What are Richard Axel's success stories?

Richard has always been regarded as a genius. He was only 27 when he became a professor, and was elected as an academician of the American Academy of Sciences at the age of 37. 199 1 year, he and linda buck separated the gene family of olfactory receptor. This discovery guides our research and understanding of smell today.

In fact, the mechanism of smell has always been one of the most difficult mysteries in human senses. People can distinguish and remember about 1 10,000 different smells, but what is the basic principle of human ability?

Richard Axel and linda buck, American scientists who won the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, found the key to solve this mystery through their pioneering work, and clearly expounded the working mode of human olfactory system.

The research of two scientists reveals that odorous substances will first combine with odor receptors, which are located in odor receptor cells of nasal epithelium. After the odor receptor is activated by odor molecules, the odor receptor cells will generate electrical signals, which will then be transmitted to the tiny area of the olfactory bulb of the brain and then to other areas of the brain, and will be combined into a specific pattern. Therefore, people can consciously feel the fragrance of jasmine and think of it at another time.

The organizational principle of olfactory system discovered by Axel and Barker is also valuable for studying other sensory systems of human body. For example, they found that receptors that can detect pheromones exist in other areas of nasal epithelium, which are similar to odor receptors.

Linda buck and her mentor richard axel have been trying to find out the secrets of human sense of smell and taste, and have been working in this field for 14 years. When richard axel learned that he and linda buck won the 2004 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, he said, "It's amazing, I don't think it's glorious!" When someone asked him if he ever thought he would win the Nobel Prize one day, Richard said frankly, "No, this is something I never dreamed of. All I think about is my scientific research. I never thought I would win the Nobel Prize. "

The perfect cooperation between Richard Axel and linda buck won them the respect of the whole world. They succeeded, and many people are interested in the secret of their success. Richard axel said frankly, "There are many factors to ensure the success of scientific research. I can tell you everything I have done, my experience, and let you judge. In my opinion, the factors of scientific research success are: density, patience and cooperation. Just as we study the mechanism of human olfactory genes, the success of this research depends on the efforts of many people. We have created such a cooperative atmosphere in the laboratory, so that researchers like to engage in scientific research in the laboratory and like to engage in exchanges and cooperation in the laboratory. "

He said: "There is always great happiness in the research process, and happiness will only come when there are difficulties. Our job is to solve the mystery, and the mystery is our biggest obstacle. I hope that I can make greater efforts in the laboratory in the future and try to solve many outstanding problems. "

Richard axel believes that the key factors to ensure the success of scientific research are: thorough, meticulous and patient research methods and attitudes, and cooperative research atmosphere.