Comments on: Ideas for a gag gift for important genetics fellow?

Question: Ideas for a gag gift for important genetics fellow?

greatgefilte — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:18:12 -0800

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!

By: Nelsormensch

Nelsormensch — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:22:23 -0800

Think Geek has all kinds of adorable plush microbes. It's not quite a chromosome or RNA, but maybe close enough.

By: SassHat

SassHat — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:26:38 -0800

A copy of Multiplicity. Hell, that's a gag gift to anyone, I don't think it's possible to watch it in earnest.

By: hindmost

hindmost — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:36:53 -0800

A signed Watson Crick(et) ball.

By: a robot made out of meat

a robot made out of meat — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:37:40 -0800

Intelligent design books/bumper stickers.

By: ericb

ericb — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:40:53 -0800

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.

By: brain_drain

brain_drain — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:42:55 -0800

The DNA Store has a lot of interesting stuff (including suggestions for departmental gifts!).

By: greatgefilte

greatgefilte — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:44:08 -0800

I'm thinking more along the lines of something that we could make, something a bit more personal, perhaps? Good suggestions, though, thanks!

By: a young man in spats

a young man in spats — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:47:53 -0800

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...)

By: electroboy

electroboy — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:54:23 -0800

A bottle of this?

By: Quietgal

Quietgal — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 14:59:57 -0800

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.

By: Kioki-Silver

Kioki-Silver — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:00:13 -0800

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'.

By: paddingtonb

paddingtonb — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:21:30 -0800

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!

By: Neiltupper

Neiltupper — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:15:48 -0800

One half a pair of jeans = one gene?

By: francesca too

francesca too — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:22:26 -0800

A XX or XY personalized car tag depending on the gender of the geneticist

By: backseatpilot

backseatpilot — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:34:45 -0800

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.

By: chippie

chippie — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 17:59:44 -0800

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.

By: chippie

chippie — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 18:04:58 -0800

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.

By: krisjohn

krisjohn — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:02:22 -0800

Two tickets to the creation museum?

By: legotech

legotech — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:15:15 -0800

I used to have a tshirt that said "GE* we bring good things to life" *Genetic Engineers

By: cowbellemoo

cowbellemoo — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:33:08 -0800

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.

By: tkolar

tkolar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 20:52:45 -0800

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.