First gene named after a videogame

One of the most important genes, which determines how and where our limbs and organs grow, has an unusual link to the world of videogaming. First detected in fruit flies, the hedgehog genes (hh) acquired their unusual name after embryos with the mutated genes developed spikey projections, reminiscent of a hedgehog. In 1993, a group of Harvard developmental biologists discovered their presence in other animals, too, and decided to name the genes after real species of hedgehog. They started with "Indian hedgehog", "Moonrat hedgehog" and "Desert hedgehog". For the fourth gene, Dr. Robert Riddle suggested the name "Sonic hedgehog" after the videogame character he had seen in his daughter's comic book.