Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍
@devoevomed.bsky.social
Professor, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, SUNY | 1st Gen | Extinction is forever | DevoEvo & EvoDevo | Science & Society | Friend of Corvids and swans | Science Nerd | I❤️Biology! Lives with Epilepsy
Pinned
The Extinction of Truth
Or, a Colossal Pile of Bullshit
open.substack.com
Updated a broken link in my substack post about the
#ColossalBio #DeExtinction #DisInformation campaign – dire wolves are still extinct.
open.substack.com/pub/devoevom...
#ColossalBio #DeExtinction #DisInformation campaign – dire wolves are still extinct.
open.substack.com/pub/devoevom...
Reposted by Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
November 26, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Scientists: have you been the target of an online harassment campaign, doxxing, or weaponized FOIA requests? I'd like to talk to you about steps you had to take to protect your digital security for an upcoming Nature story. (You can be anonymous if necessary.)
RTs appreciated.
RTs appreciated.
Tell me your take on the Channel 4 doc about you know who, I'm going to discuss it in class as an extension of our eugenics lectures; I'm trying to get as many opinions *about the genetics* as possible (not the actual gDNA sequencing)...
🧪 🌱🐋
🧪 🌱🐋
November 25, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Tell me your take on the Channel 4 doc about you know who, I'm going to discuss it in class as an extension of our eugenics lectures; I'm trying to get as many opinions *about the genetics* as possible (not the actual gDNA sequencing)...
🧪 🌱🐋
🧪 🌱🐋
Reposted by Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍
Nice extinction history article.
Steller’s sea cows are one of my favorite extinction encounters in museums. I discuss them in chapter 8 on playful figures (examples from @mnhn.fr & Smithsonian NatHist) and chapter 1 on forms (example from @nathist.bsky.social )
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Steller’s sea cows are one of my favorite extinction encounters in museums. I discuss them in chapter 8 on playful figures (examples from @mnhn.fr & Smithsonian NatHist) and chapter 1 on forms (example from @nathist.bsky.social )
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
November 24, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Nice extinction history article.
Steller’s sea cows are one of my favorite extinction encounters in museums. I discuss them in chapter 8 on playful figures (examples from @mnhn.fr & Smithsonian NatHist) and chapter 1 on forms (example from @nathist.bsky.social )
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Steller’s sea cows are one of my favorite extinction encounters in museums. I discuss them in chapter 8 on playful figures (examples from @mnhn.fr & Smithsonian NatHist) and chapter 1 on forms (example from @nathist.bsky.social )
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Another target for #ColossalBio! 🤷 🧪 🌱🐋
Nice extinction history article.
Steller’s sea cows are one of my favorite extinction encounters in museums. I discuss them in chapter 8 on playful figures (examples from @mnhn.fr & Smithsonian NatHist) and chapter 1 on forms (example from @nathist.bsky.social )
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Steller’s sea cows are one of my favorite extinction encounters in museums. I discuss them in chapter 8 on playful figures (examples from @mnhn.fr & Smithsonian NatHist) and chapter 1 on forms (example from @nathist.bsky.social )
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
November 25, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Another target for #ColossalBio! 🤷 🧪 🌱🐋
Reposted by Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
About that exclusive, "closed-to-press" MAHA summit last week with RFK and JD Vance: I got in.
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Here's what I saw. 🧵 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍
Gatekeeping by demanding expensive technology or approaches is the ancient tactic of the rich laboratory.
My favorite from an @hhmi.org scientist: “the great thing about optogenetics is it keeps the riff raff out of the field.”
Heard an established successful neuroscientist dismissing junior scientists as "people at the bottom" 🤦♀️
You folks with lots of research funds & power: young scientists more than ever need our respect and support even if you don't agree with their ideas and approaches
#sfn2025
You folks with lots of research funds & power: young scientists more than ever need our respect and support even if you don't agree with their ideas and approaches
#sfn2025
November 23, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Gatekeeping by demanding expensive technology or approaches is the ancient tactic of the rich laboratory.
Proud riff raff and a data parasite here! 🧪
November 23, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Proud riff raff and a data parasite here! 🧪
The is the exact process of science; failure after failure after failure after failure after lots more failure, but that occasional success literally is awesome! 🧪
They say the best opportunity comes once in a lifetime, and for some things that's true. But more often success leaves a trail of failures in its wake. Do not resign yourself to defeat because you missed a chance. Go out and make more of them.
November 23, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The is the exact process of science; failure after failure after failure after failure after lots more failure, but that occasional success literally is awesome! 🧪
I’ve had multiple grant reviewers note that @sunyofficial.bsky.social system is the most important higher education system in the country; they ain’t wrong…
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 7:01 PM
I’ve had multiple grant reviewers note that @sunyofficial.bsky.social system is the most important higher education system in the country; they ain’t wrong…
My 4yo asked what’s largest number; sent me down a rabbit hole, the internet says there’s no largest number b/c one can always add to a number. Why isn’t the largest number the length of the universe from one side to the other? (Yes it’s inflating — for now)…
November 22, 2025 at 11:45 PM
My 4yo asked what’s largest number; sent me down a rabbit hole, the internet says there’s no largest number b/c one can always add to a number. Why isn’t the largest number the length of the universe from one side to the other? (Yes it’s inflating — for now)…
I’ve read “The changing rule of the embryo in evolutionary thought” every year since 2008; it never ceases to amaze 🧪 🌱🐋
November 21, 2025 at 7:28 PM
I’ve read “The changing rule of the embryo in evolutionary thought” every year since 2008; it never ceases to amaze 🧪 🌱🐋
Also please let me edit for spelling, grammar and syntax; some of us do not see these errors at first, second, third, do but eventually. Like version control (that is what that it rifght‽)
BlueSky really needs a "draft" function. I would find it cathartic to type out hot takes, but not immediately post them. And, I'm sure, quite a few other people would benefit from this too.
Back in the day, my twitter drafts were a treasure trove of secrets. But, alas, they are lost to history.
Back in the day, my twitter drafts were a treasure trove of secrets. But, alas, they are lost to history.
November 21, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Also please let me edit for spelling, grammar and syntax; some of us do not see these errors at first, second, third, do but eventually. Like version control (that is what that it rifght‽)
Reposted by Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍
#CancerGenetics people: I am looking for examples of tumor suppressor genes that are inactivated in cancers by regulatory mutations (non-coding) rather than coding mutations. Please share.
November 20, 2025 at 6:33 PM
#CancerGenetics people: I am looking for examples of tumor suppressor genes that are inactivated in cancers by regulatory mutations (non-coding) rather than coding mutations. Please share.
Reposted by Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍
Team fish - we need your help! We are trying to build a database of all the fish chromosome-scale genomes where sex chromosomes have been identified. Have you build one or some? Do you know someone who has? Can you post the link in the comments? Please spread the word and repost! Thank you!
November 20, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Team fish - we need your help! We are trying to build a database of all the fish chromosome-scale genomes where sex chromosomes have been identified. Have you build one or some? Do you know someone who has? Can you post the link in the comments? Please spread the word and repost! Thank you!
When I was a kid growing up on the Hudson River, the winter ice was so thick we would drive cars on it for food, and fun, spin outs, 180s, and the like; ice breakers would have to cut the channel open. That’s not something that can or needs to be done anymore...
Many people don't realise how climate change is already - not in the future - affecting our lives. And it's doing so in ways that, once our eyes are opened, we can notice!
For example, food. h/t @climatecentral.org
For example, food. h/t @climatecentral.org
November 19, 2025 at 7:28 PM
When I was a kid growing up on the Hudson River, the winter ice was so thick we would drive cars on it for food, and fun, spin outs, 180s, and the like; ice breakers would have to cut the channel open. That’s not something that can or needs to be done anymore...
Help me, Bluesky, you are my only hope. I've lost track of the author who said, "I settle the matter once and for all by showing which elements of each side are correct." Please help me attribute this quote to someone...
November 19, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Help me, Bluesky, you are my only hope. I've lost track of the author who said, "I settle the matter once and for all by showing which elements of each side are correct." Please help me attribute this quote to someone...
Reposted by Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍
Reposted by Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍
I wrote up some brief notes on Model Context Protocol (MCP) and triple stores iphylo.blogspot.com/2025/11/mode.... The idea of querying knowledge graphs using natural language is intoxicating.
Model Context Protocol (MCP) and triple stores: natural language queries for knowledge graphs
Blog by Rod Page on biodiversity informatics, taxonomy, systematics, phylogeny, knowledge graphs, and other topics.
iphylo.blogspot.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:30 PM
I wrote up some brief notes on Model Context Protocol (MCP) and triple stores iphylo.blogspot.com/2025/11/mode.... The idea of querying knowledge graphs using natural language is intoxicating.
Reposted by Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍
I mean, look, I'm not a reporter, so who am I to talk?
But on a day where the president both just called a woman reporter "Piggy" and is celebrating someone who had people bone saw apart one of my colleagues, I might just be a little ready to defend my colleagues and profession.
But that's just me
But on a day where the president both just called a woman reporter "Piggy" and is celebrating someone who had people bone saw apart one of my colleagues, I might just be a little ready to defend my colleagues and profession.
But that's just me
November 18, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I mean, look, I'm not a reporter, so who am I to talk?
But on a day where the president both just called a woman reporter "Piggy" and is celebrating someone who had people bone saw apart one of my colleagues, I might just be a little ready to defend my colleagues and profession.
But that's just me
But on a day where the president both just called a woman reporter "Piggy" and is celebrating someone who had people bone saw apart one of my colleagues, I might just be a little ready to defend my colleagues and profession.
But that's just me
Fantastic deëxtinction fiction vs #DeExtinction facts 🧪🐺🦤🦣
The wonderful people at the NZ Science Learning Hub have turned my talk on MythBusting de-extinction to sort fact from fiction into a freely available educational resource. You can check it out here www.sciencelearn.org.nz/resources/my...
Mythbusting de-extinction to sort fact from fiction
De-extinction hit the headlines recently with the ‘resurrection’ of the dire wolf and the push to bring back the moa. However, can scientists really bring back extinct animals? And more importantly, s...
www.sciencelearn.org.nz
November 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Fantastic deëxtinction fiction vs #DeExtinction facts 🧪🐺🦤🦣
Reposted by Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍
Glyptodonts!
New at Tetrapod Zoology .... The Life Appearance of Glyptodonts, a remarkable group of giant and anatomically amazing group of extinct armadillos tetzoo.com/blog/2025/11... #mammals
The Life Appearance of Glyptodonts — Tetrapod Zoology
For some time now I’ve been interested in what the glyptodonts – a group of highly modified, large or gigantic armadillos – looked like when alive….
tetzoo.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Glyptodonts!
Better and more accurate coverage than from most of the #PopGen community I’ve seen so far, at least those I’m aware of… 🧪 🌱🐋
DNA Sequencing Reveals Hitler Was Type Of Fern
DNA Sequencing Reveals Hitler Was Type Of Fern
BATH, ENGLAND—Saying the discovery shed new light on the infamous German dictator’s life, University of Bath researchers revealed DNA sequencing Friday showing that Adolf Hitler was a type of fern. “A...
theonion.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Better and more accurate coverage than from most of the #PopGen community I’ve seen so far, at least those I’m aware of… 🧪 🌱🐋
Reposted by Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍
My god. My god.
Oh fucking hell.
God.
Oh fucking hell.
God.
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 18, 2025 at 8:40 PM
My god. My god.
Oh fucking hell.
God.
Oh fucking hell.
God.
Reposted by Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍
Marine biologist develops rapid DNA tool to combat illegal shark and ray fin trade | FIU News - Florida International University
Marine biologist develops rapid DNA tool to combat illegal shark and ray fin trade
It identifies protected species on the spot and catch traffickers in the act.
news.fiu.edu
November 18, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Marine biologist develops rapid DNA tool to combat illegal shark and ray fin trade | FIU News - Florida International University