In 1989 Sidney Altman received the Nobel Prize for Chemistry "for the discovery of the enzymatic properties of RNA". The discovery has been called the most important in the last forty years, after that of DNA itself. The advance altered one of the central dogmas of bioscience: in demonstrating that RNA molecules not only encode genetic information but can also act as catalysts in chemical reactions, it shined new light on the question of the origin of life on earth. His research, although conducted for "pure intellectual curiosity", also promises to have major therapeutic implications. The new genetic engineering processes developed by his team to counter bacterial resistance to antibiotics could lead to more effective and less expensive cures for widespread diseases as pneumonia, tuberculosis and meningitis.
Altman’s activities are not confined within the walls of the laboratory. As an academic he has long worked to promote the role of science education in schools and universities, and as a "responsible scientist" he has emphasized the impact of research on daily life and the importance of giving the public accurate and understandable information.