Ideas for a gag gift for important genetics fellow?

November 27, 2007 2:18 PM

Gag gift for the head of a major genetics department, any ideas?

Traditionally, our lab creates some sort of gag present for our dear leader -- in past years it was a 'Monoploidy' board game, a 'Flat Stanley' parody, a football jacket with a chromosome on the back, etc. -- with which to present him at the annual Christmas party. We need some new ideas!

posted by greatgefilte to grab bag (21 comments total)

Think Geek has all kinds of adorable plush microbes. It's not quite a chromosome or RNA, but maybe close enough.
posted by Nelsormensch at 2:22 PM on November 27, 2007

A copy of Multiplicity. Hell, that's a gag gift to anyone, I don't think it's possible to watch it in earnest.
posted by SassHat at 2:26 PM on November 27, 2007

A signed Watson Crick(et) ball.
posted by hindmost at 2:36 PM on November 27, 2007

Intelligent design books/bumper stickers.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 2:37 PM on November 27, 2007

Something from DNAStuff? Jeans, novelties, etc.

It's a non-profit that raises funds for research in genetics and bioinformatics at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

Dr. James Watson was a founder of the non-profit. Please don't let his recent controversial statements besmirch the work of the non-profit.
posted by ericb at 2:40 PM on November 27, 2007

The DNA Store has a lot of interesting stuff (including suggestions for departmental gifts!).
posted by brain_drain at 2:42 PM on November 27, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'm thinking more along the lines of something that we could make, something a bit more personal, perhaps? Good suggestions, though, thanks!
posted by greatgefilte at 2:44 PM on November 27, 2007

A club I was in in college would Photoshop officers into magazine covers (People, etc) and add amusing article titles...maybe raise the brow a notch and do the same with some genetics journal?

(Just keep it off the internet! My GQ cover from 2000 is still the second Google hit for my real name...)
posted by a young man in spats at 2:47 PM on November 27, 2007

A bottle of this?
posted by electroboy at 2:54 PM on November 27, 2007 [1 favorite]

Any good singers and musicians in your department? The Biochemist's Songbook by Harold Baum has lyrics set to well-known tunes that might be good for geneticists as well as my compadres. Record a few, give a live performance, or be inspired to write your own lyrics.
posted by Quietgal at 2:59 PM on November 27, 2007

You could go here and order a custom action figure of Gregor Mendel?

Or to make one yourselves, try Wired's How To or Instructables'.
posted by Kioki-Silver at 3:00 PM on November 27, 2007

you know those photoshopped pictures of what the offspring of 2 random celebrities would look like?

You could make a series of those with a picture of him and who/whatever he would think would be funny!

Your boss has a baby with Britney Spears
Your boss has a baby with a carrot
Your boss has a baby with Madeline Albright

The possibilities are endless!
posted by paddingtonb at 3:21 PM on November 27, 2007

One half a pair of jeans = one gene?
posted by Neiltupper at 5:15 PM on November 27, 2007

A XX or XY personalized car tag depending on the gender of the geneticist
posted by francesca too at 5:22 PM on November 27, 2007

Probably very inappropriate, but you could fill a specimen jar with some sort of... maybe watery tapioca? Tell him it's a sperm donation and you all chipped in.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:34 PM on November 27, 2007

This would be really inexpensive: a Gene Sampler. Make a CD of famous musical Genes: Gene Simmons, Gene Autry, Gene Krupa, etc. Maybe you could do the Photoshop Gene mashup explained above for the cover. Gene Simmons + Gene Autry + Gene Krupa = yucky.
posted by chippie at 5:59 PM on November 27, 2007

And this is not really a gag gift because I think it's expensive, but if you can somehow get a swab of this person's inner cheek without this person noticing, you could get a gene portrait.
posted by chippie at 6:04 PM on November 27, 2007

Two tickets to the creation museum?
posted by krisjohn at 8:02 PM on November 27, 2007

I used to have a tshirt that said "GE* we bring good things to life" *Genetic Engineers
posted by legotech at 8:15 PM on November 27, 2007

DNA Scarf! Doable by a handy beginner working dutifully for two weeks or so in their spare time. Might also find a knitter to do it by commission. Use organic fiber, natch.
posted by cowbellemoo at 8:33 PM on November 27, 2007

Down the ID path:

A name plate for his office that lists his job title as "Intelligent Designer".

A faux framed degree in Intelligent Design.
posted by tkolar at 8:52 PM on November 27, 2007