updates | April 13, 2026

What does the Sonic hedgehog gene control?

Sonic hedgehog is a protein encoded for by the SHH gene. SHH controls organogenesis and the organization of the central nervous system, limbs, digits and many other parts of the body. Sonic hedgehog is a morphogen that patterns the developing embryo using a concentration gradient characterized by the French Flag model.

Why is it called Sonic hedgehog?

But when Dr. Robert Riddle, a postdoctoral fellow working in Dr. Tabin’s lab, detected what proved to be the most fascinating hedgehog gene of all, he rebeled against the system and decided to call the gene Sonic hedgehog, after a character in a Sega computer game.

What are hedgehog target genes?

Hedgehog signals upregulate BCL2 and CFLAR to promote cellular survival, SNAI1 (Snail), SNAI2 (Slug), ZEB1, ZEB2 (SIP1), TWIST2, and FOXC2 to promote epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and PTHLH (PTHrP) to promote osteolytic bone metastasis.

What’s a sonic hedgehog?

Sonic is a blue anthropomorphic hedgehog who can run at supersonic speeds and curl into a ball, primarily to attack enemies. In most games, Sonic must race through levels, collecting power-up rings and avoiding obstacles and enemies. Most of the games are developed by Sonic Team.

Is Sonic hedgehog a Hox gene?

Another function of Hox genes that has emerged recently is to regulate expression of the Sonic hedgehog gene (Shh) which controls patterning of distal structures. Hox genes also play a major role in development of the digits.

Is Sonic hedgehog a morphogen?

Sonic hedgehog (Shh), along with members of the Wnt and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) families, is a molecule that acts early as a morphogen to determine neuronal fate and later as an axon guidance factor to help direct the paths of developing neurons (Figure 1).

Who named SHH?

Cliff Tabin
Sonic was named as such by the Harvard researcher (Cliff Tabin) because two previous gene family members had been named Indian and dessert hedgehog based on the way fruit flies looked when these gene were mutated.

What is the role of hedgehog Signalling?

The Hedgehog signaling pathway is a signaling pathway that transmits information to embryonic cells required for proper cell differentiation. Different parts of the embryo have different concentrations of hedgehog signaling proteins. The pathway also has roles in the adult.

What secretes sonic hedgehog?

Sonic hedgehog (SHH) peptide is a developmental morphogen secreted by epithelial cells. The secreted SHH peptide relieves the repression of smoothened (SMO) by binding to its inhibitor patched (PTC1).

What does Hedgehog Signalling do?

What disease is caused by a mutation in the Sonic hedgehog gene?

SHH gene mutations are the most common cause of nonsyndromic holoprosencephaly. These mutations reduce or eliminate the activity of Sonic Hedgehog. Without the correct activity of this protein, the eyes will not form normally and the brain does not separate into two hemispheres.

What does Shh mean on TikTok?

This one is pretty simple. That #FYP you see everywhere on TikTok? It means ‘For You Page’.

What does it mean when a guy says Shhh?

When someone says “shh” – the reason they say so is to let you know that you should silence your mind, your thoughts, your feelings and whatever it is bothering you. In more or less stated so that you quieten your mind and allow yourself to be in the moment.