Fast Track for Nobel-Winning RNAi

Often it takes decades for the Nobel Committee to recognize a scientific discovery. Not so in the case of the development that led to the 2006 Nobel Prize for Medicine. It's been just eight years since Craig Mello, a researcher and professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, collaborated with Andrew Fire of Stanford, to publish their discovery of "RNA Interference," a way of targeting genes and turning them off.

Their finding has since prompted a great deal of research in efforts to treat serious medical conditions. WBUR's Health and Science reporter Allan Coukell has more on the story.

Clarification: The co-recipient of the prize is Andrew Fire, as in the first mention of his name in this story. The second reference to Andy "Fine" is incorrect.