or hibernate specific genes in plants, animals and human bodies and curb the influence of harmful viruses and genetic variation. In short, in human application, RNA interference may help to eliminate the role of harmful genes and open up new ways for the treatment of AIDS, cancer and other diseases. " This area seems very encouraging now, "Hansen said. But he reminded everyone that it is still too early to draw a conclusion whether RNA interference can effectively fight HIV. Even so, Erna Moeller, one of the Nobel Prize judges, pointed out that rna interference had a great impact on pharmaceutical industry and biotechnology industry. For example, she said that at least one American pharmaceutical company now produces drugs in full accordance with this principle. Media reported that Craig Melo, the RNA interference mechanism, was born in 1960, and 1990 received a doctorate in biology from Harvard University. He is currently a professor of molecular medicine at Massachusetts Medical College. Craig Melo said after winning the prize: "This is amazing. I still can't believe I won the prize. I thought I might win the prize, but I'm only 45 years old now. I think 10 or I may win the lottery in 20 years. "Craig Melofarr and Melo published a paper in 1998 and published the discovery of RNA interference mechanism. Based on their findings, RNA interference technology has risen rapidly in recent years and its prospects are generally optimistic. Previous studies have shown that the human genome operates by sending instructions from DNA in the nucleus to protein's synthesis mechanism, and these instructions are transmitted through mRNA. Through experiments, Farr and Melo found a way to degrade the mRNA of specific genes. In this RNA interference phenomenon, double-stranded RNA inhibits gene expression in a very clear way. Studies have shown that injecting tiny RNA fragments into organisms will interfere with the RNA "messenger" function of organisms themselves, resulting in the inability to synthesize the corresponding protein, thus "shutting down" specific genes. Scientists believe that the use of RNA interference technology can directly silence the pathogenic genes from the source, which can treat some diseases more effectively. Significance In the biological world, human beings, animals and plants all have RNA interference, which is of great significance to the management and participation of gene expression, the protection of virus infection and the control of active genes. RNA interference has become a powerful "gene silencing" technology. This technology is used by laboratories around the world to determine which genes play an important role in various diseases. Craig Melo said in an interview with Discovery magazine: This project is still young and has not attracted the attention of * * *, but it will have a bright future. The Nobel Foundation recognized this discovery so early because they hoped it would attract people's attention. We need a lot of money to complete this research, and I hope the authorities can seize this opportunity. This research has opened up a new world for medicine. People get sick and die because of lack of understanding of diseases. But now, we are about to fully understand this disease, and the cost of this research is limited. Speaking of inspiration, he said that it comes from communication with students and colleagues. " Andrew, in particular, has many extraordinary ideas. We exchange and cooperate together and win prizes together. "