Dachshund, Werewolf, and other crazy genes
Have you ever wondered about the origin of strange and notable gene names, such as hedgehog or swiss cheese? Most of the current genetic nomenclature has meaningful origins, while other genes were named on a mere whim.
Take the above mentioned hedgehog gene discovered in the 1970s by Nobel Prize laureates Edward Lewis, Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard and Eric Wieschaus, when studying genetic mutations in Drosophila embryogenesis. Hegdehog encodes an intercellular signalling molecule, the Hedgehog (Hh) protein that regulates a pivotal pathway in the development of body segmentation, from flies to humans. Mutant Hedgehog Drosophila larvae sometimes appear stubby and hairy – an observation that led researchers to this quirky name.
The origin of the gene name swiss cheese is similar: The brains of fruit flies with mutated versions of this gene have holes, resembling the tasty dairy treat from Switzerland.
Another comical name is dickkopf (which translates loosely to “bullhead”) first described in 1998. When overexpressed, the dickkopf gene causes polliwogs to grow with elongated heads. Even worse, one can create headless polliwogs if the dickkopf protein is deactivated by antibodies, or create multi-headed animals in individuals expressing an abnormal number of dickkopf genes (see picture).
It’s no surprise that humans have four different dickkopf genes.
If you know a clever or comical gene name like dachshund and huckebein (Drosophila), werewolf (Arabidopsis) and the mad/max twins (Homo sapiens) please let us know!
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Comments
Given the fact that 66 years old Harrison Ford soon will activate his horsewhip again, my favourite gene undoubtely is indy (aka “I am not dead yet”), prolonging life twice.
http://www.indianajones.com/site/index.html
What about the hangover gene?
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7830
It’s the perfect gene for booze aficionados – fruit flies with a hangover fault get drunk in lightning-speed.