6 replies to this topic

[fishtheimpaler]

by doctors

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/21984201

[Uncle Ben]

i still find it amusing theres a gene/scientific thing named after Sonic

[Janus]

i still find it amusing theres a gene/scientific thing named after Sonic

There's also one named after Robotnik. If I recall, it's called robotnikin or something like that.

[fishtheimpaler]

Robotnikinin. It acts to shut down the SHH (Sonic hedgehog) ligand pathway.

And also prevent autism.

Or, you know, cause an embryo not to develop limbs or a face or whatever. It's biology and these are naturally occurring signal proteins. They have to be balanced.

[Vlad Yvhv]

Remember when they tried to link the flu vaccine to autism and it turned out the doctor behind it was a quack? Same thing here, probly.

[Janus]

Robotnikinin. It acts to shut down the SHH (Sonic hedgehog) ligand pathway.

And also prevent autism.

Or, you know, cause an embryo not to develop limbs or a face or whatever. It's biology and these are naturally occurring signal proteins. They have to be balanced.

Thanks. I had forgotten the details and was too lazy to look them up.

[Leptailurus]

A discussion about Sonic’s eyes in the thread Mobius The Animated Series reminded me of SHH.

I feel that it is more appropriate to post the information here, as does not have a direct association with the 3D design of Sonic’s eyes - whether cycloptic eyes define Sonic or whether he can be modelled with separate eyes.

 

Certain mutations of SHH gene cause the SHH protein to misfold and result in Holoprosencephaly, which may involve cyclopia. It is not the reason why it was named SHH, but the coincidence is fascinating.

A certain mutation in a gene later named HH - hedgehog - caused fruit fly larvae to devlop a prickle-like pattern of denticles and hence gave name to the gene family. (Image: http://physrev.physi...600&carousel=1)

Mammals have three homologues of HH, twice duplicated during the evolution of mammals - Indian Hedgehog (IHH) and Desert Hedgehog (DHH) were named after the existing species of hedgehog. SHH was originally named Common European Hedgehog, but was changed to SHH, inspired by “a British comic book” (StC) owned by the daughter of Dr Bob Riddle - the person who successfully cloned the gene for the first time.

 

Yes, it is amusing that genes (and their proteins) are named after Sonic and Robotnik.

I first found out a year ago, studying late at night, I found an article which read that Sonic Hedgehog was linked to autism. I first thought that I was overtired and had misread it, because it did not make any sense. 

There are other genes with amusing names - named after the effects of the mutated versions on Drosophilae, such as Cheap Date (faster ethanol poisoning), Tinman (absence of heart), Ken and Barbie (absence of external genitals), Kenny (death within two days), INDY (I'm not dead yet; longer lifespan), Groucho Marx (high amount of facial bristles)...

The funny names are, however, frowned upon, as they seem scornful and inappropriate to be used as genetical terms. But more importantly, the homologues of some of the genes can be found in humans. When people are informed by doctors that their children suffer from holoprosencephaly, finding out that the mutated gene is called after a video game/TV/comic book character is certainly unpleasant.

Nevertheless, the geneticists working with the genes/proteins should have a name for it which is not just numbers... and a pinch of humour cannot be that harmful.