Saturday, October 29, 2011
The sonic hedgehog gene
In this article the sonic hedgehog gene or SHH is found on chromosome 7 and codes for a signalling protein crucial for determining the placement of limbs and organs in the developing embryo. When the embryo first forms various signalling proteins are established, there are high concentrations where the protein is being secreted and gets lower and lower in concentration with increasing distance from the source. This interactions of the proteins make up a pattern, here is where the SHH gene comes in. If SHH does not work, then this is a huge problem. "Hedgehog genes" is a term that scientist have come up with to describe what happen in fruit fly embryos that are genetically modified to lack SHH and similar genes were covered in spine-like projections. The consequences of mutation in the SHH gene in humans is very important, because if the embryo does not survive its due to its body layout is completely out of order, however, if the embryo does indeed survive, they have big problems with facial and brain development.
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I find it interesting that references in our pop culture, or in this case our retro video games have become to creep into scientific terminology. Being an avid gamer since I was young, this brings a smile to my face when I see such a thing. Also, I am assuming they first isolated this gene in the hedgehog's genome considering its title or is it just because its absence consequentially led to "sonic the hedgehog" like spike protrusions on developing embryos?
ReplyDeleteSome really interesting info , well written and broadly speaking user pleasant.
ReplyDeleteThe article did not say as to why they named it "The sonic the hedgehog" but i found it assuming myself that researchers would name something science related something very playful and wimsacal.
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