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Sonic the Brain Chemical

Posted by michael on from the need-more-rings dept.

GamerBub writes "A chemical protein that appears to prevent Parkinson's Disease has been named Sonic the Hedgehog. According to the National Post."

9 of 44 comments (clear)

  1. So now I'm wondering... by lightspawn · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Did this story make the cut because of the science, or because of the video game reference?

    And what does SEGA have to say about the dilution of trademark/copyright infringement/etc?

  2. And in other news... by Aardpig · · Score: 4, Informative

    ...Slashdot is over six years behind Google. D'oh, guys, D'OH!

    --
    Tubal-Cain smokes the white owl.
  3. Why? by GuyMannDude · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Does anyone know why the protein was named after Sonic? The linked article doesn't really give any indication why that name was picked.

    GMD

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    watch this
    1. Re:Why? by ag3n7 · · Score: 5, Informative

      The reason why the chemical is called Sonic Hedgehog has only a passing relation to the video game. One of the researchers was an avid video game fan and the chemical's precursors are actually: SoNiC. Hence the play on word, Sonic Hedgehog.

      Plus, it has to do with increasing the speed between synapse firings.

    2. Re:Why? by genecutl · · Score: 2, Informative

      Despite what the story says, Sonic Hedgehog is an old gene. The origin of the name is that there was a gene first discovered in fruit flies which was named Hedgehog, presumably because flies missing the hedgehog gene reminded the researcher of a hedgehog. Since then, related genes have been found and given hedgehog-related names, like Desert Hedgehog and Sonic Hedgehog.

      Fly geneticists like to go for amusing names. For example, there is a gene responsible for development of the 7th cell of the fly ommatidium (the ommatidia are the individual facets of the comound eye). That gene was named "sevenless". Since then, related genes have been named "bride of sevenless" and "son of sevenless", to name just two.

  4. Whats so wrong... by maxinull · · Score: 3, Funny

    with putting a little bit of fun in science? I'm sure kids in high school biology would much rather learn about Sonic the Hedgehog and how he helps fight Parkinson's, rather than (insert boring sceintifc name here)!

    Though, when theres a Dr. Robotnic filling out perscriptions, then you can bust out the lawsuits.

  5. I know... by Deanasc · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm desperately trying to discover a signalling link to violence that I'm going to call Grand Theft Auto.

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    I've hit Karma 50 and gotten a Score:5, Troll... I win!
  6. Some more prior art... by Daarom... · · Score: 2, Informative
    Check out this publication.

    Gene versus protein, huh?

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    Daarom is geen reden...
  7. This is 2 and a half years late. by azav · · Score: 2, Informative

    Sonic was mentioned on the 8th of March, 2001.

    And it's called Sonic Hedgehog, not Sonic THE Hedgehog.

    http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2001-03/U oC M-SHst-0803101.php

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    - Zav - Imagine a Beowulf cluster of insensitive clods...