Three scientists awarded Nobel prize in chemistry

BRUSSELS, Oct 3 (KUNA) -- The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm decided Wednesday to award the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2018 with one-half to Frances Arnold of the US for the 'directed evolution of enzymes'.
The Academy in a press release said the other half is jointly shared by George Smith of the US and Sir Gregory Winter of the UK for the 'phage display of peptides and antibodies'.
The 2018 Nobel Laureates in Chemistry have taken control of evolution and used it for purposes that bring the greatest benefit to humankind, it noted.
Enzymes produced through directed evolution are used to manufacture everything from biofuels to pharmaceuticals. Antibodies evolved using a method called phage display can combat autoimmune diseases and in some cases cure metastatic cancer, it said.
From the prize of nine million Swedish krona (USD one million), one half will go to Arnold and the other half to be shared between Smith and Winter. (end) nk.hb