'Sleeping Beauty' -- Molecule of the Year
The jumping gene or "Sleeping Beauty" transposon is "Molecule of the Year 2009". This was announced by Professor Isidro T. Savillo, President of the International Society for Molecular and Cell Biology and Biotechnology Protocols and Researches (ISMCBBPR). The transposon was generated by Dr. Zsuzsanna Izsvák, Dr. Zoltán Ivics and Dr. Lajos Mátés of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin-Buch. According to the jury, it was selected out of 15 molecules nominated in the contest because "this molecule holds great promise for gene therapy". The jury pointed out that it can stably transfer genes even to stem or progenitor cells and is safer than a viral vector. It is the first time that the Molecule of the Year has been awarded to major recipients outside the USA in Europe.