The 2009 Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded to 3 researchers, Elizabeth Blackburn from the University of California, Carol Greider from Johns Hopkins University, and Jack Szostak of the Massachusetts General Hospital.  The 3 researchers were responsible for discovering the reason that chromosome tips preserve even through cell division.

The study found that chromosome tips are protected by telomere caps built by an enzyme named telomerase.  The findings may help scientists better understand the growth of cancer cells and the death of normal cells.  The potential applications for the treatment of cancer and aging theory are vast and still filled with untapped potential.

This also marked the first time that two woman have won the Nobel Prize for medicine.  This discovery may prove to one of great impact, as the possible implications for the theory of immortality are extremely intruiging.  It has been considered common knowledge that every living organism gets old and dies due to the deterioration of ordinary cells.  Now, with the new insights brought upon by this study, scientists may be able to finally understand why cells die with age.

The study revealed the reason that chromosome DNA remains intact through cell division.  Intuitively, the replacation of chromosome DNA should get progressively shorter with each division.  In finding out that the repeating sequences at the tips of chromosomes were responsible for protecting the DNA during cell division, Jack Szostak had effectively solved the mystery of chromosome preservation in cell division.  Cancer cells were found to be able to increase their level of telomeres, allowing infinite duplication without degeneration.  This was important in cancer research, as the Geron Corporation of Menlo Park, California has been working to develop cancer treatments that slow the growth of cancer through the attack of these chromosome telemeres.

Winning the Nobel Prize is the ultimate goal of many researches.  Blackburn, Greider, and Szostak, with this research joins a prestigious list of scientists and researchers who have gotten the ultimate recognition in their field, the Nobel Prize.  Nobel Prize winners are among the most distinguished in their field.  The rest of this article notes the recent past winners of the Nobel Prize in medicine.

- In 2008, Harald zur Hausen, Francoise Barre-Sinoussi, and Luc Montagnier won the Nobel Prize for their research on the human piplloma viruses that cause cervial cancer, along with the discovery of the human immunodificiency virus.

- In 2007, Americans Mario R. Capecchi and Oliver Smithies along with the UK’s Martin J. Evans won the Prize for their studies on a new technique of mouse gene manipulation.

- In 2006, Americans Anrew Z. Fire and Craig C. Mello won the Prize for their studies regarding the control of the flow of genetic information.

- In 2005, Austrailians Barry J. Marshall and Robin Warren won the Nobel Prize for their discovery of how Helicobactor pylori affects gastritis and peptic ulcer disease.

As you can see, the Nobel Prize is awarded only to those who make significant breakthroughs in the medical field.  The chromosome research done by the 2009 winners has opened the door for the continuing research of chromosome research, cancer research, and aging.