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Chemistry Nobel awarded for solving mystery of life's asymmetry

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Kagan and Soai's research has provided a solution to the chemical puzzle of life's chirality, which is the presence of two mirror-image versions of molecules. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of molecular biology and the development of new treatments for diseases that involve asymmetry. Their work has opened up new avenues for research into the origins of life and the mechanisms that govern the formation of complex molecules.

Key points

  • Kagan and Soai's research has provided a solution to the chemical puzzle of life's chiral…: Kagan and Soai's research has provided a solution to the chemical puzzle of life's chirality, which is the presence of two mirror-image versions of molecules.
  • This finding has significant implications for our understanding of molecular biology and…: This finding has significant implications for our understanding of molecular biology and the development of new treatments for diseases that involve asymmetry.
  • Their work has opened up new avenues for research into the origins of life and the mechan…: Their work has opened up new avenues for research into the origins of life and the mechanisms that govern the formation of complex molecules.

ByVictoria Gill

Science correspondent

- Published

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to French scientist Henri B. Kagan and Japan's Kenso Soai for providing a solution to the chemical mystery of life's asymmetry.

The Nobel Committee explained: "Molecules used by all life, such as the amino acids that are building of proteins, are what is known as chiral.

"This means that they have two versions that are mirror images of one another."

Life is highly selective and only works with one version. The two scientists answered the question of why life favours one of these mirror image molecules over the other.

Original source: www.bbc.co.uk

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