The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Ambros and Ruvkun for discovering microRNAs through C. elegans nematode research. This study revealed complex gene regulation mechanisms using a simple model organism. The discovery, which began with nematodes and extended to various animals including humans, contributed to reducing unnecessary experiments on higher animals. It exemplifies how minimal animal research can yield maximum scientific achievement, balancing animal experimentation ethics with scientific progress.

This research demonstrated that complex life phenomena can be understood using a simple model organism, C. elegans. Composed of only about 1,000 cells, this tiny nematode has as many diverse tissue types as humans, making it ideal for studying cell differentiation and tissue development. The knowledge gained from this has contributed to reducing unnecessary experiments on more complex animals. For instance, the discovery of the let-7 microRNA started with nematodes and was subsequently applied broadly to insects, mollusks, fish, and humans. This exemplifies how minimal animal research can yield maximum scientific achievement, presenting a balance between animal experimentation ethics and scientific progress. Moreover, this basic research has opened up various medical applications for cancer, autoimmune diseases, congenital disorders, and more, simultaneously demonstrating the importance of animal experiments and the wide applicability of their results.