In 2008, Pikachu was officially recorded in the medical dictionary as it inspired scientists to name a new protein “Pikachurin.”
Pikachu is undoubtedly one of the most legendary and memorable characters in the Pokemon series, which includes films, stories, and games that most of us have read or played at some point. This fictional character resembles a hamster, sporting a bright yellow fur coat and a lightning bolt-shaped tail. Upon its debut, Pikachu quickly won the hearts of the gaming and manga communities in Japan and around the world. When we think of Pokemon, Pikachu is an unforgettable name that comes to mind.
Pikachu inspired scientists to name a new protein “Pikachurin.”
But that’s not all; in 2008, Pikachu officially entered the medical dictionary when it inspired scientists to name a new protein “Pikachurin.” Japanese scientist Shigeru Sato, who discovered this protein, explained that its name is memorable because of its characteristic of “moving as fast as lightning and creating an electric charge.”
This protein plays a crucial role in transmitting signals from the human eye to the brain and helps the eyes track moving objects. Without this protein, the signals from the eyes sent to the brain would take three to four times longer than usual.
This is not the first time scientists have used fictional characters’ names to label new scientific concepts. In 2005, scientists named a gene related to cancer “Pokemon” (POK erythroid myeloid ontogenic factor).
However, it was later changed to Zbtb7 after the Pokemon fan community protested, as they did not want a symbol of such significance to be associated with a cancer-causing gene.
