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:
- Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 1
- Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2
- Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3
- Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4
- Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 5
- Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 6
- Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7
- Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 9
- ^ White, Michael (September 26, 2014). "Sonic Hedgehog, DICER, and the Problem With Naming Genes". Pacific Standard. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ "Gene of the month - Mothers Against Decapentaplegic". The Naked Scientists. September 9, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
- ^ "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.