Gerrich
@gerrich.bsky.social
Non-conventional microbes, metabolic engineering and microbial genetics. Bacteria go brrr
Finally, finished with my thesis, now off to new frontiers!
https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1949-532X
Finally, finished with my thesis, now off to new frontiers!
https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1949-532X
Pinned
Gerrich
@gerrich.bsky.social
· Jan 7
Construction and comparison of different vehicles for heterologous gene expression in Zymomonas mobilis
In this study, a series of shuttle vectors compatible with modular cloning were constructed based on the replication mechanisms of the native Z. mobilis plasmids pZMO1, pZMOB04, pZMOB05, pZMOB06, pZM...
doi.org
My last thesis paper post:
This one is for plasmid enthusiasts.
Comparing seven different replication system for application in the Zymomonas mobilis.
The pBBR1 replicon and six replicons from native Z. mobilis plasmids of different strains.
Published in @microbiotech.bsky.social 🧪
This one is for plasmid enthusiasts.
Comparing seven different replication system for application in the Zymomonas mobilis.
The pBBR1 replicon and six replicons from native Z. mobilis plasmids of different strains.
Published in @microbiotech.bsky.social 🧪
Reposted by Gerrich
New paper! From Sam Snodgrass and @genomeofforrest.bsky.social, w/ @druncie.bsky.social, @gcbias.bsky.social, and a collaboration with Andres Moreno and @santiagogmm.bsky.social. Can we quantify the impact of humans on maize dispersal?
Plant yourself in a comfy chair and lend me your ear:
1/10
Plant yourself in a comfy chair and lend me your ear:
1/10
www.biorxiv.org
February 6, 2026 at 5:49 AM
New paper! From Sam Snodgrass and @genomeofforrest.bsky.social, w/ @druncie.bsky.social, @gcbias.bsky.social, and a collaboration with Andres Moreno and @santiagogmm.bsky.social. Can we quantify the impact of humans on maize dispersal?
Plant yourself in a comfy chair and lend me your ear:
1/10
Plant yourself in a comfy chair and lend me your ear:
1/10
Reposted by Gerrich
Feel like doing a SynBio PhD in Spain? Check this offer, many fellowships available 👉🏻 lifehub.csic.es/synbio-cofund/
February 6, 2026 at 6:27 AM
Feel like doing a SynBio PhD in Spain? Check this offer, many fellowships available 👉🏻 lifehub.csic.es/synbio-cofund/
Reposted by Gerrich
10/28 Our hypothesis: chlorophototrophy and retinalophototrophy together create an evolutionary priority effect. They've saturated the available phototrophic niche space, blocking any newcomer from gaining a foothold. Two is the magic number because two is all it takes to fill that space.
February 3, 2026 at 9:37 PM
10/28 Our hypothesis: chlorophototrophy and retinalophototrophy together create an evolutionary priority effect. They've saturated the available phototrophic niche space, blocking any newcomer from gaining a foothold. Two is the magic number because two is all it takes to fill that space.
Reposted by Gerrich
So you sequenced a billion+ bases. That don’t impress me much.
JERBOA is a toolkit to figure out what genes do at scale. We've used it to unlock 43 non-model microbes across 12 different phyla.
JERBOA is a toolkit to figure out what genes do at scale. We've used it to unlock 43 non-model microbes across 12 different phyla.
February 3, 2026 at 5:43 PM
So you sequenced a billion+ bases. That don’t impress me much.
JERBOA is a toolkit to figure out what genes do at scale. We've used it to unlock 43 non-model microbes across 12 different phyla.
JERBOA is a toolkit to figure out what genes do at scale. We've used it to unlock 43 non-model microbes across 12 different phyla.
Reposted by Gerrich
In terms of Northern Hemisphere day length changes, February is the best month. Day length is increasing rapidly now, and the month brings us from the middle of winter to the first signs of spring.
February 1, 2026 at 11:05 AM
In terms of Northern Hemisphere day length changes, February is the best month. Day length is increasing rapidly now, and the month brings us from the middle of winter to the first signs of spring.
Reposted by Gerrich
Not managed to check out my crazy bacteria vs castles #sciart project yet? Well let me tell you about it
#biosky #artsky
I like drawing #bacteria, but I wanted to add texture to make the drawing more EXCITING! So I added a map of the village I grew up in.
This is a Mycoplasma. (We call her Mimi.)
#biosky #artsky
I like drawing #bacteria, but I wanted to add texture to make the drawing more EXCITING! So I added a map of the village I grew up in.
This is a Mycoplasma. (We call her Mimi.)
January 31, 2026 at 6:47 AM
Reposted by Gerrich
We are hiring for group leaders again — EBI is a great place to start your research group!
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/EMBL/job/Hin...
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/EMBL/job/Hin...
Research Group Leader
Do you want to lead groundbreaking research in computational biology? Join us at EMBL-EBI! EMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) is seeking talented and highly-motivated scientists to jo...
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:02 AM
We are hiring for group leaders again — EBI is a great place to start your research group!
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/EMBL/job/Hin...
embl.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/EMBL/job/Hin...
Reposted by Gerrich
New paper out in @pnas.org, and it made the cover! 👁️
We represent plasmids as circles and mutations as dots, resembling an eye, because in this paper we literally 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ plasmids evolve.
‼️Check Paula’s 🧵 and the paper👇
𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
We represent plasmids as circles and mutations as dots, resembling an eye, because in this paper we literally 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ plasmids evolve.
‼️Check Paula’s 🧵 and the paper👇
𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
January 27, 2026 at 8:23 PM
New paper out in @pnas.org, and it made the cover! 👁️
We represent plasmids as circles and mutations as dots, resembling an eye, because in this paper we literally 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ plasmids evolve.
‼️Check Paula’s 🧵 and the paper👇
𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
We represent plasmids as circles and mutations as dots, resembling an eye, because in this paper we literally 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ plasmids evolve.
‼️Check Paula’s 🧵 and the paper👇
𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗺𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Gerrich
The Laboratory of Biophysics at Wageningen University & Research (NL) is looking for a new chair! Details here: www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/f...
Full Professor and Chair Laboratory of Biophysics
We are looking for a Full Professor in the Biophysics chair group, part of Wageningen University & Research (WUR)
www.wur.nl
January 27, 2026 at 8:13 PM
The Laboratory of Biophysics at Wageningen University & Research (NL) is looking for a new chair! Details here: www.wur.nl/en/vacancy/f...
Reposted by Gerrich
I'm so happy and proud! 😇
Yesterday, Jolina successfully defended her excellent master's thesis, thereby completing her dual study programme in #Biotechnology at the @hsanhalt.bsky.social and the @leibnizipk.bsky.social. This is also the first graduation completed within the #BGEgroup.
Yesterday, Jolina successfully defended her excellent master's thesis, thereby completing her dual study programme in #Biotechnology at the @hsanhalt.bsky.social and the @leibnizipk.bsky.social. This is also the first graduation completed within the #BGEgroup.
January 23, 2026 at 9:01 AM
I'm so happy and proud! 😇
Yesterday, Jolina successfully defended her excellent master's thesis, thereby completing her dual study programme in #Biotechnology at the @hsanhalt.bsky.social and the @leibnizipk.bsky.social. This is also the first graduation completed within the #BGEgroup.
Yesterday, Jolina successfully defended her excellent master's thesis, thereby completing her dual study programme in #Biotechnology at the @hsanhalt.bsky.social and the @leibnizipk.bsky.social. This is also the first graduation completed within the #BGEgroup.
Reposted by Gerrich
Bacteria are amazing! The abundant Dps protein binds and protects DNA in stationary-phase cells with minimal effect on chromosome accessibility, dynamics, and organization. Now in NAR doi.org/10.1093/nar/...; I'm really proud of our multidisciplinary team led by Lauren, Lindsay, and Xiaofeng, et al.
January 16, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Bacteria are amazing! The abundant Dps protein binds and protects DNA in stationary-phase cells with minimal effect on chromosome accessibility, dynamics, and organization. Now in NAR doi.org/10.1093/nar/...; I'm really proud of our multidisciplinary team led by Lauren, Lindsay, and Xiaofeng, et al.
Reposted by Gerrich
Why I’m genetically engineering a rainbow flower…
And how a Russian fairy tale inspired the idea 🧵
And how a Russian fairy tale inspired the idea 🧵
January 16, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Why I’m genetically engineering a rainbow flower…
And how a Russian fairy tale inspired the idea 🧵
And how a Russian fairy tale inspired the idea 🧵
Reposted by Gerrich
Bluesky is definitely a place for science, research and citing papers. We hope it will continue to close the gap as rapidly as it has with legacy social media. Research, science and dank memes need many homes on the internet.
Bluesky provides one of the more inviting ones.
Happy New Year.
Bluesky provides one of the more inviting ones.
Happy New Year.
a man wearing a beanie says " yeah science "
Alt: Jeffie (ok Jessie) Pinkman from Breaking Bad wearing a beanie says " yeah science" and points.
Hey did anyone watch Pluribus? Sick show, we Stan Vince Gilligan. I bet his middle name is Jeff.
media.tenor.com
January 8, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Bluesky is definitely a place for science, research and citing papers. We hope it will continue to close the gap as rapidly as it has with legacy social media. Research, science and dank memes need many homes on the internet.
Bluesky provides one of the more inviting ones.
Happy New Year.
Bluesky provides one of the more inviting ones.
Happy New Year.
Reposted by Gerrich
Totally! 💯
Whenever there is a survey here in the UK, I keep suggesting that every grant holder should review 4 grant proposals per year for the body from which they receive funding. This should be a commitment at the stage of accepting the award.
If you have received,you give back to the community
Whenever there is a survey here in the UK, I keep suggesting that every grant holder should review 4 grant proposals per year for the body from which they receive funding. This should be a commitment at the stage of accepting the award.
If you have received,you give back to the community
If they do it because they can’t find reviewers, the solution is very simple: you review 3 grants for every grant you submit. If you don’t or do a bad job, you are banned from submitting for a year. If they really think AI can do a better job at judging grants than us, we should close shop.
January 9, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Totally! 💯
Whenever there is a survey here in the UK, I keep suggesting that every grant holder should review 4 grant proposals per year for the body from which they receive funding. This should be a commitment at the stage of accepting the award.
If you have received,you give back to the community
Whenever there is a survey here in the UK, I keep suggesting that every grant holder should review 4 grant proposals per year for the body from which they receive funding. This should be a commitment at the stage of accepting the award.
If you have received,you give back to the community
Reposted by Gerrich
After 4 years of joint effort of my Lab and Dr. Llorente Team we took for first time SCRaMbLE to a bacterial system! This allowed us to massively reordered the main chromosome of Vibrio natriegens!
biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Here's a 🧵
biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Here's a 🧵
Creating bacterial genomic diversity through large-scale reconfigurations reveals phenotype robustness to organizational genome change
The ability to generate genomic diversity expands opportunities for understanding and engineering biology. Here, we demonstrate on-demand generation of diversity in bacterial genome configurations and...
biorxiv.org
January 8, 2026 at 8:25 PM
After 4 years of joint effort of my Lab and Dr. Llorente Team we took for first time SCRaMbLE to a bacterial system! This allowed us to massively reordered the main chromosome of Vibrio natriegens!
biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Here's a 🧵
biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Here's a 🧵
Reposted by Gerrich
March 28, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Reposted by Gerrich
A few years ago, through luck and vibes, I managed to produce this blue colored bean variety.
This was an early step in trying to answer the question, [paraphrased] "Why isn't blue as common as red in beans, even though they're both anthocyanins and the plant has the genes for both?"
This was an early step in trying to answer the question, [paraphrased] "Why isn't blue as common as red in beans, even though they're both anthocyanins and the plant has the genes for both?"
December 29, 2025 at 7:14 AM
A few years ago, through luck and vibes, I managed to produce this blue colored bean variety.
This was an early step in trying to answer the question, [paraphrased] "Why isn't blue as common as red in beans, even though they're both anthocyanins and the plant has the genes for both?"
This was an early step in trying to answer the question, [paraphrased] "Why isn't blue as common as red in beans, even though they're both anthocyanins and the plant has the genes for both?"
Doing some tricky organic chemistry with "Feuerzangenbowle".
December 25, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Doing some tricky organic chemistry with "Feuerzangenbowle".
Reposted by Gerrich
These strange trees are called 'pewen' or 'piñonero' in their native Chile, but when they reached England as an ornamental, barrister Charles Austin commented:
"It would puzzle a monkey to climb that"
So now, in English, they're called "monkey-puzzles."
They get weirder up close...
"It would puzzle a monkey to climb that"
So now, in English, they're called "monkey-puzzles."
They get weirder up close...
December 23, 2025 at 10:39 PM
These strange trees are called 'pewen' or 'piñonero' in their native Chile, but when they reached England as an ornamental, barrister Charles Austin commented:
"It would puzzle a monkey to climb that"
So now, in English, they're called "monkey-puzzles."
They get weirder up close...
"It would puzzle a monkey to climb that"
So now, in English, they're called "monkey-puzzles."
They get weirder up close...
Reposted by Gerrich
Reposted by Gerrich
Today's timeline theme is "Awesome Shirts" apparently.
December 18, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Today's timeline theme is "Awesome Shirts" apparently.
Reposted by Gerrich
A long standing goal in synthetic biology is ‘PURE makes PURE’ - effectively the start of self-replicating biology in a tube from just adding biochemicals and DNA instructions. This looks like a promising breakthrough from the Maerkl lab. 👀
PURE makes PURE: reconstitution of the PURE cell-free system from self-synthesized non-ribosomal proteins https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.17.694911v1
December 18, 2025 at 5:38 AM
A long standing goal in synthetic biology is ‘PURE makes PURE’ - effectively the start of self-replicating biology in a tube from just adding biochemicals and DNA instructions. This looks like a promising breakthrough from the Maerkl lab. 👀
Reposted by Gerrich
Slight improvement by team members 😅
December 17, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Slight improvement by team members 😅
Reposted by Gerrich
Organelles do NOT have a single uniform pH.
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
Organelles harbour pH gradients https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.12.694065v1
December 17, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Organelles do NOT have a single uniform pH.
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
December 16, 2025 at 8:51 PM