Nobel Prize in Chemistry winners

 

The 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to three scientists Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson for improving images made of biological molecules and they will share the  £ 831,000 (nine million Kronor) prize.

The scientists developed a technique called cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM), which streamlines the process for looking at the machinery of life and this process makes it possible for life’s molecule building blocks to be captured mid-movement and allowed scientists to visualise processes that had never before been seen.

 

Swiss Prof Dubochet, German Joachim Frank, and Edinburgh  Richard Henerson spoke of practical uses for the technique.

According to Nobel committee, this work had moved biochemistry into a new era as we can see the intricate details of the biomolecules in every corner of our cells and every drop of our body fluids. Cryo-electron microscopy has been used to capture images of Salmonella’s injection needle for attacking cells, proteins involved in antibiotic resistance and the molecular structures governing circadian rhythm the subject of this year’s medicine and physiology Nobel.