Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
@centromellone.bsky.social
Professor studying how genetic information is passed down to the next generation | She/Her | 🇮🇹 expat in the 🇺🇸 | Wannabe 🐎 rider | She/her | Posts and likes=mine
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
It's Friday. This means it is time for a new post on #Autism : The Evidence. If you missed last week, I discussed what is TRULY behind the rise in prevalence. Today I am going to talk about what it is not: #VACCINES . They are SAFE and EFFECTIVE, but where did this idea come from?
November 22, 2025 at 4:35 AM
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
One of the bragging rights that the US ed system had in the 20th century is that we didn't have education tracks. Essentially, any kid could go to a CC or state school & major in whatever they wanted to (obviously an oversimplification). I fear this aspect of the American dream is dying.
November 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
Just an absolutely gutting essay by Tatiana Schlossberg, a writer, mother of two young children, and cousin of RFK Jr who is dying of leukemia.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
November 22, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Just an absolutely gutting essay by Tatiana Schlossberg, a writer, mother of two young children, and cousin of RFK Jr who is dying of leukemia.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Intracellular competition shapes plasmid population dynamics
From populations of multicellular organisms to selfish genetic elements, conflicts between levels of biological organization are central to evolution. Plasmids are extrachromosomal, self-replicating g...
www.science.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Hot off the press! Our latest paper led by @fernpizza.bsky.social, understanding how plasmids evolve inside cells. These small, self-replicating DNA circles live inside bacteria and carry antibiotic resistance genes, but also compete with one another to replicate. 1/
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
TE x ZFP = Evolution!
Writing this with Olga @orpsf.bsky.social & Didier @trono-lab.bsky.social was a major highlight of my 🇨🇭sabbatical. Such a treat! 🍫Hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy piecing it together.
Writing this with Olga @orpsf.bsky.social & Didier @trono-lab.bsky.social was a major highlight of my 🇨🇭sabbatical. Such a treat! 🍫Hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy piecing it together.
November 18, 2025 at 3:16 PM
TE x ZFP = Evolution!
Writing this with Olga @orpsf.bsky.social & Didier @trono-lab.bsky.social was a major highlight of my 🇨🇭sabbatical. Such a treat! 🍫Hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy piecing it together.
Writing this with Olga @orpsf.bsky.social & Didier @trono-lab.bsky.social was a major highlight of my 🇨🇭sabbatical. Such a treat! 🍫Hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoy piecing it together.
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
Thrilled to share our new review in Current Opinion in Genetics & Development on TE driven innovation in gene regulation🤘. I am honored to be part of this with two major TE aficionados @cedricfeschotte.bsky.social and @trono-lab.bsky.social
#TEsky #TEworldwide
authors.elsevier.com/c/1m6MC,LqAZ...
#TEsky #TEworldwide
authors.elsevier.com/c/1m6MC,LqAZ...
November 15, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Thrilled to share our new review in Current Opinion in Genetics & Development on TE driven innovation in gene regulation🤘. I am honored to be part of this with two major TE aficionados @cedricfeschotte.bsky.social and @trono-lab.bsky.social
#TEsky #TEworldwide
authors.elsevier.com/c/1m6MC,LqAZ...
#TEsky #TEworldwide
authors.elsevier.com/c/1m6MC,LqAZ...
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
"Remarkably, the bacterium that makes methylenomycin A and pre-methylenomycin C lactone -- Streptomyces coelicolor -- is a model antibiotic-producing species that's been studied extensively since the 1950s. Finding a new antibiotic in such a familiar organism was a real surprise." 🧪
British and Australian chemists have discovered a powerful new antibiotic called pre-methylenomycin C lactone, hiding in a well-known soil bacterium. This molecule kills drug-resistant bacteria without triggering resistance. buff.ly/YlXaONo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
Scientists find hidden antibiotic 100x stronger against deadly superbugs
A team of scientists discovered a hidden antibiotic 100 times stronger than existing drugs against deadly superbugs like MRSA. The molecule had been overlooked for decades in a familiar bacterium. It…
buff.ly
November 16, 2025 at 6:38 PM
"Remarkably, the bacterium that makes methylenomycin A and pre-methylenomycin C lactone -- Streptomyces coelicolor -- is a model antibiotic-producing species that's been studied extensively since the 1950s. Finding a new antibiotic in such a familiar organism was a real surprise." 🧪
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
Today I am starting a weekly post titled "Autism: The Evidence". I hope it helps someone fight the colossal wave of misinformation that is drowning us. Part 1: I heard Autism prevalence has gone up. Is that true? If so why?
November 15, 2025 at 3:11 AM
Today I am starting a weekly post titled "Autism: The Evidence". I hope it helps someone fight the colossal wave of misinformation that is drowning us. Part 1: I heard Autism prevalence has gone up. Is that true? If so why?
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
You can disagree and argue as much as you like but the point of evaluating something scientifically is that not every statement should be given equal credence because evidence matters
JD Vance: "Science as practiced in its best form is that if you disagree with it, then you ought to criticize it and you ought to argue against it."
November 13, 2025 at 7:36 PM
You can disagree and argue as much as you like but the point of evaluating something scientifically is that not every statement should be given equal credence because evidence matters
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
PSA for people with NIH grant periods starting January 1st (including most NIGMS MIRAs): your RPPR is due Saturday, but they haven’t sent out the usual automated reminders, presumably due to the shutdown
November 11, 2025 at 1:20 AM
PSA for people with NIH grant periods starting January 1st (including most NIGMS MIRAs): your RPPR is due Saturday, but they haven’t sent out the usual automated reminders, presumably due to the shutdown
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
1. Last office hours a few people had questions about personal statements for grad school apps. I suggested a template that has worked well in my experience & have also laid it out in the thread below in case it's useful for you all.
#AcademicSky #PhdSky #PsychSciSky #SocialPsyc
#DevPsyc #CogPsyc
#AcademicSky #PhdSky #PsychSciSky #SocialPsyc
#DevPsyc #CogPsyc
November 10, 2025 at 10:42 AM
1. Last office hours a few people had questions about personal statements for grad school apps. I suggested a template that has worked well in my experience & have also laid it out in the thread below in case it's useful for you all.
#AcademicSky #PhdSky #PsychSciSky #SocialPsyc
#DevPsyc #CogPsyc
#AcademicSky #PhdSky #PsychSciSky #SocialPsyc
#DevPsyc #CogPsyc
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
Big news in hashtag Chromosome Biology: Chromosoma & Chromosome Research will merge in January 2026! The new unified journal will be titled 'Chromosome Research: Biology of the Nucleus', honoring both legacies and advancing a shared scientific mission. bit.ly/3LmaLwY #ResearchPublishing
November 3, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Big news in hashtag Chromosome Biology: Chromosoma & Chromosome Research will merge in January 2026! The new unified journal will be titled 'Chromosome Research: Biology of the Nucleus', honoring both legacies and advancing a shared scientific mission. bit.ly/3LmaLwY #ResearchPublishing
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
The TArgeted Cohesin Loader (TACL) paper was just published. Happy that we were able to contribute to this really exciting project!
If you want to learn how targeting cohesin to defined loci in the genome affects the local chromatin environment and transcription, look no further!
rdcu.be/eLiT5
If you want to learn how targeting cohesin to defined loci in the genome affects the local chromatin environment and transcription, look no further!
rdcu.be/eLiT5
Characterization of induced cohesin loop extrusion trajectories in living cells
Nature Genetics - This study introduces a system called TArgeted Cohesin Loader (TACL) that recruits cohesin complexes at defined genomic regions and induces loop extrusion events in living cells,...
rdcu.be
October 16, 2025 at 8:17 PM
The TArgeted Cohesin Loader (TACL) paper was just published. Happy that we were able to contribute to this really exciting project!
If you want to learn how targeting cohesin to defined loci in the genome affects the local chromatin environment and transcription, look no further!
rdcu.be/eLiT5
If you want to learn how targeting cohesin to defined loci in the genome affects the local chromatin environment and transcription, look no further!
rdcu.be/eLiT5
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
As the murder of Piersanti Mattarella in 1980 is in the news due to the arrest of a former senior police officer for allegedly hiding or destroying vital evidence, here I explain the background to the killing and subsequent investigations into one of Italy's many unsolved tragedies [Thread] >> 1
October 26, 2025 at 3:43 PM
As the murder of Piersanti Mattarella in 1980 is in the news due to the arrest of a former senior police officer for allegedly hiding or destroying vital evidence, here I explain the background to the killing and subsequent investigations into one of Italy's many unsolved tragedies [Thread] >> 1
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
Heyyyy we desperately need more archaeologists to volunteer to answer questions from students via video chat through @skypeascientist.bsky.social.
We have 80 unmatched teams. We’ve already matched 650 😵💫
If you know any archaeologists, please send them here www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
We have 80 unmatched teams. We’ve already matched 650 😵💫
If you know any archaeologists, please send them here www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
Sign Up
Skype a Scientist gives you the opportunity to connect with students and the public around the world.
www.skypeascientist.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Heyyyy we desperately need more archaeologists to volunteer to answer questions from students via video chat through @skypeascientist.bsky.social.
We have 80 unmatched teams. We’ve already matched 650 😵💫
If you know any archaeologists, please send them here www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
We have 80 unmatched teams. We’ve already matched 650 😵💫
If you know any archaeologists, please send them here www.skypeascientist.com/sign-up.html
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
@joann-trejo.bsky.social, @marymunson4.bsky.social and I have a commentary in @natcellbio.nature.com on recent attacks on DEI in biomedical research: "If scientific research, especially biomedical research, is meant to serve everyone, then it requires that everyone has an opportunity to participate"
Scaling back DEI programmes and the loss of scientific talent
Nature Cell Biology - Programmes that support diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in science are under attack in the USA. Data indicate that diversity in the scientific workforce increases...
www.nature.com
October 23, 2025 at 4:36 PM
@joann-trejo.bsky.social, @marymunson4.bsky.social and I have a commentary in @natcellbio.nature.com on recent attacks on DEI in biomedical research: "If scientific research, especially biomedical research, is meant to serve everyone, then it requires that everyone has an opportunity to participate"
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
important op-ed from @sarahhird.bsky.social on the need for paid leave for UConn faculty. Private sector employees in CT get 16 weeks of paid leave. I got a discretionary teaching release from my department but those are NOT guaranteed. ctmirror.org/2025/10/21/t...
Opinion: This is UConn: Zero paid family leave for professors
UConn currently lets every pregnant/expecting individual reinvent the wheel, cobbling together a leave plan with whatever resources and departmental grace they can muster.
ctmirror.org
October 21, 2025 at 12:08 PM
important op-ed from @sarahhird.bsky.social on the need for paid leave for UConn faculty. Private sector employees in CT get 16 weeks of paid leave. I got a discretionary teaching release from my department but those are NOT guaranteed. ctmirror.org/2025/10/21/t...
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
A summary of training, fellowship, and career development awards
Fiscal year 2025 (compared to fiscal year 2024)
1/12
Fiscal year 2025 (compared to fiscal year 2024)
1/12
a dog is sitting on a rug in front of a brick wall and a plant .
ALT: a dog is sitting on a rug in front of a brick wall and a plant .
media.tenor.com
October 16, 2025 at 12:25 AM
A summary of training, fellowship, and career development awards
Fiscal year 2025 (compared to fiscal year 2024)
1/12
Fiscal year 2025 (compared to fiscal year 2024)
1/12
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
Pervasive suppressors halt the spread of selfish Segregation Distorter in a natural population https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.13.681989v1
October 14, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Pervasive suppressors halt the spread of selfish Segregation Distorter in a natural population https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.13.681989v1
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
No words
May 30, 2025 at 12:23 PM
No words
A good reminder to save all experiment files and logs alongside raw images to demonstrate authenticity of your data
Fake microscopy images generated by AI are indistinguishable from the real thing www.chemistryworld.com/news/fake-mi...
#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT #AcademicSky #AcademicChatter #Research #Ethics #Microscopy #Nanoscience #ScholarlyPublishing #AcademicPublishing #Misconduct #Fraud
#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT #AcademicSky #AcademicChatter #Research #Ethics #Microscopy #Nanoscience #ScholarlyPublishing #AcademicPublishing #Misconduct #Fraud
Fake microscopy images generated by AI are indistinguishable from the real thing
Materials scientists warn that raw data and replication studies are needed to tackle the looming threat of near-undetectable AI fraud
www.chemistryworld.com
October 3, 2025 at 12:02 PM
A good reminder to save all experiment files and logs alongside raw images to demonstrate authenticity of your data
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
"This is extortion, plain and simple.... The only solution is solidarity and collective action against this effort at federal control over higher education."
A sobering analysis of the illegality of the administration's "compact" and its stakes for higher ed. 🎁🔗
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...
A sobering analysis of the illegality of the administration's "compact" and its stakes for higher ed. 🎁🔗
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...
Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion
www.nytimes.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:32 PM
"This is extortion, plain and simple.... The only solution is solidarity and collective action against this effort at federal control over higher education."
A sobering analysis of the illegality of the administration's "compact" and its stakes for higher ed. 🎁🔗
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...
A sobering analysis of the illegality of the administration's "compact" and its stakes for higher ed. 🎁🔗
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
“No self-respecting university could ever accept something like this,” said Lee Bollinger, a First Amendment scholar and former Columbia University president. “Trying to protect conservative ideas against being ‘belittled’ — that’s about as violative of the First Amendment interests as you can get.”
Colleges weigh whether to sign onto Trump plan or forgo federal benefits
A new proposal from the Trump administration would give colleges funding advantages if they adopt conservative priorities.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 3, 2025 at 11:36 AM
“No self-respecting university could ever accept something like this,” said Lee Bollinger, a First Amendment scholar and former Columbia University president. “Trying to protect conservative ideas against being ‘belittled’ — that’s about as violative of the First Amendment interests as you can get.”
Reposted by Barbara Mellone 🇺🇦
📣 🧪 Update: #GRFP petition went to #NSF and OSTP (w/ the growing* comments list) yesterday.
We are now working to get these impacts in front of Congress, so PLEASE keep signing/sharing the petition!
*nearly 900!
@danielbolnick.bsky.social @joshuasweitz.bsky.social @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social
We are now working to get these impacts in front of Congress, so PLEASE keep signing/sharing the petition!
*nearly 900!
@danielbolnick.bsky.social @joshuasweitz.bsky.social @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social
🧪 Were you one of the many thousands of STEM students (and mentors) impacted by the sudden change in #NSF #GRFP eligibility last week?
We created a petition to NSF leadership and Congress to reverse the changes - please sign and share your stories here!!
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
We created a petition to NSF leadership and Congress to reverse the changes - please sign and share your stories here!!
laurenkuehne.github.io/grfpChanges/
Petition to NSF to Restore Eligibility for the 2026 Graduate Research Fellowship Program Competition
laurenkuehne.github.io
October 1, 2025 at 4:37 PM
📣 🧪 Update: #GRFP petition went to #NSF and OSTP (w/ the growing* comments list) yesterday.
We are now working to get these impacts in front of Congress, so PLEASE keep signing/sharing the petition!
*nearly 900!
@danielbolnick.bsky.social @joshuasweitz.bsky.social @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social
We are now working to get these impacts in front of Congress, so PLEASE keep signing/sharing the petition!
*nearly 900!
@danielbolnick.bsky.social @joshuasweitz.bsky.social @jasonwilliamsny.bsky.social