-
Asked by anon-260045 to Cheukyau (Jane), Allyson, Emma, hollycampbell on 25 Sep 2020.
-
Allyson Lister answered on 25 Sep 2020: last edited 25 Sep 2020 11:55 am
My first job was working for a biology database. I learnt a lot about genes while I worked there. The coolest thing was learning how much fun scientists have while doing science. You see, if you discover a new gene, you get to name that gene! Some fruit fly scientists named a gene after a video game (“sonic hedgehog”), which I thought was awesome. They called the gene “sonic hedgehog” because flies with mistakes in that gene looked a bit like sonic the hedgehog.
Other scientists wanted to get in on the act; “Pikachurin” is a human gene named after the Pokemon, and the plant scientists named a gene “SUPERMAN”! Cool things can be found in the oddest places 🙂
Sources:
1. sonic hedgehog: http://flybase.org/reports/FBgn0019631
2. pikachurin: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:26810
3. SUPERMAN: https://www.arabidopsis.org/servlets/TairObject?id=37697&type=locus
(You don’t need to look at the sources, but I like including them! If you want to take a look, follow the links and then search in the page for the gene names – can you find them?)
-
-
Cheukyau (Jane) Luk answered on 25 Sep 2020: last edited 25 Sep 2020 3:46 pm
The coolest thing is probably working with British Heart Foundation, a health charity!
The end goal of my research is to develop a new drug that treats certain patients who suffer from heart diseases and diabetes. To work with a charity which genuinely puts patients’ interests on the very top of their priorities is my absolute pleasure!Another coolest thing that I have to mention is how I play with blood vessel cells and fat cells on plates in the lab to model cell-cell communication within a human body! Before the pandemic, I think about them almost every day and make sure I feed them with the right nutrient solution at the right time. Looking after them is like looking after babies!! (ouch now I sound like a mom!)
-
Emma Rose answered on 26 Sep 2020:
When someone has eaten something they shouldn’t (like a coin) and I get to take an x-ray of it to see if we can find it!
Comments