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A Different Sonic the Hedgehog: A Protein Tattoo

Brian writes:

My name is Brian, and I got a tattoo at a shop called Good Fortune Tattoo in Savannah Georgia by an artist named Hime. It is a tattoo of a 3d representation of the signaling portion of a protein called Shh (this stands for Sonic hedgehog). I got the tattoo because I am a cell biology student and love the ridiculous naming of proteins done by the geneticists which discover it. I figured, for my first tattoo, it might as well be something completely unique. I love it though, great conversation starter and very few people have any idea of what the hell it is at first glance.

Yes, someone named a protein after the Sega character. Don’t believe me, check Wikipedia.

Posted in Biology, Science.

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2 Responses

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  1. Chase says

    That is awesome!! Why not name a protein after a Sega character, there's a protein names after a Pokemon, Pikachurin anyone?

  2. Jon says

    I don't know any protein named after the Pokemon saga. Within transposable elements, exists a soubgroup of them called after The Lord of the Rings. In the days when I was doing my PhD you could read some works on, at least, Frodo, Sam and Bilbo…