The 2015 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was given to three scientists for their research on how cells restore damaged DNA.

Tomas Lindahl from Sweden, Paul Modrich from the United States and Aziz Sancar from Turkey won the Nobel Prize for "having mapped, at a molecular level, how cells repair damaged DNA and safeguard the genetic information," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced on Wednesday.

The academy further said that the trio's work has offered "fundamental knowledge" about the mechanism of cells and is "used for the development of new cancer treatments".

Several changes happen in a cell's genome every day because of the random changes and impairments from radiation, free radicals and carcinogenic materials. However, the DNA still remains the same, reported Reuters.

The award-winning trio helped figure out how a series of molecular systems screen and restore DNA, which keeps genetic materials from fragmenting.

Sancar, who is a holder of both US and Turkish citizenship and is a professor at the University of North Carolina, believes he received the Nobel Prize because his work is "important for cancer prevention and cancer treatment".

He was, in fact, surprised to have received the prize this year itself because he said he was unaware that he was "nominated" let alone expect to win.

Lindahl, who works at Britain's Clare Hall Laboratory and Francis Crick Institute, said DNA restoration played a significant role in human health for many years and was important in helping find better treatments for diseases, specifically for cancer, according to Reuters.

He further said although he was aware of being considered for the prize, he was "surprised" to have won actually.

Modrich, who is the third winner, is a researcher at the Duke University School of Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute in the United States.

The Royal Swedish Academy tweeted graphics, where they explained the works of the trio separately.

Also Read