Today we’re moving over to biology, because chemists definitely don’t have a monopoly on being silly. I’ve already shared some funny NMR terminology, so today the fruit fly geneticists get to have their turn. Fruit flies (drosophila melanogaster) are a very popular organism for genetic studies because you can get so many generations so quickly (as anyone who has left bananas sitting out too long can attest to). And that means the geneticists end up having to name a lot of genes. While some fields of genetics have fairly narrow conventions where a gene is designated by letters and numbers, the drosophila geneticists have a tendency to get rather… creative.
This process mostly involves bombarding fruit flies with anything that might make them mutate. I’m surprised we haven’t seen a fruit fly geneticist superhero yet.
Cheap Date
Much like humans, the degree to which fruit flies are susceptible to the effects of alcohol varies. And the fruit fly geneticists have identified the specific mutation responsible for it.
Hedgehog
This is a gene that deals with differentiating different cell types in embryos. A particular mutation causes a spiny structure on the fruit fly’s legs. Even more fun: There is a variant of this gene in humans known as Sonic the hedgehog. The hedgehog related signalling pathways have recently been found to be involved in the metastasis of breast cancer.
Hamlet, Prospero
I am a firm believer in a strong set of liberal arts electives for science majors. Mostly because it leads to much more clever gene names. The hamlet gene determines what becomes of precursor cells called IIB. Yes, in this case the answer is definitely “not IIB”. Meanwhile, the prospero gene ensures that neurons differentiate properly and is completely dependent on the presence of the miranda gene and the caliban gene can interfere with this expression.
Tinman
When a fly’s an empty kettle, he should be off his mettle… if he only had a heart. Unfortunately this particular mutation prevents it from actually forming. The real value in locating these genes is in what they can tell us about how the heart develops under normal circumstances.
He’d be tender he’d be gentle and awful sentimental…
Smaug
This is a gene that inhibits the function of another class of genes known as nanos. And while the chemistry community likes to joke that nano is an ancient Greek word meaning “funding”, it actually means “dwarf”. So it was only natural to name a gene that inhibits nanos after the dragon who stole their gold.
Snafu
The classic military acronym for “Situation Normal All F-ed Up”. Fruit flies with this mutation look perfectly normal when they hatch, but become increasingly deformed as they age. Which, being fruit flies, they do quickly.
Tribbles
This one controls cell division. Depending on the specific mutation, the gene can cause cell division to be delayed, but of course the name comes from those cases where cells start dividing in a completely uncontrolled manner and the next thing you know Kirk is covered in fuzzy little creatures. Did you know scientists are really a bunch of nerds?
This particular specimen is not causing a lot of tribble
Yippee
This name has absolutely nothing to do with the function of the gene and everything to do with the grad student’s reaction when they managed to clone it. And hey, it’s exciting when the experiment works!
Klumpfuss
This one causes the flies to have club feet. And indeed, that is exactly what the name means. But since the researchers who assigned the name were German, we get a word that is quite fun to say for English speakers.
Indy
This is not actually named after Indianna Jones, though given all the other gene names it would not be surprising. Indy is actually an acronym for “I’m not dead yet” because flies with this mutation have longer lifespans. No word on whether they find themselves compelled to go for a walk.