1 Japanese, 2 Americans Win Nobel Prize In Chemistry

STOCKHOLM, Sweden (AP) - A professor at UC San Diego is among the three winners of the Nobel Prize for chemistry.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences says Roger Tsein (Chen) shared the prize with Columbia University professor Martin Chalfant and Japan Osamu Shimomura.

Scientists are recognized for their discovery and development of green fluorescent protein, GFP, which was seen in the jellyfish.

The protein is widely used in laboratory tool to illuminate the processes in living organisms, such as the development of brain cells or spread of cancer cells.

Speaking to reporters at his home in San Diego, Tsien said he was surprised to receive the award.