David Hofer
@hofer.bsky.social
I work on software for tracking genome sequences, edits and variants. Cat dad. Boston, MA
Pinned
David Hofer
@hofer.bsky.social
· Nov 5
Some news: Last April, I left Ginkgo Bioworks after 8+ years as a software engineer there. Since then, I’ve been working on starting a new company called GenHub with a couple other ex-Ginkgo people, Bob Van Hove and Chris Mitchell. (1/5)
Reposted by David Hofer
new york magazine has a very nasty article out about my beautiful golden throne, which they say is the only thing keeping me alive. when I'm sitting on my big beautiful throne I am NOT ASLEEP!! I am directing the beacon of the astronomican, something sleepy joe did very badly may I add
January 26, 2026 at 4:11 PM
new york magazine has a very nasty article out about my beautiful golden throne, which they say is the only thing keeping me alive. when I'm sitting on my big beautiful throne I am NOT ASLEEP!! I am directing the beacon of the astronomican, something sleepy joe did very badly may I add
Reposted by David Hofer
NEW: Coal-fired power generation fell in both China and India in 2025, for the first time since 1973. The drop came after record clean energy additions in both countries, and was the first time that clean energy was a major driver of falling coal power use.
January 13, 2026 at 4:56 AM
NEW: Coal-fired power generation fell in both China and India in 2025, for the first time since 1973. The drop came after record clean energy additions in both countries, and was the first time that clean energy was a major driver of falling coal power use.
I’m digitizing some records I came into possession of. Toledo is fascinated with the turntable
January 7, 2026 at 12:54 AM
I’m digitizing some records I came into possession of. Toledo is fascinated with the turntable
Reposted by David Hofer
The Dickin Medal is the highest award that can be issued to animals in British military service. Bearing the words "We Also Serve" it has been awarded 75 times since its creation in 1943.
Only one cat has ever received the award.
This is the story of Able Seacat Simon, of HMS Amethyst. 🧵 1/25
Only one cat has ever received the award.
This is the story of Able Seacat Simon, of HMS Amethyst. 🧵 1/25
August 6, 2024 at 12:36 PM
The Dickin Medal is the highest award that can be issued to animals in British military service. Bearing the words "We Also Serve" it has been awarded 75 times since its creation in 1943.
Only one cat has ever received the award.
This is the story of Able Seacat Simon, of HMS Amethyst. 🧵 1/25
Only one cat has ever received the award.
This is the story of Able Seacat Simon, of HMS Amethyst. 🧵 1/25
Reposted by David Hofer
The 2025 Headline of the Year Nominees
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December 22, 2025 at 11:48 PM
The 2025 Headline of the Year Nominees
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I am a Tesla owner with grievances against the CEO, and there are multiple things about the car that suck in winter—I have a list. But you can bring it to a stop in six inches of fresh powder, and start it up again, and it moves forward with almost no problem. The dual axle motors are marvelous
December 27, 2025 at 6:12 PM
I am a Tesla owner with grievances against the CEO, and there are multiple things about the car that suck in winter—I have a list. But you can bring it to a stop in six inches of fresh powder, and start it up again, and it moves forward with almost no problem. The dual axle motors are marvelous
I guess this platform is getting a bunch of new ex-twitter Japanese users? Here’s my entry for the cat club #Blueskyねこ部
December 25, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I guess this platform is getting a bunch of new ex-twitter Japanese users? Here’s my entry for the cat club #Blueskyねこ部
Reposted by David Hofer
frodo: "gandalf.. could we not have tom bombadil carry the ring?"
gandalf, wincing slightly, sighing pissedly, rubbing the bridge of his nose: "tom is.. extremely high"
gandalf, wincing slightly, sighing pissedly, rubbing the bridge of his nose: "tom is.. extremely high"
December 19, 2025 at 3:24 PM
frodo: "gandalf.. could we not have tom bombadil carry the ring?"
gandalf, wincing slightly, sighing pissedly, rubbing the bridge of his nose: "tom is.. extremely high"
gandalf, wincing slightly, sighing pissedly, rubbing the bridge of his nose: "tom is.. extremely high"
Reposted by David Hofer
For the non-bioinformaticians who are following me, here are a couple pictures of my cats as compensation for having to see my GenHub posts
December 9, 2025 at 8:44 PM
For the non-bioinformaticians who are following me, here are a couple pictures of my cats as compensation for having to see my GenHub posts
New GenHub post: Pooled designs (AKA combinatorial libraries: www.genhub.bio/blog/2025/12...
Earlier we posted about using gen with E.coli. This new post shows the flexibility of representing DNA as a sequence graph. It can track genome changes/variants, and also DNA libraries. Take a look!
Earlier we posted about using gen with E.coli. This new post shows the flexibility of representing DNA as a sequence graph. It can track genome changes/variants, and also DNA libraries. Take a look!
GenHub
www.genhub.bio
December 9, 2025 at 7:33 PM
New GenHub post: Pooled designs (AKA combinatorial libraries: www.genhub.bio/blog/2025/12...
Earlier we posted about using gen with E.coli. This new post shows the flexibility of representing DNA as a sequence graph. It can track genome changes/variants, and also DNA libraries. Take a look!
Earlier we posted about using gen with E.coli. This new post shows the flexibility of representing DNA as a sequence graph. It can track genome changes/variants, and also DNA libraries. Take a look!
The paws are interleaved. He’s trying to tell me he’s with Tenet
November 22, 2025 at 11:02 PM
The paws are interleaved. He’s trying to tell me he’s with Tenet
New GenHub blog post: A tour of our web UI, including a sequence graph viewer: www.genhub.bio/blog/2025/11...
GenHub
www.genhub.bio
November 18, 2025 at 2:06 AM
New GenHub blog post: A tour of our web UI, including a sequence graph viewer: www.genhub.bio/blog/2025/11...
New-ish Genhub post: Viewing sequence graphs in the terminal, using the e coli “repo” we set up in an earlier post: www.genhub.bio/blog/2025/11...
GenHub
www.genhub.bio
November 14, 2025 at 4:29 PM
New-ish Genhub post: Viewing sequence graphs in the terminal, using the e coli “repo” we set up in an earlier post: www.genhub.bio/blog/2025/11...
Reposted by David Hofer
Reposted by David Hofer
I wrote a review of James Watson's obituary by CSHL: liorpachter.wordpress.com/2025/11/08/r...
Review of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Obituary for Dr. James Watson
James Watson, who described himself as “not a racist in a conventional way”, has died at the age of 97. Below is a review of an obituary for Dr. James Watson published by Cold Spring Ha…
liorpachter.wordpress.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:58 PM
I wrote a review of James Watson's obituary by CSHL: liorpachter.wordpress.com/2025/11/08/r...
Some news: Last April, I left Ginkgo Bioworks after 8+ years as a software engineer there. Since then, I’ve been working on starting a new company called GenHub with a couple other ex-Ginkgo people, Bob Van Hove and Chris Mitchell. (1/5)
November 5, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Some news: Last April, I left Ginkgo Bioworks after 8+ years as a software engineer there. Since then, I’ve been working on starting a new company called GenHub with a couple other ex-Ginkgo people, Bob Van Hove and Chris Mitchell. (1/5)
Reposted by David Hofer
The future of dental flossing may include vaccine delivery!
www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
October 17, 2025 at 2:00 PM
The future of dental flossing may include vaccine delivery!
www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
Toledo continues his love/hate relationship with the paper that makes scary crackling noises but feels so comfortable
October 8, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Toledo continues his love/hate relationship with the paper that makes scary crackling noises but feels so comfortable
Reposted by David Hofer
If you're good at admin, do admin for a wind developer. If you're bad at admin, do it for a chain of petrol stations.
September 29, 2025 at 1:19 PM
If you're good at admin, do admin for a wind developer. If you're bad at admin, do it for a chain of petrol stations.
Reposted by David Hofer
Feeling alright about that 6th-inning medley of "Love Will Keep Us Together" into "Love Will Tear Us Apart."
September 28, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Feeling alright about that 6th-inning medley of "Love Will Keep Us Together" into "Love Will Tear Us Apart."
Reposted by David Hofer
CHOTINER: And you didn’t know this person - what did you call him again?
CELEBRIMBOR GREATEST OF THE ELVEN SMITHS: Right, his name was Annatar but
CHOTINER: And you taught him to create a ring harnessing all his malice and cruelty?
CELEBRIMBOR: Well I mean I was deceived
CHOTINER: So you’ve said
CELEBRIMBOR GREATEST OF THE ELVEN SMITHS: Right, his name was Annatar but
CHOTINER: And you taught him to create a ring harnessing all his malice and cruelty?
CELEBRIMBOR: Well I mean I was deceived
CHOTINER: So you’ve said
September 24, 2025 at 11:02 PM
CHOTINER: And you didn’t know this person - what did you call him again?
CELEBRIMBOR GREATEST OF THE ELVEN SMITHS: Right, his name was Annatar but
CHOTINER: And you taught him to create a ring harnessing all his malice and cruelty?
CELEBRIMBOR: Well I mean I was deceived
CHOTINER: So you’ve said
CELEBRIMBOR GREATEST OF THE ELVEN SMITHS: Right, his name was Annatar but
CHOTINER: And you taught him to create a ring harnessing all his malice and cruelty?
CELEBRIMBOR: Well I mean I was deceived
CHOTINER: So you’ve said
Reposted by David Hofer
Critics of renewables often point to land use as a reason not to invest in wind & solar. Land use IS a real issue for all energy assets incl renewables (unless on-site).
But what critics conveniently forget is the huge land impact of fossil fuels. Aerial view of fracking sites in Wickett, Texas. 👇
But what critics conveniently forget is the huge land impact of fossil fuels. Aerial view of fracking sites in Wickett, Texas. 👇
September 23, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Critics of renewables often point to land use as a reason not to invest in wind & solar. Land use IS a real issue for all energy assets incl renewables (unless on-site).
But what critics conveniently forget is the huge land impact of fossil fuels. Aerial view of fracking sites in Wickett, Texas. 👇
But what critics conveniently forget is the huge land impact of fossil fuels. Aerial view of fracking sites in Wickett, Texas. 👇
Reposted by David Hofer
incredible photo on wikimedia commons that isn't currently used in any articles
September 17, 2025 at 3:13 PM
incredible photo on wikimedia commons that isn't currently used in any articles
Reposted by David Hofer
