Three share Nobel Chemistry Prize

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The 2009 Nobel prize for Chemistry has been awarded to three scientists for mapping out the protein-making factories within cells. Their work with ribosomes will be fundamental for the battle against bacterial infections.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said Americans Venkatraman Ramakrishnan and Thomas Steitz and Israeli Ada Yonath's work on ribosomes has been fundamental to the scientific understanding of life.

The scientists used a method called X-ray crystallography to pinpoint the positions of atoms that make up ribosomes.

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, Nobel Laureate, said, "It's gratifying in a way to have one's work vindicated by what is, after all, the most prestigious award in science. On the other hand it's important to remember that that's not why went into science. We went into science out of curiosity, to tackle important problems."

Ada Yonath is just the fourth woman to win the Nobel chemistry prize.

Ada Yonath, Nobel Laureate, said, "Well I was happy! This is the most important part of my feeling, and the second I was thankful."

The other winner, Professor Thomas Steitz said that he now hopes the trio's research can be put to even greater use... especially in treatments against so called "superbugs" that have proved resistant to conventional antibiotics.