List of unusual biological names

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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.

Contents

Genes and proteins

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]

NameExplanationBiological role
Bag-of-marbles
Buttonhead
Cheap date [2] Mutations in this gene cause marked susceptibility to alcohol intoxication
Deadpan
DIABLO Direct IAP binding protein, low
Dreadlocks Mutations in this gene cause cell projections to clump together like dreadlocksMurine ortholog of Nck
Dunce A memory-related geneA memory-related gene associated with Rutabaga
ELMO Engulfment and Cell MotilityContains the family ELMO1, ELMO2, and ELMO3
Exuperantia Named after St. Exuperantia [ citation needed ]A gene associated with dividing the head and body into regions
Fizzy-related
Flippase and floppase Protein that "flips" and "flops" phosphatidylserines on the cell membrane from the inner side and the outer side, respectively
Named for the video game character Sonic the Hedgehog Critical gene involved in development and tumorigenesis
Headcase [3]
Hunchback
Indy Short for I'm not dead yet
Ken and Barbie [4] Mutations in the ken and barbie locus cause loss of external male and female genitalia in a fraction of homozygous fliesDrosophila gene
Lunatic Fringe, Manic Fringe, and Radical Fringe
Makes caterpillars floppy Codes for a toxin which leads to insects’ bodies breaking downGene in Photorhabdus luminescens
MAP kinase kinase kinase and MAP kinase kinase kinase kinase
MinosPhrime [5] Named after Minos Prime from the video game ULTRAKILL.bacteriophage
Mothers against decapentaplegic 1–9, and the associated Daughters against dpp [6] Takes the name from "Mothers against drunk driving" and similar campaignsMutations in the gene of the mother cause improper development in the offspring
Moron gene A prophage gene that has no role in the phage's lysogenic cycle.
NEMO NF-kappa-B essential modulator
Methuselah-like proteins Named for Methuselah, extends the lifespan of an organism
NUDEL-GenGerman for "Noodle"NudE Neurodevelopment Protein 1 Like 1 [7]
RING Short for Really Interesting New Gene
POKEMON POKerythroid myeloid ontogenic factor, changed to Zbtb7 after a lawsuit was threatened [8]
Pikachurin
PUMPKIN Short for PLASTID 55 UMP KINASEEncodes 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
Scramblase An enzyme that "scrambles" phospholipids between the inside and outside of the cell membrane
Slingshot homolog
Slit-Robo and the associated Netrin-Frazzled
SMURF1 and SMURF2, which interacts with Mothers against decapentaplegic 7SMAD Ubiquitination Regulatory Factor 1/2
Son of Sevenless A protein involved in MAPK signal cascade
SPOCK1 Zebrafish with this mutation develop pointed-ears reminiscent of Spock
SWEET transporters Sugars will eventually be exported transporterSugar transporters
Swiss cheese [10] Mutations cause the brain to develop with lesions resembling Swiss cheese
Spätzle based on the spaetzle-like (German for a type of noodle) shape of the larvae of D. melanogaster
Tafazzin Named after the masochistic Italian comic character Tafazzi after alleged hardships in its discovery
Time for Coffee [11] Active in the night.Regulator of circadian clock in Arabidopsis thaliana
Tinman gene Named for the tinman, required for proper development of the heart
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 [12]

Controversies

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. [13] 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. [14]

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. [15] The gene was renamed to puckered. [16] 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. [15]

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

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Genetics</span> Science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms

Genetics is the study of genes, genetic variation, and heredity in organisms. It is an important branch in biology because heredity is vital to organisms' evolution. Gregor Mendel, a Moravian Augustinian friar working in the 19th century in Brno, was the first to study genetics scientifically. Mendel studied "trait inheritance", patterns in the way traits are handed down from parents to offspring over time. He observed that organisms inherit traits by way of discrete "units of inheritance". This term, still used today, is a somewhat ambiguous definition of what is referred to as a gene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transposable element</span> Semiparasitic DNA sequence

A transposable element (TE), also transposon, or jumping gene, is a type of mobile genetic element, a nucleic acid sequence in DNA that can change its position within a genome, sometimes creating or reversing mutations and altering the cell's genetic identity and genome size.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Origin of replication</span> Sequence in a genome

The origin of replication is a particular sequence in a genome at which replication is initiated. Propagation of the genetic material between generations requires timely and accurate duplication of DNA by semiconservative replication prior to cell division to ensure each daughter cell receives the full complement of chromosomes. This can either involve the replication of DNA in living organisms such as prokaryotes and eukaryotes, or that of DNA or RNA in viruses, such as double-stranded RNA viruses. Synthesis of daughter strands starts at discrete sites, termed replication origins, and proceeds in a bidirectional manner until all genomic DNA is replicated. Despite the fundamental nature of these events, organisms have evolved surprisingly divergent strategies that control replication onset. Although the specific replication origin organization structure and recognition varies from species to species, some common characteristics are shared.

The RNA-induced silencing complex, or RISC, is a multiprotein complex, specifically a ribonucleoprotein, which functions in gene silencing via a variety of pathways at the transcriptional and translational levels. Using single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) fragments, such as microRNA (miRNA), or double-stranded small interfering RNA (siRNA), the complex functions as a key tool in gene regulation. The single strand of RNA acts as a template for RISC to recognize complementary messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript. Once found, one of the proteins in RISC, Argonaute, activates and cleaves the mRNA. This process is called RNA interference (RNAi) and it is found in many eukaryotes; it is a key process in defense against viral infections, as it is triggered by the presence of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA).

An insulator is a type of cis-regulatory element known as a long-range regulatory element. Found in multicellular eukaryotes and working over distances from the promoter element of the target gene, an insulator is typically 300 bp to 2000 bp in length. Insulators contain clustered binding sites for sequence specific DNA-binding proteins and mediate intra- and inter-chromosomal interactions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Methyltransferase</span> Group of methylating enzymes

Methyltransferases are a large group of enzymes that all methylate their substrates but can be split into several subclasses based on their structural features. The most common class of methyltransferases is class I, all of which contain a Rossmann fold for binding S-Adenosyl methionine (SAM). Class II methyltransferases contain a SET domain, which are exemplified by SET domain histone methyltransferases, and class III methyltransferases, which are membrane associated. Methyltransferases can also be grouped as different types utilizing different substrates in methyl transfer reactions. These types include protein methyltransferases, DNA/RNA methyltransferases, natural product methyltransferases, and non-SAM dependent methyltransferases. SAM is the classical methyl donor for methyltransferases, however, examples of other methyl donors are seen in nature. The general mechanism for methyl transfer is a SN2-like nucleophilic attack where the methionine sulfur serves as the leaving group and the methyl group attached to it acts as the electrophile that transfers the methyl group to the enzyme substrate. SAM is converted to S-Adenosyl homocysteine (SAH) during this process. The breaking of the SAM-methyl bond and the formation of the substrate-methyl bond happen nearly simultaneously. These enzymatic reactions are found in many pathways and are implicated in genetic diseases, cancer, and metabolic diseases. Another type of methyl transfer is the radical S-Adenosyl methionine (SAM) which is the methylation of unactivated carbon atoms in primary metabolites, proteins, lipids, and RNA.

Polycomb-group proteins are a family of protein complexes first discovered in fruit flies that can remodel chromatin such that epigenetic silencing of genes takes place. Polycomb-group proteins are well known for silencing Hox genes through modulation of chromatin structure during embryonic development in fruit flies. They derive their name from the fact that the first sign of a decrease in PcG function is often a homeotic transformation of posterior legs towards anterior legs, which have a characteristic comb-like set of bristles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argonaute</span> Protein that plays a role in RNA silencing process

The Argonaute protein family, first discovered for its evolutionarily conserved stem cell function, plays a central role in RNA silencing processes as essential components of the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). RISC is responsible for the gene silencing phenomenon known as RNA interference (RNAi). Argonaute proteins bind different classes of small non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). Small RNAs guide Argonaute proteins to their specific targets through sequence complementarity, which then leads to mRNA cleavage, translation inhibition, and/or the initiation of mRNA decay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ASXL1</span> Protein-coding gene in the species Homo sapiens

Putative Polycomb group protein ASXL1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the ASXL1 gene.

Epigenomics is the study of the complete set of epigenetic modifications on the genetic material of a cell, known as the epigenome. The field is analogous to genomics and proteomics, which are the study of the genome and proteome of a cell. Epigenetic modifications are reversible modifications on a cell's DNA or histones that affect gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. Epigenomic maintenance is a continuous process and plays an important role in stability of eukaryotic genomes by taking part in crucial biological mechanisms like DNA repair. Plant flavones are said to be inhibiting epigenomic marks that cause cancers. Two of the most characterized epigenetic modifications are DNA methylation and histone modification. Epigenetic modifications play an important role in gene expression and regulation, and are involved in numerous cellular processes such as in differentiation/development and tumorigenesis. The study of epigenetics on a global level has been made possible only recently through the adaptation of genomic high-throughput assays.

Transposons are semi-parasitic DNA sequences which can replicate and spread through the host's genome. They can be harnessed as a genetic tool for analysis of gene and protein function. The use of transposons is well-developed in Drosophila and in Thale cress and bacteria such as Escherichia coli.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detlef Weigel</span> German-American biologist

Detlef Weigel is a German American scientist working at the interface of developmental and evolutionary biology.

H3K4me3 is an epigenetic modification to the DNA packaging protein Histone H3 that indicates tri-methylation at the 4th lysine residue of the histone H3 protein and is often involved in the regulation of gene expression. The name denotes the addition of three methyl groups (trimethylation) to the lysine 4 on the histone H3 protein.

H3K9me3 is an epigenetic modification to the DNA packaging protein Histone H3. It is a mark that indicates the tri-methylation at the 9th lysine residue of the histone H3 protein and is often associated with heterochromatin.

<i>De novo</i> gene birth Evolution of novel genes from non-genic DNA sequence

De novo gene birth is the process by which new genes evolve from non-coding DNA. De novo genes represent a subset of novel genes, and may be protein-coding or instead act as RNA genes. The processes that govern de novo gene birth are not well understood, although several models exist that describe possible mechanisms by which de novo gene birth may occur.

H3K4me1 is an epigenetic modification to the DNA packaging protein Histone H3. It is a mark that indicates the mono-methylation at the 4th lysine residue of the histone H3 protein and often associated with gene enhancers.

H4K20me is an epigenetic modification to the DNA packaging protein Histone H4. It is a mark that indicates the methylation at the 20th lysine residue of the histone H4 protein. This mark can be mono-, di-, or tri-methylated. It is critical for genome integrity including DNA damage repair, DNA replication and chromatin compaction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MNase-seq</span> Method used to analyse protein interactions with DNA

MNase-seq, short for micrococcal nuclease digestion with deep sequencing, is a molecular biological technique that was first pioneered in 2006 to measure nucleosome occupancy in the C. elegans genome, and was subsequently applied to the human genome in 2008. Though, the term ‘MNase-seq’ had not been coined until a year later, in 2009. Briefly, this technique relies on the use of the non-specific endo-exonuclease micrococcal nuclease, an enzyme derived from the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, to bind and cleave protein-unbound regions of DNA on chromatin. DNA bound to histones or other chromatin-bound proteins may remain undigested. The uncut DNA is then purified from the proteins and sequenced through one or more of the various Next-Generation sequencing methods.

H3S28P is an epigenetic modification to the DNA packaging protein histone H3. It is a mark that indicates the phosphorylation the 28th serine residue of the histone H3 protein.

H3T3P is an epigenetic modification to the DNA packaging protein histone H3. It is a mark that indicates the phosphorylation the 3rd threonine residue of the histone H3 protein.

References

  1. ↑ White, Michael (September 26, 2014). "The Problem with Naming Genes". Pacific Standard. Archived from the original on February 2, 2025. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
  2. ↑ Moore, Monica S; Dezazzo, Jim; Luk, Alvin Y; Tully, Tim; Singh, Carol M; Heberlein, Ulrike (1998). "Ethanol Intoxication in Drosophila: Genetic and Pharmacological Evidence for Regulation by the cAMP Signaling Pathway". Cell. 93 (6): 997–1007. doi: 10.1016/S0092-8674(00)81205-2 . PMID   9635429. S2CID   15312752.
  3. ↑ "Headcase".
  4. ↑ Lukacsovich, Tamas; Yuge, Kazuya; Awano, Wakae; Asztalos, Zoltan; Kondo, Shunzo; Juni, Naoto; Yamamoto, Daisuke (2003). "Theken and barbie gene encoding a putative transcription factor with a BTB domain and three zinc finger motifs functions in terminalia development of Drosophila". Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology. 54 (2): 77–94. doi:10.1002/arch.10105. PMID   14518006.
  5. ↑ "Microbacterium phage MinosPhrime". The Actinobacteriophage Database. Archived from the original on 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2023-05-18.
  6. ↑ "FlyBase Gene Report: Dmel\Dad".
  7. ↑ "NDEL1 Gene - GeneCards | NDEL1 Protein | NDEL1 Antibody". www.genecards.org. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  8. ↑ Brendan Sinclair (2005-12-19). "Pokémon USA threatens to sue cancer researchers". GameSpot . Retrieved 2016-01-31.
  9. ↑ "AT3G18680(PUMPKIN)". www.arabidopsis.org. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  10. ↑ Kretzschmar, D; Hasan, G; Sharma, S; Heisenberg, M; Benzer, S (1997). "The swiss cheese mutant causes glial hyperwrapping and brain degeneration in Drosophila". The Journal of Neuroscience. 17 (19): 7425–32. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.17-19-07425.1997. PMC   6573436 . PMID   9295388.
  11. ↑ "TIC - Protein TIME FOR COFFEE - Arabidopsis thaliana (Mouse-ear cress) - TIC gene & protein". www.uniprot.org. Retrieved 2021-03-12.
  12. ↑ Enugutti, Balaji; Charlotte, Kirchhelle; Oelschner, Maxi; Ruiz, Ramón Angel Torres; Schliebner, Ivo; Leister, Dario; Schneitz, Kay (2012). "Regulation of planar growth by the Arabidopsis AGC protein kinase UNICORN". PNAS. 109 (37): 15060–15065. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1205089109 . PMC   3443170 . PMID   22927420.
  13. ↑ Hopkin, Michael (2006). "Troublesome gene names get the boot". News@nature. doi: 10.1038/news061106-2 . S2CID   86514270.
  14. ↑ MacLean, Ken (2006). "Humour of gene names lost in translation to patients". Nature. 439 (7074): 266. Bibcode:2006Natur.439..266M. doi: 10.1038/439266d . PMID   16421543.
  15. 1 2 Simonite, Tom (2005). "Pokémon blocks gene name". Nature. 438 (7070): 897. Bibcode:2005Natur.438..897S. doi: 10.1038/438897a . PMID   16355177.
  16. ↑ "puc puckered [ Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) ]".
  17. ↑ Burns, Josh; Shealy, Ben; Feltus, Alex; Smith, Melissa; Ficklin, Stephen (2019). "SystemsGenetics/KINC: Version 3.3.0". Zenodo. doi:10.5281/zenodo.3256358.
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