If you think picking a name for a baby or pet cat is hard take a look at the Nature Biotechnology archives, there you will find all sorts of options for choosing the name for the latest discovered genetic variants of Drosophila melanogaster, the molecular biologist’s favourite fly.
The latest batch of Drosophila with spines have lovingly named proteins such as hedgehogs and variations on the theme are Indian, Desert and Sonic hedgehog [[computer games pervade all walks of life]]. There are many more monikers for fly proteins to choose from such as four-wheel drive, prawny abdomen, and twisted genitalia – all of these somehow describe characteristics of the proteins in question although pity the poor fly with the latter name.
Coming up with such a witty and humorous name for a choice molecule is even harder for yeast, or Caenorhabditis elegans, researchers who by international convention are stuck with three terse letters and a digit.
Chemists, of course, retain the crown for thinking up easy to remember names, a boon for attracting new students into the field. For instance, a recent news item in New Scientist described the wonders of a toroidal molecule with the easy to swallow name of {4,34-dimethyl-1,4,7,10,13,16,19,22,25,28,31,34,37,40,43,46,49,52,55,5
-icosaazatricyclo[56.2.2.2.2.2.7,10,28,31,37,40]hexacontane. Then again “bagel-ane” was probably a bit too sweet.