Discovery Genomics Inc.
This article was originally published in Start Up
Executive Summary
Discovery Genomics Inc.'s Sleeping Beauty transposon vector is non-viral, but it can integrate into the genome to achieve long-term expression. DGI uses it in two parts: the transposon vector carries the therapeutic genes, and the transposase enzyme moves it from the vector into the chromosome. When delivered to cells at the same time, the transposase cuts the therapeutic gene out of the vector and inserts it into the host chromosome, much like you cut and paste using a word processor.