MGEL LOGOS

Over the years, several logos have been utilized at MGEL.  All but the very first logo (not shown) contain a six-rayed "pinwheel" and the entire lab name and/or its four letter acronym.  The newest logo/wordmark (Daniel G. Peterson 2009) is shown at the top of the figure at right.  It replaces the acronym  (bottom left; Daniel G. Peterson 2004) and emblem (bottom right; Daniel G. Peterson 2003) logos.

The six-rayed "pinwheel" in the MGEL logos is:
(1) A symbol of lab unity as it shows "parts" coming together to make a "whole."
(2) A flower representing (a) plants, the principal subjects of our research, (b) life in general, and (c) the life sciences (biology).
(3) A set of chromosomes being moved towards the center of a cell.
(4) The Sun - another symbol of life.
(5) A windmill, the primary symbol associated with Cervantes' famous character Don Quixote - Like Don Quixote, scientists must be willing to attack 'wicked giants' (e.g., ignorance, racism, sexism, intolerance, use of the term 'science' in the promotion of non-scientific causes),  champion worthy causes (e.g., education, intellectual freedom, human rights, environmental responsibility), and remain optimistic in the face of defeat (e.g., most days in the lab).  Hopefully, however, the average scientist can accomplish these tasks without becoming delusional (a problem that squashed Quixote's dreams of becoming a plant molecular biologist).
(6) A DNA double-helix in cross section.
(7) Whatever you want it to be.