Irony in RNA: a puzzle

Submitted by Sandra Porter on 14 November, 2007.
Science Blog

This structure is called a "kissing loop" and I find that name just a bit odd, given the source of the structure.

i-f452c2f14f97c250b00ff83ebce31479-kissing_loop.gif




Now, here's the puzzle: Why would I say that the name "kissing loop" is ironic?