Stem cells are unspecialised cells that can be made to undertake certain functions. For instance, they could be used to repair damaged cells, giving hope that once adequately harnessed, they could help sufferers of diseases and disorders like cancer, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and diabetes, and to replace cells affected by injury (for instance, to the nervous system). Embryonic stems cells, as the name suggest, are derived from embryos. Scientists find that these stem cells allow them the greatest latitude in research and application.

• The prize is shared. Does this mean they collaborated on this work?

They worked independently. The Nobel announcement gives specifics of their individual work: “Gene targeting has helped us understand the roles of many hundreds of genes in mammalian fetal development. Capecchi’s research has uncovered the roles of genes involved in mammalian organ development and in the establishment of the body plan. His work has shed light on the causes of several human inborn malformations. Evans applied gene targeting to develop mouse models for human diseases. He developed several models for the inherited human disease cystic fibrosis, and has used these models to study disease mechanisms and to test the effects of gene therapy. Smithies also used gene targeting to develop mouse models for inherited diseases such as cystic fibrosis and the blood disease thalassemia. He has also developed numerous mouse models for common human diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis.”

• Wasn’t the 2006 medicine Nobel also for genetic work?

Yes, Americans Andrew Z. Fire and Craig C. Mello got it for work on RNA interference. New research on RNA, for long left unconsidered by biologists, is changing our understanding of genetics. Simply put, RNA is crucial to how DNA is expressed. According to the Nobel Assembly, “RNA interference occurs in plants, animals, and humans. It is of great importance for the regulation of gene expression, participates in defence against viral infections, and keeps jumping genes under control. RNA interference is already being widely used in basic science as a method to study the function of genes and it may lead to novel therapies in the future.”