Work on programmed cell death, which began on the millimetre-long nematode worm, has earned two UK researchers and a US scientist the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Sydney Brenner laid the foundation for this year's prize by establishing Caenhorabditis elegans as a model system for investigating cell division and organ development, and for linking different genetic mutations to specific effects on organ development; John Sulston showed that programmed cell death was key to shaping the developing worm; and Robert Horvitz “...identified the first bona fide 'death genes'...” (The New York Times, 8 October) and discovered that humans also have 'death genes'.

Praising their achievements, the Nobel Assembly said that their work “...had provided a greater understanding of the way cells divide, develop into different body tissues and die when they have served their purpose.” (BBC News, 7 October). Robert Horvitz told a news conference at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that “Knowledge of what makes cells die and of what can block the cell-death process may ... help identify agents that regulate the cell deaths involved in various human disorders...”.

John Sulston told the New Scientist (7 October) “It's tremendously exciting for me because once again it reinforces the power of fundamental research.” A similar message emerged from last year's Nobel Prize — which was awarded to Paul M. Nurse, Leland H. Hartwell and R. Timothy Hunt for their work on the cell cycle in the simple organism yeast — highlighting the importance of model organisms in research.