Deepak Shilkar
@deepakshilkar.in
Academic Editor and researcher in chemical biology and drug discovery. Simultaneously exploring existentialism, nihilism, zen, and advaita.
Profile links + Blog: https://deepakshilkar.in/
Profile links + Blog: https://deepakshilkar.in/
Used to be me until I adopted 18-6 fasting routine. It works. A little bit of hunger fixes many ills.
January 11, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Used to be me until I adopted 18-6 fasting routine. It works. A little bit of hunger fixes many ills.
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
If our small minds, for some convenience, divide this glass of wine, this universe, into parts — physics, biology, geology, astronomy, psychology, and so on — remember that nature does not know it! So let us put it all back together, not forgetting ultimately what it is for. Let
January 11, 2026 at 8:45 PM
If our small minds, for some convenience, divide this glass of wine, this universe, into parts — physics, biology, geology, astronomy, psychology, and so on — remember that nature does not know it! So let us put it all back together, not forgetting ultimately what it is for. Let
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
Newfound disappointment: receiving shallow peer reviews that are entirely AI-generated.
The whole point is critical feedback from YOU as a real expert. If reviewers are outsourcing to AI, I think we've lost the plot 🤷♀️
As an editor, I'm definitely keeping better track of reviewers I can trust...
The whole point is critical feedback from YOU as a real expert. If reviewers are outsourcing to AI, I think we've lost the plot 🤷♀️
As an editor, I'm definitely keeping better track of reviewers I can trust...
January 11, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Newfound disappointment: receiving shallow peer reviews that are entirely AI-generated.
The whole point is critical feedback from YOU as a real expert. If reviewers are outsourcing to AI, I think we've lost the plot 🤷♀️
As an editor, I'm definitely keeping better track of reviewers I can trust...
The whole point is critical feedback from YOU as a real expert. If reviewers are outsourcing to AI, I think we've lost the plot 🤷♀️
As an editor, I'm definitely keeping better track of reviewers I can trust...
Overnight airport layover. A group of 4 young adults Indians nearby was loud while many of us tried to sleep.
An hour later, one of their own fell asleep. And suddenly, silence.
Does empathy often arrive only when inconvenience becomes personal.
What have we become?🤔
An hour later, one of their own fell asleep. And suddenly, silence.
Does empathy often arrive only when inconvenience becomes personal.
What have we become?🤔
January 11, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Overnight airport layover. A group of 4 young adults Indians nearby was loud while many of us tried to sleep.
An hour later, one of their own fell asleep. And suddenly, silence.
Does empathy often arrive only when inconvenience becomes personal.
What have we become?🤔
An hour later, one of their own fell asleep. And suddenly, silence.
Does empathy often arrive only when inconvenience becomes personal.
What have we become?🤔
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
Wow -- moving away from mtDNA has completely rewritten our understanding of cat domestication. For example, in Europe, it's only 2000 years old!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The dispersal of domestic cats from North Africa to Europe around 2000 years ago
The domestic cat (Felis catus) descends from the African wildcat Felis lybica lybica. Its global distribution alongside humans testifies to its successful adaptation to anthropogenic environments. Unc...
www.science.org
November 28, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Wow -- moving away from mtDNA has completely rewritten our understanding of cat domestication. For example, in Europe, it's only 2000 years old!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
Students applying for grad school, or reaching out to professors. I have an important piece of advice for you: STOP DOING THIS 👇 (a thread) #STEM #PhD #gradschool #academictips
November 21, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Students applying for grad school, or reaching out to professors. I have an important piece of advice for you: STOP DOING THIS 👇 (a thread) #STEM #PhD #gradschool #academictips
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
The scientific world would be a better place if reviews routinely reflected this degree of critical thinking and graphical excellence.
Thanks for putting this together @plaschkalab.bsky.social @rupertfaraway.bsky.social and @thezenklusen.bsky.social
Thanks for putting this together @plaschkalab.bsky.social @rupertfaraway.bsky.social and @thezenklusen.bsky.social
How does messenger RNA (mRNA) get out of the nucleus to become a protein? Eukaryotic mRNA is packaged, exported, and then translated in the cytoplasm. But how do these steps work? And what are open questions? Check out our new review for our take: www.annualreviews.org/content/jour... (1/3)
November 24, 2025 at 9:54 AM
The scientific world would be a better place if reviews routinely reflected this degree of critical thinking and graphical excellence.
Thanks for putting this together @plaschkalab.bsky.social @rupertfaraway.bsky.social and @thezenklusen.bsky.social
Thanks for putting this together @plaschkalab.bsky.social @rupertfaraway.bsky.social and @thezenklusen.bsky.social
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
The Cost of Forgetting
by Chelsi — Vaccines have made a world that is safer and healthier. But, vaccines have made us comfortable enough to forget.
by Chelsi — Vaccines have made a world that is safer and healthier. But, vaccines have made us comfortable enough to forget.
The Cost of Forgetting
by Chelsi — Vaccines have made a world that is safer and healthier. But, vaccines have made us comfortable enough to forget.
smallthingsconsidered.blog
November 24, 2025 at 9:00 AM
The Cost of Forgetting
by Chelsi — Vaccines have made a world that is safer and healthier. But, vaccines have made us comfortable enough to forget.
by Chelsi — Vaccines have made a world that is safer and healthier. But, vaccines have made us comfortable enough to forget.
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
Sharing this important article... for no reason whatsoever.
"We must also continue to deepen and refine our understanding of fundamental biological processes because these details frequently hold the keys to major advances in applied research."
elifesciences.org/articles/102...
"We must also continue to deepen and refine our understanding of fundamental biological processes because these details frequently hold the keys to major advances in applied research."
elifesciences.org/articles/102...
November 23, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Sharing this important article... for no reason whatsoever.
"We must also continue to deepen and refine our understanding of fundamental biological processes because these details frequently hold the keys to major advances in applied research."
elifesciences.org/articles/102...
"We must also continue to deepen and refine our understanding of fundamental biological processes because these details frequently hold the keys to major advances in applied research."
elifesciences.org/articles/102...
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
It's PhD application season. If you are applying for a PhD in neuroscience or biomedical field or are mentoring someone who is applying, please check out our @storiesofwin.bsky.social episode with advice! www.storiesofwin.org/profiles/202...
Neuroscience PhD applications — Stories of WiN
Dr. Nancy Padilla-Coreano chats with Dr. Ben Giasson, the director of the neuroscience PhD program at the University of Florida, to demystify the PhD application process.
www.storiesofwin.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:50 PM
It's PhD application season. If you are applying for a PhD in neuroscience or biomedical field or are mentoring someone who is applying, please check out our @storiesofwin.bsky.social episode with advice! www.storiesofwin.org/profiles/202...
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
You dont have to be in the profession of science to contribute to science. You can do publishable research as a hobbyist too.
November 21, 2025 at 3:07 PM
You dont have to be in the profession of science to contribute to science. You can do publishable research as a hobbyist too.
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
Exploring the living world, with whatever means you have, without any sifting for grander purpose or ulterior motives, is such a unique high. There is so much beauty and so many stories to tell around the proverbial campfire, and so many people are missing out.
Gotta fix this.
Gotta fix this.
November 21, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Exploring the living world, with whatever means you have, without any sifting for grander purpose or ulterior motives, is such a unique high. There is so much beauty and so many stories to tell around the proverbial campfire, and so many people are missing out.
Gotta fix this.
Gotta fix this.
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
"We need more institutional experiments for science" makes sense to me @seemaychou.bsky.social. We might not like some of 'em and some'll fail, but given academic science often looks like a feudal system needing an industrial revolution trying things can't hurt.. seemay.substack.com/p/big-experi...
Big experiments are only big if they can fail
Some reflections on Arena Bioworks' unexpected wind down as a fellow institutional experimentalist
seemay.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:08 PM
"We need more institutional experiments for science" makes sense to me @seemaychou.bsky.social. We might not like some of 'em and some'll fail, but given academic science often looks like a feudal system needing an industrial revolution trying things can't hurt.. seemay.substack.com/p/big-experi...
Tried @qedscience.bsky.social by running our published paper through it. It identified 2 issues unknown to us. Amazing work, Dr. @odedrechavi.bsky.social and team. 👌👌👌
November 9, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Tried @qedscience.bsky.social by running our published paper through it. It identified 2 issues unknown to us. Amazing work, Dr. @odedrechavi.bsky.social and team. 👌👌👌
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
James Watson has died www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:00 PM
James Watson has died www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
And another thing: I am far more concerned with data provenance and information/identity verification than peer review right now… 1/2 journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
November 7, 2025 at 2:30 PM
And another thing: I am far more concerned with data provenance and information/identity verification than peer review right now… 1/2 journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
UniProt is changing its reference proteomes resource.
Reference proteomes will remain in UniProtKB, while others will move to UniParc.
Read more about these changes:
www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/u...
🧬 🖥️
Uniprot is a collaboration between EMBL-EBI, @sib.swiss & the Protein Information Resource.
Reference proteomes will remain in UniProtKB, while others will move to UniParc.
Read more about these changes:
www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/u...
🧬 🖥️
Uniprot is a collaboration between EMBL-EBI, @sib.swiss & the Protein Information Resource.
Changes to UniProt proteomes
UniProt, the data resource for protein sequence and function information, is making major changes to its proteomes resource and to the UniProt Knowledgebase. UniProt has developed a new workflow that ...
www.ebi.ac.uk
November 4, 2025 at 9:58 AM
UniProt is changing its reference proteomes resource.
Reference proteomes will remain in UniProtKB, while others will move to UniParc.
Read more about these changes:
www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/u...
🧬 🖥️
Uniprot is a collaboration between EMBL-EBI, @sib.swiss & the Protein Information Resource.
Reference proteomes will remain in UniProtKB, while others will move to UniParc.
Read more about these changes:
www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/u...
🧬 🖥️
Uniprot is a collaboration between EMBL-EBI, @sib.swiss & the Protein Information Resource.
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
November 3, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
but...you shouldn't use a calculator when you are learning elementary math...the whole point is to develop the language of math...
letting elementary math students use a calculator to 'learn math' would be like letting elementary reading students use a voice reader to 'learn to read'
letting elementary math students use a calculator to 'learn math' would be like letting elementary reading students use a voice reader to 'learn to read'
November 3, 2025 at 5:15 PM
but...you shouldn't use a calculator when you are learning elementary math...the whole point is to develop the language of math...
letting elementary math students use a calculator to 'learn math' would be like letting elementary reading students use a voice reader to 'learn to read'
letting elementary math students use a calculator to 'learn math' would be like letting elementary reading students use a voice reader to 'learn to read'
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
Excited to share our new work on transgenerational adaptation www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.... out today spearheaded by outstanding former undergraduate @kathleenkim.bsky.social. C. elegans adapt to repeated generational stresses and no longer display altered fertility, fat content, + longevity 1/9
Transgenerational adaptation to hypoxia
You have to enable JavaScript in your browser's settings in order to use the eReader.
www.science.org
October 24, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Excited to share our new work on transgenerational adaptation www.science.org/doi/epdf/10.... out today spearheaded by outstanding former undergraduate @kathleenkim.bsky.social. C. elegans adapt to repeated generational stresses and no longer display altered fertility, fat content, + longevity 1/9
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
This is so good to see - a young baby has had a life changing treatable disease diagnosed early due to broad based (healthy baby) genome sequencing. He has a rare eye cancer gene, and has immediately been put into the effective treatment pathway.
4 weeks after being born, Freddie was diagnosed with a rare form of eye cancer. He is one of numerous babies born with rare conditions who are receiving earlier diagnoses and treatment as a result of the Generation Study.
Read the full story: ow.ly/YJ7850XcTNk
Read the full story: ow.ly/YJ7850XcTNk
October 18, 2025 at 8:05 AM
This is so good to see - a young baby has had a life changing treatable disease diagnosed early due to broad based (healthy baby) genome sequencing. He has a rare eye cancer gene, and has immediately been put into the effective treatment pathway.
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
A few alumni have collected in Rochester this weekend to say thank you and happy retirement to my PhD advisor Tom Eickbush, along with three other amazing evolutionary biologists: Allen Orr, John Jaenike, and Jack Werren.
My heart is filled with gratitude for having trained with them.
My heart is filled with gratitude for having trained with them.
October 4, 2025 at 3:14 AM
A few alumni have collected in Rochester this weekend to say thank you and happy retirement to my PhD advisor Tom Eickbush, along with three other amazing evolutionary biologists: Allen Orr, John Jaenike, and Jack Werren.
My heart is filled with gratitude for having trained with them.
My heart is filled with gratitude for having trained with them.
Reposted by Deepak Shilkar
How many chromosomes can an animal have?
In our paper out now in @currentbiology.bsky.social we show that the Atlas blue butterfly has 229 chromosome pairs- the highest in diploid Metazoa! These arose by rapid autosome fragmentation while sex chromosomes stayed intact.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
In our paper out now in @currentbiology.bsky.social we show that the Atlas blue butterfly has 229 chromosome pairs- the highest in diploid Metazoa! These arose by rapid autosome fragmentation while sex chromosomes stayed intact.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Constraints on chromosome evolution revealed by the 229 chromosome pairs of the Atlas blue butterfly
The genome of the Atlas blue butterfly contains ten times more chromosomes than most
butterflies, and more than any other known diploid animal. Wright et al. show that
this extraordinary karyotype is ...
tinyurl.com
September 11, 2025 at 3:22 PM
How many chromosomes can an animal have?
In our paper out now in @currentbiology.bsky.social we show that the Atlas blue butterfly has 229 chromosome pairs- the highest in diploid Metazoa! These arose by rapid autosome fragmentation while sex chromosomes stayed intact.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
In our paper out now in @currentbiology.bsky.social we show that the Atlas blue butterfly has 229 chromosome pairs- the highest in diploid Metazoa! These arose by rapid autosome fragmentation while sex chromosomes stayed intact.
www.cell.com/current-biol...