Gene of the Month - Kenny

And finally, it's time for our gene of the month, and this time - Oh my God, they killed Kenny! Named by University of Strasbourg scientist and South Park fan Sophie Rutschmann, fruit flies with a faulty version of the Kenny gene die within two days after being infected with certain bacteria, similar to the hapless character in the cartoon show. Also known by the names NEMO and IKK gamma, Kenny is an important part of the fly's immune response, working together with another gene known as Relish.