Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
@notjustdna.bsky.social
Scientist and science writer from New Zealand.
BioinfoTools on Twitter.
Traveller. Cycle touring.
More later - just setting this account up!
BioinfoTools on Twitter.
Traveller. Cycle touring.
More later - just setting this account up!
Pinned
Just a quick note to followers -
If you don’t want NZ politics, just mute the hashtag #NZpol
I try to tag political posts with this to help those who are more interested in science, science communication, etc.
Similarly, most posts meant for New Zealanders are tagged #NZ or #kikorangi
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If you don’t want NZ politics, just mute the hashtag #NZpol
I try to tag political posts with this to help those who are more interested in science, science communication, etc.
Similarly, most posts meant for New Zealanders are tagged #NZ or #kikorangi
1/2
This research reaffirms that non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) deployed during the COVID-19 acute phase likely played a role in eliminating the B/Yamagata lineage of influenza B viruses -
Unraveling the mechanism behind the probable extinction of the B/Yamagata lineage of influenza B viruses - Nature Communications
Influenza B/Yamagata lineage has rarely been detected since COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions were introduced, while transmission of other influenza lineages resumed. Here, the authors investi...
www.nature.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:51 PM
This research reaffirms that non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) deployed during the COVID-19 acute phase likely played a role in eliminating the B/Yamagata lineage of influenza B viruses -
On the general topic of conservation risk, management of kākāpō including monitoring and managing Aspergillosis outbreaks - www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/kak...
Kākāpō aspergillosis outbreak
The Kākāpō Recovery team is responding to an aspergillosis outbreak on Anchor Island in Fiordland, following a successful kākāpō breeding season.
www.doc.govt.nz
November 25, 2025 at 6:43 PM
On the general topic of conservation risk, management of kākāpō including monitoring and managing Aspergillosis outbreaks - www.doc.govt.nz/our-work/kak...
Shame on you, BBC -
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Shame on you, BBC -
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
#NZ Announcement of 'Health Digital Investment Plan'
A PDF of high-level outline of the plan* can be read here –
www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/assets/Uploa...
(via www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/corporate-in...)
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A PDF of high-level outline of the plan* can be read here –
www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/assets/Uploa...
(via www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/corporate-in...)
1/n
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 AM
#NZ Announcement of 'Health Digital Investment Plan'
A PDF of high-level outline of the plan* can be read here –
www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/assets/Uploa...
(via www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/corporate-in...)
1/n
A PDF of high-level outline of the plan* can be read here –
www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/assets/Uploa...
(via www.tewhatuora.govt.nz/corporate-in...)
1/n
calls out against the deficit model, while mostly good, were also often generalising, that perhaps a better way to view it was as a red flag to think about what audience you were wanting to reach, and how, rather than a simple yes/no style "rule" against it.
I can imagine it’s an ongoing thing!
I can imagine it’s an ongoing thing!
November 25, 2025 at 5:39 PM
calls out against the deficit model, while mostly good, were also often generalising, that perhaps a better way to view it was as a red flag to think about what audience you were wanting to reach, and how, rather than a simple yes/no style "rule" against it.
I can imagine it’s an ongoing thing!
I can imagine it’s an ongoing thing!
Not sure I’ll convey it well in a hurry, but I got the impression from the accounts I read of a rough path of steps, one of which was "just reading the stuff" at some point - that they said they appreciated at that point material they could take away & read on their own. It made me think about if
November 25, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Not sure I’ll convey it well in a hurry, but I got the impression from the accounts I read of a rough path of steps, one of which was "just reading the stuff" at some point - that they said they appreciated at that point material they could take away & read on their own. It made me think about if
I wish our institutions would clarify that they don’t use these sources -
I’d still like to see all other nations say clearly that at this point in time they are not using health and medicine advice from the affected US administrations,* owing to political interference or 'capture' by inappropriate people, and saying where they get their advice from.
NEW: The entire staff supporting ACIP was laid off, and most working groups haven't met in months.
That means the US may not make routine vaccine recommendations for more than half of children in 2026, and it could halt new vaccines in the pipeline. My latest:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
That means the US may not make routine vaccine recommendations for more than half of children in 2026, and it could halt new vaccines in the pipeline. My latest:
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
November 25, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I wish our institutions would clarify that they don’t use these sources -
More reasons we can’t rely on advice from US-based medical or health at the moment.
This example may seem more innocuous that others I’ve mentioned, but it highlights how content is being altered to fit ideology.
This example may seem more innocuous that others I’ve mentioned, but it highlights how content is being altered to fit ideology.
CDC website has been scrubbed of all mentions of "mpox" with everything replaced by "monkeypox," even renaming linked articles in EID.
November 25, 2025 at 5:15 PM
More reasons we can’t rely on advice from US-based medical or health at the moment.
This example may seem more innocuous that others I’ve mentioned, but it highlights how content is being altered to fit ideology.
This example may seem more innocuous that others I’ve mentioned, but it highlights how content is being altered to fit ideology.
FWIW (not much, but…! 😊): Years ago (before blogging at Sciblogs, even!) I reviewed a small series of accounts of religious 'deconvertions'. I remember thinking them saying it was a long process, ten years or so. (My interest was all said at some point 'deficit model' material was important.)
November 25, 2025 at 5:01 PM
FWIW (not much, but…! 😊): Years ago (before blogging at Sciblogs, even!) I reviewed a small series of accounts of religious 'deconvertions'. I remember thinking them saying it was a long process, ten years or so. (My interest was all said at some point 'deficit model' material was important.)
I remember it personally, too. My PhD work got a brief mention in an article Aaron Klug wrote on so-called ‘zinc finger’ proteins. Although a big enough topic in molecular biology at the time, it was a pretty geeky topic that I doubt would get much attention in a 'popular science' outlet today.
November 25, 2025 at 4:48 PM
I remember it personally, too. My PhD work got a brief mention in an article Aaron Klug wrote on so-called ‘zinc finger’ proteins. Although a big enough topic in molecular biology at the time, it was a pretty geeky topic that I doubt would get much attention in a 'popular science' outlet today.
Scientific American has changed quite a bit.
My memory has many of the feature articles being written by scientists covering their research focus, with editors’ assistance. From a researcher’s point of view they glossed over things, but they were deep dives for general-readership articles.
My memory has many of the feature articles being written by scientists covering their research focus, with editors’ assistance. From a researcher’s point of view they glossed over things, but they were deep dives for general-readership articles.
SciAm in 1989:Here's a big article about some cool new stuff in epigenetics. Pay attention, we're going to go fast.
SciAm now: What kind of pie?
SciAm now: What kind of pie?
November 25, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Scientific American has changed quite a bit.
My memory has many of the feature articles being written by scientists covering their research focus, with editors’ assistance. From a researcher’s point of view they glossed over things, but they were deep dives for general-readership articles.
My memory has many of the feature articles being written by scientists covering their research focus, with editors’ assistance. From a researcher’s point of view they glossed over things, but they were deep dives for general-readership articles.
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
For those not up on vaccine schedules - the reason it is significant that the mothers weren't is because infants don't get their pertussis vaccine until 2 mo of age, making it important for pregnant people to get their booster before giving birth (and for all people around the newborn to do so too)
3 infant #pertussis deaths this year in Kentucky. "Of the three infant deaths reported over the past 12 months, all three were not vaccinated, nor were their mothers."
We first tested maternal vaccination for whooping cough over 80 years ago. It's safe & effective & might have saved these babies.
We first tested maternal vaccination for whooping cough over 80 years ago. It's safe & effective & might have saved these babies.
www.wowktv.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:56 PM
For those not up on vaccine schedules - the reason it is significant that the mothers weren't is because infants don't get their pertussis vaccine until 2 mo of age, making it important for pregnant people to get their booster before giving birth (and for all people around the newborn to do so too)
FWIW reminding me of early work in theory of protein recognition of DNA; info. content was used for much of it. Ditto some work on scoring matrices, etc. In my case that not necessarily from published work as in-house stuff with my PhD supervisor! I remember Andrew suggesting these to me.
November 25, 2025 at 3:55 PM
FWIW reminding me of early work in theory of protein recognition of DNA; info. content was used for much of it. Ditto some work on scoring matrices, etc. In my case that not necessarily from published work as in-house stuff with my PhD supervisor! I remember Andrew suggesting these to me.
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
From a farm in the north of England to the frontiers of bioinformatics, our Group Leader Sandra Orchard reflects on a career building the data foundations of modern biology:
“AI is showing how vital data curation really is.”
www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/p...
🖥️🧬
“AI is showing how vital data curation really is.”
www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/p...
🖥️🧬
Sandra Orchard: what I’ve learned
EMBL-EBI Team Leader Sandra Orchard reflects on a life in protein science, UniProt data curation, and championing open data standards.
www.ebi.ac.uk
November 25, 2025 at 3:15 PM
From a farm in the north of England to the frontiers of bioinformatics, our Group Leader Sandra Orchard reflects on a career building the data foundations of modern biology:
“AI is showing how vital data curation really is.”
www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/p...
🖥️🧬
“AI is showing how vital data curation really is.”
www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/p...
🖥️🧬
I can imagine. It’s amazing what’s being tackled with gene therapy. I remember loose discussions of possibilities after my PhD.
(I worked on ‘zinc finger’ DNA recognition; an early "designer" DNA cutting enzymes were ZF domains linked to a nuclease to cut the DNA at specified sites.)
(I worked on ‘zinc finger’ DNA recognition; an early "designer" DNA cutting enzymes were ZF domains linked to a nuclease to cut the DNA at specified sites.)
November 25, 2025 at 10:15 AM
I can imagine. It’s amazing what’s being tackled with gene therapy. I remember loose discussions of possibilities after my PhD.
(I worked on ‘zinc finger’ DNA recognition; an early "designer" DNA cutting enzymes were ZF domains linked to a nuclease to cut the DNA at specified sites.)
(I worked on ‘zinc finger’ DNA recognition; an early "designer" DNA cutting enzymes were ZF domains linked to a nuclease to cut the DNA at specified sites.)
Yes. I have several TBR piles… 😆
Just starting on Aaronovitch’s The Masquerades of Spring, for something short and different, but I need to crash for the night…
Just starting on Aaronovitch’s The Masquerades of Spring, for something short and different, but I need to crash for the night…
November 25, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Yes. I have several TBR piles… 😆
Just starting on Aaronovitch’s The Masquerades of Spring, for something short and different, but I need to crash for the night…
Just starting on Aaronovitch’s The Masquerades of Spring, for something short and different, but I need to crash for the night…
Sarawak, Borneo update – it seems the state government will be offering free tertiary education from next year, “all Sarawakians enrolled in Sarawak-owned universities”.
I imagine that excludes Swinbourne, who have a campus in Kuching. (Their main base is in Melbourne, Australia.)
I imagine that excludes Swinbourne, who have a campus in Kuching. (Their main base is in Melbourne, Australia.)
November 25, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Sarawak, Borneo update – it seems the state government will be offering free tertiary education from next year, “all Sarawakians enrolled in Sarawak-owned universities”.
I imagine that excludes Swinbourne, who have a campus in Kuching. (Their main base is in Melbourne, Australia.)
I imagine that excludes Swinbourne, who have a campus in Kuching. (Their main base is in Melbourne, Australia.)
#NZpol Again, it’s useful to compare what political parties and MPs sing to their fan bases, as opposed to media outlets. It shows where their focus is…
November 25, 2025 at 9:51 AM
#NZpol Again, it’s useful to compare what political parties and MPs sing to their fan bases, as opposed to media outlets. It shows where their focus is…
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
Are influenza B viruses really “human only”? New review synthesises evidence from serology & metagenomics for #IBV / IBV-like viruses in animals and aquatic hosts. One Health gaps remain. With @marioskoutsakos.viralvaxlab.com @duckswabber.bsky.social www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17...
November 25, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Are influenza B viruses really “human only”? New review synthesises evidence from serology & metagenomics for #IBV / IBV-like viruses in animals and aquatic hosts. One Health gaps remain. With @marioskoutsakos.viralvaxlab.com @duckswabber.bsky.social www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17...
Short version: avoid Nucleus Genomics (and in general be cautious about direct-to-consumer genomics).
Drill down for details, e.g. totalhealthoptimization.com/2025/11/21/c... (H/T @nicorobine.bsky.social)
See replies for more comments by scientists.
Drill down for details, e.g. totalhealthoptimization.com/2025/11/21/c... (H/T @nicorobine.bsky.social)
See replies for more comments by scientists.
November 25, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Short version: avoid Nucleus Genomics (and in general be cautious about direct-to-consumer genomics).
Drill down for details, e.g. totalhealthoptimization.com/2025/11/21/c... (H/T @nicorobine.bsky.social)
See replies for more comments by scientists.
Drill down for details, e.g. totalhealthoptimization.com/2025/11/21/c... (H/T @nicorobine.bsky.social)
See replies for more comments by scientists.
Lovely segment on gene therapy for a kid with Hunter Syndrome on 1News.
Have to feel for his brother though – he also has the condition, but is too old (5) to get the gene therapy 😞
University of Manchester story ⬇️
www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/n...
Have to feel for his brother though – he also has the condition, but is too old (5) to get the gene therapy 😞
University of Manchester story ⬇️
www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/n...
New hope for children with devastating rare genetic disorder, thanks to world-first research in Manchester
The parents of a three-year-old boy born with a devastating, life-limiting genetic condition say they are now excited for his future after he received a revolutionary stem cell gene therapy treatment ...
www.manchester.ac.uk
November 25, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Lovely segment on gene therapy for a kid with Hunter Syndrome on 1News.
Have to feel for his brother though – he also has the condition, but is too old (5) to get the gene therapy 😞
University of Manchester story ⬇️
www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/n...
Have to feel for his brother though – he also has the condition, but is too old (5) to get the gene therapy 😞
University of Manchester story ⬇️
www.manchester.ac.uk/about/news/n...
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
Men, especially –
Why you don’t want to get tuberculosis on your penis
arstechnica.com/health/2025/...
Why you don’t want to get tuberculosis on your penis
arstechnica.com/health/2025/...
Why you don’t want to get tuberculosis on your penis
While tuberculosis can attack anywhere, it’s extremely rare on the penis.
arstechnica.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Men, especially –
Why you don’t want to get tuberculosis on your penis
arstechnica.com/health/2025/...
Why you don’t want to get tuberculosis on your penis
arstechnica.com/health/2025/...
Reposted by Grant Jacobs BioinfoTools/NotJustDNA 🔬🧬🖥️✍️📚
#Christchurch #NZ ⬇️
If anyone has photos or video of this chompy guy or gal we'd love to add them to our collection of Elizabeth photos - upload 'em if you've got 'em
discoverywall.nz/album/706/865 ^MT
discoverywall.nz/album/706/865 ^MT
November 24, 2025 at 8:56 AM
#Christchurch #NZ ⬇️
** AI is an umbrella term, a grab-bag of different techniques. As rule of thumb it’s worth considering that if people are using 'AI' rather the the particular machine learning technique, they’re playing hype over substance.
5/5
5/5
November 25, 2025 at 4:58 AM
** AI is an umbrella term, a grab-bag of different techniques. As rule of thumb it’s worth considering that if people are using 'AI' rather the the particular machine learning technique, they’re playing hype over substance.
5/5
5/5