Charles Margrave Rice

Charles Margrave Rice is a renowned American biochemist who, along with Andrew J. Fire, won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2006 for discovering RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi is a natural process cells use to regulate gene activity and defend against viruses, where small RNA molecules can silence specific genes. This discovery has had profound implications for genetics, medicine, and biotechnology, enabling scientists to selectively turn off genes to study their functions and potentially treat diseases. Rice's work has advanced our understanding of gene regulation and opened new avenues in medical research and therapy.