It happened in a Dundee University laboratory in 1979, when Professor Lane identified p53, a protein believed to play a role in as many as half of all human cancers.
It helps protect cells from becoming cancerous - but if the p53 gene becomes mutated, tumours can form. Such tumours are often resistant to chemotherapy.
"We hope to use our knowledge of p53 to develop new treatments for cancer," says Sir David. "In the test tube at least, we are beginning to find ways to make these damaged p53s work again."

He is currently on a two-year sabbatical from Dundee University, as executive director of Singapore's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology.

Read more about Professor Sir David Lane's work here.