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American Scientists Win Nobel Prize In Chemistry
SchrodingerZ writes "Two Americans have won the 2012 Nobel prize in Chemistry for their work in cell research. Their work involves the discovery and manipulation of the G-protein-coupled receptors, which detect signals outside the of cells they inhabit. 'The human body has about 1,000 kinds of such receptors, which enable it to respond to a wide variety of chemical signals, like adrenaline. Some receptors are in the nose, tongue and eyes, and let us sense smells, tastes and vision.' The winners are Robert J. Lefkowitz and Brian K. Kobilka. Lefkowitz works at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and is a professor at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. Kobilka is a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. Their research has helped create newer and more effective drugs with fewer side effects. More on G Protein-coupled Receptor research can be found in the Journal of Biological Chemistry."
Well. That was an unfortunate first post. But disregarding that, these two were long past due on earning the Nobel for this work. It has been the foundation for nearly 30% of all therapeutic pharmaceuticals worldwide. I've had the opportunity to meet and work with those trained by Lefkowitz and his impact in the sciences, and in particular pharmacology, will be felt for generations.
Congratulations to them both!
You are an idiot.
Please die in a fire.
The committee wouldn't award the same individuals for the same work in two different disciplines.
They were given the Chemistry Nobel because the chief effort and original determination of the existence of these receptors was a chemistry-heavy endeavor. We call it "Biochemistry", but really it's just the application of precise and exhaustive principles of chemistry to a biological system.
Even now, most of the individuals working to understand these receptors are chiefly chemists and biochemists. First order rate constants, reaction equilibrium calculations, binding constants, and more.
There is no category for biology Nobel prize. It's either medicine, physiology, or chemistry for all nobel winners who were biologists.
I think they should establish one, but there's obviously quite a long tradition to consider there.
Sadly, there seems to be this irrational need by many people to ascribe greatness to a group by vicariously claiming a portion of the grandeur by association.
Eg, because they were American scientists, this makes America greater, and by association, americans greater.
Nevermind that this innately divisive, unnecessary, unwarranted, stupid, and wasteful. It makes people completely unrelated to the subject matter, ans who do not comprehend the implication of the awarded science behind the award, to feel good about themselves, by excluding others.
The reality is that it should not and does not matter which country the scientists who undertook this work were from. The work benefits all of mankind as a whole, which is exactly why a nobel prize could be awarded.
Needless to say, I find the rationale behind the sensationalism concerning nationality in the announcement to be offensive, and I happen to be an american.
It's Physiology or Medicine (there aren't separate categories for Medicine and Physiology)...
Also, in 1994, the winners for Physiology or Medicine got their award for their discovery of G-proteins and the role of these proteins in signal transduction in cells (as opposed to studies of G-protein-coupled receptors for the 2012 winners). That's a pretty subtle difference for categorization if you ask me...
Some GPCRs you may know and love include:
D3 Dopamine receptors - mediate the reinforcing effects of pleasure
Mu Opioid receptors - mediate pain and the effects of morphine, etc.
A1 & A2 Adenosine receptors - mediate the effects of caffeine
CB1 Endocannabinoid receptors - mediate the effects of THC
5-HT2a Serotonin receptors - mediate the effect of LSD
NK1r Neurokinin receptor - mediates pain and the effect of capsaicin.
H1 Histamine receptor - mediates cellular permeability (causing leaky noses) and the effects of benadryl, zyrtec, etc
H2 Histamine receptor - mediates release of gastric acid and the effects of zantac, etc.
These things are everywhere and modulate just about everything.
Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
Don't complain. Rutherford won the Chemistry prize for basically discovering nuclear physics. He was annoyed that he would forever be labeled a chemist.
When the fields overlap the Nobel Committee can basically pick whichever one is more convenient for the year.
Because I'd hate to think that their research helped create older and more effective drugs. Because I come out in a rash when causality is violated. Seriously it's really itchy.
And as Dr. Robert Lefkowitz is BxSci class of 59, this is the 8th Nobel won by one of their Grads (the other 7 are in Physics), Not bad for one High school - more than all of Australia
-- 73 de KG2V For the Children - RKBA! "You are what you do when it counts" - the Masso