Monster Mash: Science connections to your Halloween costume
An Everyday DNA blog article
Written by: Sarah Sharman, PhD
Illustrated by: Cathleen Shaw
Halloween has always held a special place in my heart, with its enchanting atmosphere, nostalgic memories, sweet treats, and creative costumes. As a child, and even now as an adult with my own Halloween party, I’ve always relished the excitement of selecting the perfect costume.
Many iconic Halloween costume characters are inspired by or connected to real-world scientific concepts, particularly genetic mutations. Let’s explore some Halloween costume ideas that have a scientific foundation.
The Quirky World of Fruit Fly Gene Names
Fruit flies, or Drosophila melanogaster, are invaluable model organisms for scientific research. By studying these flies, scientists can gain crucial insights into fundamental biological processes that are shared by a wide range of organisms, including humans. Despite their apparent differences, fruit flies and humans share many genes and biological pathways.
Fruit flies were first used for genetic studies in the early 20th century by Thomas Hunt Morgan and his colleagues. Their simplicity of genetics, rapid reproduction, and small size have made them instrumental in studying various biological processes from basic genetics to complex behaviors.
In scientific research, researchers often have the privilege of naming newly discovered genes, proteins, or organisms. These names are typically chosen to reflect the function, location, or other relevant characteristic of the discovery. In fruit fly research, for example, a gene involved in eye development might be named “eyeless,” while a protein found in the nucleus could be named “nuclear protein X.”
Interestingly, some fruit fly genes and proteins have been named after popular culture characters. This year, you could channel your inner scientist and dress up as a fruit fly gene for Halloween.
Sonic the Hedgehog: The hedgehog gene family was first discovered in fruit flies. Fly embryos with a mutated hedgehog gene are scrunched up compared to normal embryos and develop spiky protrusions resembling the quills of a hedgehog (see image below).
The Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) gene is a vital developmental gene found in both fruit flies and humans. The loss of function of Shh can result in developmental defects, such as missing or malformed body parts, especially in the head and thorax. Overactive Shh can lead to the development of extra body parts or appendages, as well as other abnormalities.
Tinman: The Tinman gene, also known as cardiac troponin I (TnI), is one of the earliest genes involved in heart development in fruit flies. The name “Tinman” is a nod to the character in The Wizard of Oz, who lacked a heart. Mutations in the gene can lead to a lack of heart development.
Groucho: The Groucho gene is named after the phenotype of the first identified mutation in the gene, which causes extra bristles to grow above the eyes of adult fruit flies. This resembles the bushy eyebrows of Groucho Marx, an American comedian and film star.
Kenny: The Kenny gene in fruit flies is involved in immune response. A fruit fly without this gene dies in two days, a fitting name for the South Park character who meets a similar fate in each episode.
While these gene names may seem whimsical and lighthearted, it’s important to remember that mutations in some of these genes can lead to serious human diseases. As a result, there’s a growing movement to re-evaluate and potentially change some of these names to better reflect their clinical significance.
The Reality of Superhero Genetic Mutations
Superheroes have long captured the imaginations of audiences worldwide. Every year when I’m handing out candy to trick-or-treaters, I see at least a few Wolverines, Hulks, and even Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles.
Superheroes come in all shapes and sizes, each with their own origin story. Some, like Batman, are tech-savvy humans. Others, like Superman, are alien hybrids. One really popular origin story for superheroes and supervillains is DNA mutations that impart them with extraordinary abilities. Here are a few examples of superhero mutants and the real facts surrounding their power-inducing mutations.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles originated as comic book characters in the mid-1980s. Their popularity soared when they were syndicated as an animated series in 1987. Since then, their popularity has not waned, and we’ve seen several feature films, video games, and remakes of the original cartoon show.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are an iconic quartet of human-sized, talking turtles with extraordinary abilities. They live in the sewers beneath New York City, where they mastered martial arts, developed a penchant for pizza, and are known for their distinctive 1980s slang like “bodacious” and “cowabunga.” Originally pet turtles, they were exposed to a toxic ooze in the sewers of New York. This exposure triggered a remarkable transformation, resulting in the creation of Donatello, Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael.
But before you go trying to turn a pond turtle into a talking, pizza-loving ninja, let’s talk about the underlying science of gene mutations. Our DNA is constantly bombarded by various environmental factors and internal processes, which can damage DNA and disrupt the genetic instructions that shape our traits and development.
While our cells have sophisticated repair mechanisms, these can sometimes fail or be incomplete, leading to mutations. These mutations can result in a wide range of outcomes, from subtle changes in appearance to severe health conditions like cancer. Mutations are also the driving force behind evolution, creating new species and adaptations over time.
So, while a radioactive ooze likely cannot give animals the ability to talk like humans and fight crime, the underlying concept of DNA damage and mutation is firmly rooted in scientific reality. To learn more about genetic mutations in pop culture characters, listen to Tiny Expeditions Season 5, Episode 2.
X-Men
Many members of the X-Men franchise are born with their abilities thanks to a mutant gene known as the X gene. What makes this particularly intriguing is that these characters possess this mutation even though their parents do not.
This phenomenon is actually observed in nature. De novo mutations occur when a genetic change arises in a child that was not present in either parent. These mutations can happen during the formation of egg or sperm cells when cells are copying their DNA to create new cells. De novo mutations can affect any part of a person’s DNA and can have a wide range of consequences, from no effect at all to beneficial or detrimental health outcomes.
So, while the X-Men’s superpowers may be exaggerated for dramatic effect, the concept of de novo mutations provides a plausible scientific foundation for their existence. It’s a testament to the incredible diversity and adaptability of the human genome. To learn more about the range of superhero abilities and their potential scientific basis and plausibility, listen to Tiny Expeditions, Season 5 Episode 3.
