Jumbo
October-10th-2012, 05:47 PM
America! **** yeah! These guys are awesome and their work has provided mucho info in many areas of study. Congrats, gentlemen!
http://news.yahoo.com/2-us-scientists-win-nobel-chemistry-prize-095345202.html
Awarding the Nobel to Lefkowitz and Kobilka is "a fantastic decision," said Roger Sunahara, who studies how hormones activate the receptors at the University of Michigan. With detailed knowledge about the receptors, scientists can better understand how drugs work, which in turn helps them improve current medications and look for new ones, he said.
Drugs such as beta blockers, antihistamines and various psychiatric medicines have been around for some time, but before Lefkowitz and Kobilka's discoveries, their interaction with the human body wasn't fully understood, said Sven Lidin, chairman of the prize committee.
"All we knew was that they worked, but we didn't know why," Lidin said.
Mark Downs, chief executive of Britain's Society of Biology, said the critical role receptors play is now taken for granted.
"This groundbreaking work spanning genetics and biochemistry has laid the basis for much of our understanding of modern pharmacology as well as how cells in different parts of living organisms can react differently to external stimulation, such as light and smell, or the internal systems which control our bodies such as hormones," Downs said in a statement.
The U.S. has dominated the Nobel chemistry prize in recent years, with American scientists being included among the winners of 17 of the past 20 awards.
more at link
http://news.yahoo.com/2-us-scientists-win-nobel-chemistry-prize-095345202.html
Awarding the Nobel to Lefkowitz and Kobilka is "a fantastic decision," said Roger Sunahara, who studies how hormones activate the receptors at the University of Michigan. With detailed knowledge about the receptors, scientists can better understand how drugs work, which in turn helps them improve current medications and look for new ones, he said.
Drugs such as beta blockers, antihistamines and various psychiatric medicines have been around for some time, but before Lefkowitz and Kobilka's discoveries, their interaction with the human body wasn't fully understood, said Sven Lidin, chairman of the prize committee.
"All we knew was that they worked, but we didn't know why," Lidin said.
Mark Downs, chief executive of Britain's Society of Biology, said the critical role receptors play is now taken for granted.
"This groundbreaking work spanning genetics and biochemistry has laid the basis for much of our understanding of modern pharmacology as well as how cells in different parts of living organisms can react differently to external stimulation, such as light and smell, or the internal systems which control our bodies such as hormones," Downs said in a statement.
The U.S. has dominated the Nobel chemistry prize in recent years, with American scientists being included among the winners of 17 of the past 20 awards.
more at link