93Most researchers rely on observation as the
fundamental first step in the scientific process.
For Israeli crystallographer Professor Ada
Yonath, however, it was the lack of satisfactory
observational techniques that spurred a
career-long search. Within every living cell on
Earth lie protein-manufacturing units. These
units, called ribosomes, synthesise amino
acids to form chains of proteins, making it
possible for cells – and by extension, life
- to function. In 2009, she won the Nobel
Prize in Chemistry for her studies on the
complex structures of the ribosome via X-ray
crystallography – a method initially deemed
hopeless by scientific experts.
Science
for Life
crystallising
possibilities
ByShreya Gopi and Selina Tan
PhotosJustin Ong
While the first electron microscopic image
of ribosomes was obtained by the 1970s, the
two-dimensional image was insufficient to
analyse their inner mechanics. It took years of
travel and experiment before Yonath managed
to obtain a detailed 3D structure of the
ribosome and reveal how certain antibiotics
are able to eliminate pathogenic bacteria by
binding to their ribosomes, preventing them
from producing crucial proteins.
Many of today’s antibiotics work by
preventing the disease-causing bacteria’sCatch the
full interview
on YouTubeIN ASSOCIATION WITHribosomes from functioning. Yonath’s
groundbreaking work has paved the way for
revolutions in the world of medicine. The
thirst for knowledge is never-ending for the
true investigator, also notably the first woman
from the Middle East to win a Nobel Prize in
the sciences – Yonath has also generated 3D
models that show how bacteria can become
resistant, leading her towards the search
for a way to bypass a possible future where
antibiotics cease to be efficacious.