Nobel Prize in medicine honors two Americans for discovery of microRNA

STOCKHOLM (AP) -- The Nobel Prize in medicine has been awarded to Americans Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNA, a fundamental principle governing how gene activity is regulated. The Nobel Assembly said Monday that their discovery is "proving to be fundamentally important for how organisms develop and function." The prize carries a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor ($1 million) from a bequest left by the prize's creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel. Monday's announcement kicks off the Nobel prize award season. Nobel announcements continue with the physics prize on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday and literature on Thursday. The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced Friday and the economics award on Oct. 14.