Genetics and Health

Pokemon and Sonic Hedgehog Genes

by Hsien Hsien Lei, PhD on December 20th, 2005

KidneyNotes managed to scoop me on a recent gene-naming debacle. Scientists named a cancer-causing gene aka oncogene “Pokemon,” but had to change the name to a much more mundane Zbtb7 after Pokemon USA threatened to sue.

About ten years ago, scientists named another gene involved in embryonic development - Sonic Hedgehog after the video game character. They were not threatened with a lawsuit. Guess the manufacturer of the Sega Genesis video game is more supportive of science?

Via Grand Rounds at MedPundit.

NB: More on gene nomenclature in this week’s Saturday Genetics Quiz.

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POSTED IN: General Genetics and Health