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| Alec Jeffreys, one of the Nobel Prize nominees in the field of medicine for 2005. |
On October 3, the list of Nobel Prize winners for 2005 kicked off with the announcement of nominations in the field of medicine. The list includes two pioneering British scientists known for their work in genetic fingerprinting and two Canadian stem cell researchers.
Alec Jeffreys, one of the Nobel Prize nominees in the field of medicine for 2005.
Two British scientists, Alec Jeffreys (University of Leicester) and Edwin Southern (University of Oxford), had previously received the Lasker Award for Clinical Medical Research for their studies on genetics.
In 1984, Jeffreys discovered the connection between fingerprinting and the genetics of individuals, a breakthrough that played a pivotal role in identifying true criminals. This discovery also proved to be an invaluable tool for determining the identities of deceased victims, notably in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. According to the Lasker Foundation, “the genetics of fingerprinting can aid in solving crimes, determining ancestry, immigration issues, developing foundations for hereditary diseases, enhancing biological grafting, preserving extinct species, and many other utilities.”
Meanwhile, in the mid-1970s, Southern developed a laboratory technique that allowed scientists to detect specific genetic code signals across entire DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) sequences. This technique has since become a standard in laboratories.
Two other Nobel nominees are experts in stem cell research—Ernest McCulloch and James Till, from the Ontario Cancer Institute and the University of Toronto, Canada. These scientists also received the 2005 Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research.
The awards from the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation serve as an indirect indicator of the names of those who receive the Nobel Prize. A total of 68 scientists who have received Lasker awards have gone on to become Nobel Laureates in the field of medicine. Established in 1945, the Lasker Award is often referred to as America’s Nobels, primarily recognizing scientists in the fields of basic and clinical medical research. Since 1962, more than half of the Lasker Award recipients have subsequently won the Nobel Prize.
The Nobel Prize in Medicine includes a check for $1.3 million, a certificate of honor, a gold medal, and a handshake from the King of Sweden during the award ceremony on December 10, 2005.
Source: Hương Cát (Nobelprize.org, AP, Laskerfoundation.org)
