In the early 1960s, Brenner made several seminal discoveries in molecular biology. He is most noted for proving the existence of messenger RNA. He proposed that a single amino acid is coded by three nucleotides--a triplet--of DNA or RNA. In addition, he demonstrated that the triplet combination of uracil, adenine, and guanine--the "nonsense codon"--signifies the end of a translation process. In more recent years, Brenner has developed the use of Caenorhabditis elegans, a nematode, as a model for investigating the genetics and nervous systems of multicellular organisms. In addition, he has successfully cloned most of the genome of C. elegans.
"The [Kyoto] award recognizes a lifetime of work, not just a discovery," says Brenner. "It's a recognition I'm very pleased to have." Although the Kyoto Prizes are meant to honor significant contributions to mankind's betterment, Brenner is not optimistic about science's immediate future. "I'm not looking forward to the next ...
