Remembering Paul C. Zamecnik, M.D., 'Father of Antisense' (1912-2009)

摘要

When it comes right down to it, most of us would ask for little more than a long life--with our health and wits intact for as long as possible--family, friends, and a sense of purpose and accomplishment. For Paul Zamecnik, whom I was fortunate to know as a colleague, friend, and mentor for nearly 23 years, those attributes were merely the tip of the iceberg. He not only lived a long, productive life, filled with remarkable experiences, but also was blessed with a sharp intellect and an inquisitive nature that led him to make pioneering discoveries in the fields of molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry. Paul proposed concepts and novel ideas that, in some cases, may have been largely ignored at first by the scientific community but ultimately proved their veracity and merit and contributed to significant advances in basic scientific research and drug discovery. His legacy as the "father of antisense" is evidence of the pivotal role he played in the evolution of molecular biology and the development of oligonucleotide-based drugs.