secher:

 
 
 
 
  Winner of Physiology or Medical Science  
Linda B.Buck

2007-9-21

Prize: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2004
Laureate: Richard Axel and Linda B.Buck
Achievement: For their contributions in the study of the odor receptor and the osphresis system structure
The two scientists jointly discovered the large scale gene family of odor receptor in the human body, which enabled us to comprehend "why human can smell the fragrance of lilac in spring and can extract such osphretic memory at any time."
Researching process
In 1991 Axel and Buck jointly published a paper, announcing their discovery of a large gene family containing about 1,000 spices of genes, corresponding to the same number of odor receptor categories. Then they carried out separate studies, from the molecular level to the celluar tissue level, and expressly elucidated the operating principle of the osphresis system.
Axel was born in New York, USA on July 2, 1946. He obtained the Bachelor Degree from Columbia University in 1967 and in 1970 obtained the Doctor Degree in Medicine from the Johns Hopkins University. Now he works in Howard Hughes Medical Institute, HHMI, Columbia University, serves as biochemistry, molecular biophysics and pathology Professor.
Buck was born in Seattle, USA on Jan. 29, 1947. She obtained the Bachelor Degree in Psychology and Microbiology from Washington University in 1975, and in 1980 obtained the Doctor Degree in Immunology from Southwest Medical Center of Texas University. During 1980 to 1984, she ever engaged in postdoctoral studies in Columbia University. Now she works at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Seattle, WA, USA, and is entitled the academician of National Academy of Sciences.
Achievements
Among various senses of the human, the osphresis operating mechanism is the biggest puzzle to decode. People can distinguish and memorize about 10,000 different odors, but what is the basic principle of such ability? American scientistsRichard Axel and Linda B.Buck, the Nobel laureate of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2004, through their innovative work, clearly elucidated the principles of the human osphresis system.
Their studies reveal that the substance with odor will first combine with the odor receptor, which lies in the odor receptor cell of the nose epidermis. After being activated by the odor molecule, the odor receptor cell will generate electronic signals that are to be transmitted to the micro area of the bulbus olfactorius of the brain, and be formed a certain mode till other areas of the brain. Thus, people can consciously smell the jasmine's fragrance and remind this odor at the other time.
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Organizer: Beijing Municipal Association for Science & Technology
Undertaker: Beijing Science & Technology Consulting Center,
Information Center of Beijing Municipal Association for Science & Technology