Anirban Banerjee bags Nobel Laureate award for his work on DNA

Washington, Mar 27 (UNI) Scientist Anirban Banerjee, now an American citizen, has become the first Indian to receive Nobel Laureate Signature Award in Chemistry for his work on human DNA The honour conferred upon by the American Chemical Society (ACS) Chicago is one of the most prestigious awards in the world of science.

A team of scientists at Harvard, led by Dr Banerjee, who did his masters in Mathematics from IIT Kharagpur pass out, has discovered some fascinating details about a handy repair service in the genes, earlier not known much. The repair service, a protein, searches through the huge amounts of DNA in the core of every human cell and recognises the damaged parts. It then removes and helps replace the faulty part without the individual being aware of it.

For the first time, researchers at Harvard University have taken snapshots of one of these protective "mechanics" at work. The protein checks out parts known as "bases," the building blocks of DNA, which makes up our genes and carries the blueprints for our biology and behaviour, according to Harvard News, a publication of the University.

The award ratified by the Alfred Nobel Society and not a nobel prize contrary to the general perception, comprises 3000 dollars and a plaque signed by resident Nobel laureates in chemistry of United States.

The student's preceptor(s) will receive 3,000 dollars and a plaque for permanent display in the institution's chemistry department.

UNI