Have you ever heard of a
kinesin motor protein? Well, I didn't know what it was when I received an e-mail from
Mr. Maloney, a PhD student from the University of New Mexico, working in a lab in the Astronomy and Physics department. He sent me a drawing of a cartoon character he and colleagues made of this cellular enzyme. Apparently, a kinesin motor protein has...uh...feet-like extensions that fit into grooves along the microtubule path and are responsible for the movement of chromosomes during mitosis.
(got that?)
So, this kinesin motor protein, named Kiney, wore green Converse runners and a gold chain necklace and carried a boom box - yo, he was some bad cruisin' rap dude!
They sent me some photos of Kiney at the lab - He looks like he's happy working there.
see Kiney at lab
If you would like to learn more about motor proteins, you can go
here and learn all about them.
http://www.scivee.tv/node/9347
6 comments:
Ha! That's spectacular. I love the post and the pictures of my PI, Dr. Steve Koch on the Flickr page with Kiney. I referenced you in my dissertation http://www.openwetware.org/wiki/User:Andy_Maloney/Surface_passivation_effects_on_kinesin_and_microtubules and I have a picture of Kiney at the microscope.
Now it's Dr. Maloney!
Greatest biophysics mascot ever! None of the other labs have a custom plush doll. Take that Block Lab
Congratulations DOCTOR Maloney! I like to think that Kiney helped in some "molecular" way.
Wendy -- I LOVE the doll! I'm the one in the picture reading to Kiney about science. Thank you to the students for such a great gift and to you for doing such a great job bringing Kiney to plush 3-D!
Also, here is a picture of me taking Kiney home from the lab: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevekoch/5310226517/ AND, Andy used Kiney as a prop during his dissertation defense. So he's been safe and having fun.
Nice to meet you Steve, I enjoyed making Kiney and am happy to hear he has a good home!
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