ribosomes

Nobel Prize-winning biologist Venki Ramakrishnan has given an interview with India Currents discussing longevity science, what he calls arrogance in the tech industry, and the current frontiers of biological research. The chemist, known for his work on the ribosome, shares his views on whether humans can realistically extend lifespan and where biology is heading next.

Ribosomal RNA has been tested as an internal reference in high-throughput qPCR assays run on plasma samples, and it held steady across measurements. Researchers say a reliable reference gene is essential for accurate quantification of nucleic acids in liquid biopsy and diagnostic workflows, and this result supports using ribosomal RNA to normalise plasma-based qPCR data in large-scale studies.

A new review highlights that ribosomes, long treated as identical cellular protein factories, can differ in composition and function, producing specialized roles in cells. The article surveys research showing how this heterogeneity may influence protein synthesis, development and disease. Scientists say the shift challenges the textbook view of the ribosome as a uniform molecular machine and opens new avenues in biology.