Nobel Prize in Chemistry won by developers of ‘cool’ method of studying molecules

The 2017 Nobel Prize in chemistry has been awarded to three scientists — Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson — who developed a “cool microscopy that revolutionises biochemistry”.

The trio invented a cryo-electron microscopy for the high-resolution structure determination of biomolecules in solution.

The announcement was made known by the Royal Swedish Academy on Wednesday.

Peter Brzezinski, member of the Nobel committee for Chemistry said, “This year’s scientific invention enables us to see the molecules inside the cells and how they interact.

“In future, we are able to see the processes of how the molecules structures move.”

Brzezinski said this year’s achievement is a “good example” of inter-disciplinary researches in which technologies play crucial roles to scientific discoveries.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said in a statement that: “The development of cryo-electron microscopy, which both simplifies and improves the imaging of biomolecules, has moved biochemistry into a new era.”

In a phone interview at the press conference, Joachim Frank said “I never mind being woken up early” for the news of the Prize.

“I was pretty overwhelmed, it’s wonderful news,’’ Frank said.

This year’s prize is 9 million SEK (1.1 million dollars) and would be shared by the three laureates.