To which scientist was the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine awarded for groundbreaking research on the process of autophagy in cells?

Introduction / Context:
The Nobel Prizes are among the most prestigious international awards, covering Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, Peace, and Economic Sciences. Competitive exam questions often ask about recent or important Nobel awardees and their key contributions. In 2016, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine recognised pioneering work on autophagy, a cellular process for degrading and recycling components. This question checks whether you can correctly link that award to the Japanese scientist Yoshinori Ohsumi.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The award mentioned is the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
- Options list David J. Thouless, Yoshinori Ohsumi, J. Michael Kosterlitz, Sir J. Fraser Stoddart, and Jean-Pierre Sauvage.
- We assume awareness that different laureates received other Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry the same year.

Concept / Approach:
The key concept is to match laureates with the correct Nobel categories and year. In 2016, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went solely to Yoshinori Ohsumi for discoveries of mechanisms for autophagy. David J. Thouless and J. Michael Kosterlitz shared the Nobel Prize in Physics with F. Duncan M. Haldane for work on topological phase transitions. Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Jean-Pierre Sauvage shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Bernard L. Feringa for the design and synthesis of molecular machines. Once you recall these associations, it becomes straightforward to pick the correct name for the medicine category.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the required category is Physiology or Medicine, not Physics or Chemistry.
Step 2: Recall that autophagy research was highlighted in 2016 and that this work is linked to Japanese biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi.
Step 3: Remember that David J. Thouless and J. Michael Kosterlitz are associated with Physics awards.
Step 4: Remember that Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and Jean-Pierre Sauvage received Chemistry awards.
Step 5: Conclude that among the given options, only Yoshinori Ohsumi fits the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

Verification / Alternative check:
A quick revision technique is to memorise Nobel winners year wise with a simple mapping: 2016 Physics for topology, 2016 Chemistry for molecular machines, and 2016 Medicine for autophagy. When you see the word autophagy, it should instantly remind you of Yoshinori Ohsumi. Since the question explicitly mentions the 2016 prize in Physiology or Medicine, this mapping confirms the choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
David J. Thouless is a Nobel laureate in Physics for work on topological phase transitions and not honoured in the Physiology or Medicine category.
J. Michael Kosterlitz also received the Physics Nobel in 2016 and has no direct link to autophagy research.
Sir J. Fraser Stoddart is a Chemistry laureate recognised for molecular machines and does not match the medicine prize.
Jean-Pierre Sauvage is another Chemistry Nobel laureate and, like Stoddart, is incorrectly matched if chosen for this question.

Common Pitfalls:
One common mistake is to memorise only names and years but not the associated categories, leading to confusion between Physics, Chemistry, and Medicine laureates. Another pitfall is guessing based on how familiar a name sounds rather than recalling the specific field of research, such as autophagy. To avoid these issues, link each laureate to a key phrase like autophagy, topology, or molecular machines.

Final Answer:
The 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Yoshinori Ohsumi for his discoveries of mechanisms for autophagy.