List of unusual biological names

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of unusual biological names, given to biological inventions and discoveries. One might consider the listed names unusual due to their containing pop culture references or puns.

Controversies

In the early days of genomics, genes were often given creative names upon discovery. A nomenclature committee later established naming guidelines, but several early names remain.[1]

NameExplanation
Bag-of-marbles
Buttonhead
Cheap date[2]Mutations in this gene cause marked susceptibility to alcohol intoxication
Deadpan
DIABLODirect IAP binding protein, low
DreadlocksMutations in this gene cause cell projections to clump together like dreadlocks
DunceA memory-related gene associated with Rutabaga
ELMOEngulfment and Cell Motility, contains the family ELMO1, ELMO2, and ELMO3
ExuperantiaNamed after St. Exuperantia, this gene is associated with dividing the head and body into regions
Fizzy-related
Flippase and floppaseProtein that "flips" and "flops" phosphatidylserines on the cell membrane from the inner side and the outer side, respectively
Hedgehog signaling pathway, and the associated genes: Named for the video game character Sonic the Hedgehog, these are critical genes involved in development and tumorigenesis
Headcase[3]
HunchbackMutations in hunchback cause disruptions in body shape in model organisms, such as a "hunchback"
IndyShort for I'm not dead yet, mutations in this gene extend the lifespan of D. melanogaster
Ken and Barbie[4]Mutations in the ken and barbie locus of this drosophila gene cause loss of external male and female genitalia in a fraction of homozygous flies
Lunatic Fringe, Manic Fringe, and Radical Fringe
Makes caterpillars floppyGene in Photorhabdus luminescens, codes for a toxin which leads to insects’ bodies breaking down
MAP kinase kinase kinase and MAP kinase kinase kinase kinase
MinosPhrime[5]Bacteriophage named after Minos Prime from the video game ULTRAKILL.
Mothers against decapentaplegic 1–9, and the associated Daughters against dpp[6]Takes the name from "Mothers against drunk driving" and similar campaigns, mutations in the gene of the mother cause improper development in the mother's offspring
Moron geneA prophage gene that has no role in the phage's lysogenic cycle.
NEMONF-kappa-B essential modulator
Methuselah-like proteinsNamed for Methuselah, extends the lifespan of an organism
MTHFR1 Short for METHYLENETETRAHYDROFOLATE REDUCTASE 1
NUDEL-GenGerman for "Noodle", NudE Neurodevelopment Protein 1 Like 1[7]
RING Short for Really Interesting New Gene
POKEMONPOK erythroid myeloid ontogenic factor, changed to Zbtb7 after a lawsuit was threatened[8]
PikachurinNamed after Pikachu, a species and mascot of the Pokémon franchise
PUMPKINShort for PLASTID 55 UMP KINASE, encodes a functional UMP Kinase located in the plastid that binds to group II intron plastid transcription products. Mutants show decreased accumulation of target transcripts/proteins.[9]
Salvador
ScramblaseAn enzyme that "scrambles" phospholipids between the inside and outside of the cell membrane
SisyphusPhrime[10]Arthrobacter phage named after Sisyphus Prime from the video game ULTRAKILL.
Slingshot homolog
Slit-Robo and the associated Netrin-Frazzled
SMURF1 and SMURF2,SMAD Ubiquitination Regulatory Factor 1/2, interacts with Mothers against decapentaplegic 7
Son of SevenlessA protein involved in MAPK signal cascade
SPOCK1Zebrafish with this mutation develop pointed-ears reminiscent of Spock
SWEET transporters Sugars will eventually be exported transporter, transports sugar
Swiss cheese[11]Mutations cause the brain to develop with lesions resembling Swiss cheese
Spätzlebased on the spaetzle-like (German for a type of noodle) shape of the larvae of D. melanogaster
TafazzinNamed after the masochistic comic character Tafazzi (portrayed by Giacomo Poretti, member of the Italian comedy trio Aldo, Giovanni e Giacomo) after alleged hardships in its discovery
Time for Coffee[12] Regulator of circadian clock in Arabidopsis thaliana
Tinman geneNamed for the tinman who was lacking a heart, model organisms with mutations in tinman had cardiac abnormalities
Toll-like receptors"Toll" is German for "Amazing", "Awesome". Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard and her colleague Prof. Eric Wieschaus sat at a double microscope that allows two people to examine the same object at the same time. When they saw an embryo mutant one day whose development was ventralised, they were both completely surprised and spontaneously exclaimed "Toll" (great).
UNICORNRegulates planar growth in Arabidopsis thaliana[13]

Unusual names have caused issues for scientists explaining genetic diseases to lay-people, such as when an individual is affected by a gene with an offensive or insensitive name.[14] This has particularly been noted in patients with a defect in the sonic hedgehog gene pathway and the disease formerly named CATCH22 for "cardiac anomaly, T-cell deficit, clefting and hypocalcaemia for chromosome 22q11.2 microdeletions". This name was abandoned due to the no-win connotations.[15]

In 1993 Alfonso Martinez Arias, a researcher at the University of Cambridge, was ordered to change the name of the gene he had discovered, VELCRO, because of copyright issues with Velcro.[16] The gene was renamed to puckered.[17] In 2005, Pokémon threatened to sue the discoverer of POKEMON because the name was attracting attention when its link to the development of cancer was published.[16]

Molecules

Species

Some species with unusual scientific names, because of length, repetition, or origin or meaning of name, include:

Some species with unusual biological common names include:

Techniques

See also

References

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI