shmoo
n.— «Yeast cells don’t have casual sex. Preparations are involved. In particular, the cell must reshape itself, becoming elongated like a microscopic pear. Scientists have a name for a cell in such a state: “shmoo.” The word was coined in 1974 and inspired by the pear-shaped character, the Shmoo, in Al Capp’s comic strip, “Lil Abner.”» —“Eureka! Daily discoveries for the scientifically bent” Bend Weekly (Bend, Oregon) Dec. 21, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Scientists have named some recently discovered species of tree frogs after characters from Star Trek. Why? Because of the boops and trills and other sounds that these frogs make. And: naming your children with the virtues you hope they’ll...
Scientists decided to name some newly discovered tree frogs in Madagascar based on the boops and trills they make, which reminded the researchers of Star Trek. Among the scientific names for these critters that belong to the rare Boophis frog genus...