Pokemon and one of its most famous creatures, Pikachu, made their way into the world’s vocabulary years ago. Now, Pikachu is making its way into medical vernacular. A newly discovered protein has been dubbed “Pikachurin” by Japanese scientists.
The July 20, 2008 web edition of Nature Neuroscience (which requires a subscription to view) discussed the Osaka Bioscience Institute’s discovery of pikachurin, a protein which aids kinetic vision. The protein was named specifically for Pikachu, because of the character’s agility.
Totally unexpected, but pikachurin is worth a giggle. Just think – at this moment you have pikachurins zipping through your body. I wonder if the next new disease they discover will be named pokerus.
Read [Daily Yomiuri Online] Site [Nature Neuroscience]
"Just think – at this moment you have pikachurins zipping through your body."
Aaaahhh! I did not need that thought!
@ Spore – Can you hear their faint chanting?
"Pi pika… pi pikachu! Pi pika… pi pikachu!!!"
There is actually an oncogene that was originally named "Pokemon" but was later changed to "zbtb7" because Nintendo threatened to take legal action because they didn't want people to have a product with the same name as a cancer causing gene. You could say that pokemon causes cancer… ;P
There is also a gene named "Sonic Hedgehog". Not Kidding!!!!