Mothers against decapentaplegic

Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2, one of the nine homologues of mothers against decapentaplegic

Mothers against decapentaplegic is a protein from the SMAD family that was discovered in Drosophila. During Drosophila research, it was found that a mutation in the gene in the mother repressed the gene decapentaplegic in the embryo. The phrase "Mothers against" was added as a humorous take-off on organizations opposing various issues e.g. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD); and based on a tradition of such unusual naming within the gene research community.[1][2][3]

Several human homologues are known:

References

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  1. ^ White, Michael (September 26, 2014). "Sonic Hedgehog, DICER, and the Problem With Naming Genes". Pacific Standard. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  2. ^ "Gene of the month - Mothers Against Decapentaplegic". The Naked Scientists. September 9, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  3. ^ "OMIM Entry - * 600993 - MOTHERS AGAINST DECAPENTAPLEGIC, DROSOPHILA, HOMOLOG OF, 4; SMAD4". Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man. Johns Hopkins University. January 18, 1996. Retrieved October 20, 2018.