Barbara McClintock (1902-1992) was one of the foremost women scientists in 20th century America, noted for her pioneering research on transposable elements in maize. For this work she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1983. She was the third woman to receive an unshared Nobel Prize in the sciences. Obviously a giant in the field of genetics, the McClintock Prize for Plant Genetics and Genome Studies was established by the Maize Genetics Executive Committee and very first recipient is Sir David C. Baulcombe, of the University of Cambridge, U.K.:

The announcement was made Dec. 19 by Jeff Bennetzen, chair of the committee and the Norman and Doris Giles Professor of Genetics and Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar at the University of Georgia.

This inaugural award was presented to Baulcombe in recognition of his career of scientific accomplishments. His work includes the characterization of mechanisms of viral pathogenesis in plants and identification of virus resistance genes. 

There is much more news from the department of genetics on the way in early 2014, so stay tuned. Lots of great work going on there and it's also of note that our faculty are integrally involved in recognizing one of the leaders in the field.

Image: Barbara McClintock, 1947, via Wikimedia Commons.