Escuche esta historia
--:--
5:52
Learn about everything that happened during the 2021 Nobel Prizes in Medicine Who were the winners?
The winners of this event were scientists Ardem Patapoutian and David Julius, who were named as the winners of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology. The main reason for this decision was his discovery of touch and temperature receptors.
On the other hand, Professor Jorge Membrillo from the Tec's School of Engineering and Science located in Mexico City, has commented the following about the winners of the award: “These are two researchers who ask themselves an essential question of life What are the characteristics of someone being alive or alive? The main characteristic to give a response is that they respond to stimuli through the mechanisms that we feel, the way in which feelings are detected and transformed into an action”.
A scientific work of great excellence
The researcher at the Tec's School of Medicine and Health Science, Alexandro Martagón, has referred to the important research carried out by these two scientists:
“It seems to me that it has been very important to know what they discovered, the receptors for temperature and touch. All this is of enormous importance, it is related to the senses and this is important in daily life”.
For research, scientist David Julius has used a compound called capsaicin, which can be found in chili peppers and causes a burning sensation in people.
In this case, what the researcher Julius has done is to use the chili protein and depending on its complexity it is the burning that it causes in people, it sticks to a receptor and has a molecular reception cascade.
In addition, it is so fast that it immediately provokes a reaction to the stimulus.
Membrillo added the following: "Once I saw him at Harvard, he is a professional person, an expert, a very good teacher, the best of all is that I had the opportunity to tell him personally."
Scientist Ardem Patapoutian has used pressure-sensitive cells to find a new class of sensors that respond to mechanical stimuli in internal organs and on the skin.
“Patapoutian was able to detect pressure or touch receptors as it is also known, immediately when a pressure is caused a response is generated in the brain. A very important investigation, taking into account that one of the greatest mysteries in the world is the human senses, which cannot be described even with language”, were some of the words of the professor at the School of Engineering and Science.
The subject of the senses is just beginning
This is how Dr. Martagón has considered it, who believes that the work of the scientists Patapoutian and Julius is only the beginning of many studies that are to come regarding the senses.
"This is just the beginning of many research works, we have the smell, taste, hearing and from these findings new chains of research will begin to emerge for each of the sencidos, so it can go much further than what we already know".
Likewise, Dr. Martagón added the following: “We have to become very aware that we all lead a very simple life and we do not value these senses. Now with this new research and discovery by these two scientists we can see that we know very little and this should motivate all of us who are dedicated to this to do much more research. A way of being able to understand in a better way everything that is known about the human being”.
Quince hopes the next winner will be a Mexican
The objectives are clear for Professor Jorge Membrillo, who for some time has been working with young people in research and science with a very global vision, which is why he believes that sooner than imagined a Mexican will be awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
“The Nobel Prize is nothing more than a recognition of all the efforts of science. So I think that the new generations that we are preparing at Tec and other universities in the country will allow us to have a Mexican as the winner of this award”. Professor Quince has assured.
So far only three Mexicans have been winners of this award, such as Alfonso García in 1982, Octavio Paz in 1990 and Mario Molina in 1995.
From October 4 to October 11
It should be noted that the winners of the Nobel 2021 began this Monday, October 4, when the winners of the Medicine and Physiology category were selected; for today Tuesday 5, the winners of the Physics category were announced, for Wednesday 6, the Chemistry category, Thursday 7, the Literature category and on Friday 8, the Peace category.
The announcements of the winners of these prizes end on Monday the 11th with the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. Due to Covid-19 issues, these awards will be delivered at the residence of each of the winners. An agreement established by all committee members and contestants.
Do you know the winners of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Medicine?
These two scientists become unknown to many people, especially to those outside these types of awards, which is why here we will explain a little about each of their careers.
Ardem Patapoutian
Patapoutian is born in Lebanon and immigrated to the United States, he is currently a molecular biologist and stands out for his large number of articles and publications of great interest. Likewise, it has focused mainly on the study around the sense of touch, in order to know how physical stimuli are perceived.
It was commemorated with the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge award, which corresponded to the category of Biology and Biomedicine 2020.
Dr. Martagón commented the following with respect to the scientist: “I have the ability to find a mechanism by which we are capable of detecting movement, position or feeling. To be able to find some receptors that I call PIEZ01 and PIEZ02, being receptors that allow us to make a handshake, to feel an arm. It is important not only to feel, but to know how it works in daily life”.
David julius
Born in the United States and currently a professor at the University of California in San Francisco, he is a biochemist and considered one of the pioneers in the analysis of the molecule of nociceptors, the receptors that respond to noxious stimuli.
Like Patapoutia n, it was also commemorated on different occasions with the Nobel Prize from the BBVA Frontier of Knowledge Foundation in the category of Biology and Biomedicine.
To all this, Dr. Alexandro commented the following: “Julius with his work has managed to find proteins that are called channels, which are receptors that allow a whole range of temperature to be felt from the cold through the TRPM8 and the hot from the TRPV1 receiver”.
