Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Rob Klose

DNA Topology Lab @dnatopologylab.bsky.social · 2d

As always, bacteria light the path of discovery.

Stephan Gruber @gruberlab.bsky.social · 3d

For the specialists: the motor units adopt a DNA-holding conformation, a proposed key state of the segment capture model

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge @gurdoninstitute.bsky.social · 3d

A Nobel-winning scientist of great modesty and humour, John Gurdon died on 7 Oct. Not only did he make a discovery that laid the foundations for stem cell research, he also created one of the best environments for research at the Wellcome/CRUK Gurdon Institute wellcome.org/news/sir-joh...

Sir John Gurdon, 1933-2025 | Wellcome

A Nobel-winning scientist of great modesty and humour, John Gurdon died on 7 October. He made a discovery that opened up the field of cloning research, and created one of the best environments for res...

wellcome.org

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Stephan Gruber @gruberlab.bsky.social · 3d

How do SMC complexes load onto DNA to get ready for loop extrusion?

@roisnehamelinf.bsky.social & co discovered that Wadjet, an SMC complex involved in bacterial DNA immunity, performs some impressive molecular gymnastics 🤸‍♂️🤸‍♂️🤸‍♂️.

Check out the new paper: www.cell.com/molecular-ce...

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Reposted by Rob Klose

The Francis Crick Institute @crick.ac.uk · 3d

We're now recruiting early career group leaders at the Crick to lead ambitious research programmes and explore bold scientific questions.

Hear our Director, Edith Heard, explain why the Crick is a unique place for curiosity-driven research.

Apply now ➡️ www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Naomi Moris @nmoris.bsky.social · 2d

The Crick is looking for new junior group leaders! Any postdocs or early career researchers wanting to be our colleagues should apply 👍

The Francis Crick Institute @crick.ac.uk · 3d

We're now recruiting early career group leaders at the Crick to lead ambitious research programmes and explore bold scientific questions.

Hear our Director, Edith Heard, explain why the Crick is a unique place for curiosity-driven research.

Apply now ➡️ www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Alexis Barr @alexisbarr.bsky.social · 3d

Many of you know, we lost Béla Novák this year. John Tyson, Francis Barr & I tried to capture his wonderful character & great mind so that those that didn't know him can see what a fantastic person he was.

Thanks to @jcellsci.bsky.social for publishing.

journals.biologists.com/jcs/article/...

Béla Novák (1956–2025) – a legacy of scientific discovery and personal charm

In February 2025, we were shocked and deeply saddened to hear about the death of Béla Novák, Professor in Integrative Systems Biology at the University of Oxford, UK, and a beloved grandfather, father...

journals.biologists.com

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Oded Rechavi @odedrechavi.bsky.social · 3d

That person you meet when you attend a scientific conference and want to quickly get breakfast alone before returning to your room to prepare your presentation

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Aydan Bulut-Karslioglu @bulutkarslioglu.bsky.social · 3d

Our PhD call is open, take a look! (we are not recruiting this round)

Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics @molgen.mpg.de · 4d

🚨 Please share! We are seeking motivated PhD students who wish to work at the intersection of molecular life sciences and computational sciences.
#IMPRS #IMPRSBAC @freieuniversitaet.bsky.social @maxplanck.de
Check out our projects and apply by Jan 7th, 2026!
www.molgen.mpg.de/IMPRSPhDproj...

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Rob Klose @robklose.bsky.social · 3d

Thanks Duncan, that’s very kind.

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Maxim Greenberg @maxvcg.bsky.social · 3d

I'm glad that most academic institutions are on Bluesky now, so we can get the press releases I used to love on Twitter that are like "Congratulations to this year's Nobel Prize winner _______, who once used our third-floor bathroom."

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Aleksander Szczurek @aleksszczurek.bsky.social · 4d

If you are a computational biologist come, apply and join Howard & Klose lab in a joint Norwich-Oxford collaboration on chromatin dynamics!

John Innes Centre @johninnescentre.bsky.social · 5d

VACANCY - We have an opportunity for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Howard Group, working to develop computational models of epigenetic dynamics in the Polycomb system.

www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/po...

Closing date - 9 November 2025
Salary - £37,500 - £45,350
Contract - 36 months, full-time

Postdoctoral Researcher (Howard Group) | John Innes Centre

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Howard Group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of Computational and Systems Biology.

www.jic.ac.uk

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Alex de Mendoza @alexdemendoza.bsky.social · 4d

Thrilled to share that the lab has been awarded a @wellcometrust.bsky.social Discovery Award to keep exploring the evolution of 6-methyladenine #6mA in Eukaryotes. We'll open postdoc (3️⃣) and tech (1️⃣) positions to start in 2026, please share with candidates or reach out if you’d like to join us.

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Emilia Dimitrova @edimitrova.bsky.social · 5d

If you are a computational biologist interested in how chromatin states are established and maintained to regulate transcription, this is the dream job for you! This will be in close collaboration with the Klose lab in Oxford and we have a lot of cool projects you can get involved in. Apply!

John Innes Centre @johninnescentre.bsky.social · 5d

VACANCY - We have an opportunity for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Howard Group, working to develop computational models of epigenetic dynamics in the Polycomb system.

www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/po...

Closing date - 9 November 2025
Salary - £37,500 - £45,350
Contract - 36 months, full-time

Postdoctoral Researcher (Howard Group) | John Innes Centre

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Howard Group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of Computational and Systems Biology.

www.jic.ac.uk

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Ander Movilla @andermovilla.bsky.social · 5d

Very exciting opportunity for those with a quantitative background and interested in epigenetics / gene regulation. Highly collaborative environment!

John Innes Centre @johninnescentre.bsky.social · 5d

VACANCY - We have an opportunity for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Howard Group, working to develop computational models of epigenetic dynamics in the Polycomb system.

www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/po...

Closing date - 9 November 2025
Salary - £37,500 - £45,350
Contract - 36 months, full-time

Postdoctoral Researcher (Howard Group) | John Innes Centre

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the Howard Group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of Computational and Systems Biology.

www.jic.ac.uk

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Rob Klose @robklose.bsky.social · 4d

Wonderful opportunity to work with Martin Howard and my group trying to understand how chromatin influences gene transcription and expression. Integration of theory, modelling, and experimentation. Come and join the team!
Please repost!

jobs.jic.ac.uk/Details.asp?...

John Innes Centre

jobs.jic.ac.uk

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Rob Klose @robklose.bsky.social · 4d

Me too!

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Laurence Pearl 🔥 @laurencepearl.bsky.social · 4d

I’m going for NextGen DNA sequencing

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Prachee Avasthi @pracheeac.bsky.social · 4d

Some scientists aren’t waiting for journals to catch up. They’re showing us what’s next.

The Beyond the Journal awards honor those breaking the mold in how science is shared.

More details: pracheeac.substack.com/p/off-roadin...

Nominate or self-nominate here: www.experiment.foundation/beyond

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Reposted by Rob Klose

James Briscoe @jamesbriscoe.bsky.social · 4d

Very sad news, John Gurdon has died.

A developmental biologist's developmental biologist, Nobel prize winner

His work is the foundation of much of today's dev & stem cell bio.

An inspiration to many, including me. Always asking questions & wanting the answers

www.magd.cam.ac.uk/news/profess...

Professor Sir John Gurdon FRS (1933-2025) | Magdalene College

Magdalene College is deeply saddened to announce the death of Professor Sir John Gurdon FRS, who served as Master of the College from 1995 to 2002.

www.magd.cam.ac.uk

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Edda Schulz @eddaschulz.bsky.social · 6d

⚠️ Paper alert: Using a novel CRISPR screening approach, we mapped the entire regulatory network controlling Xist—key for X-chromosome inactivation.
👉 We discover how sex and development signals are decoded at a single gene locus.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
👇 Bluetorial

Reporter CRISPR screens decipher cis-regulatory and trans-regulatory principles at the Xist locus - Nature Structural & Molecular Biology

Here Schwämmle et al. develop CRISPR reporter screens to map transcription-factor-regulatory element interactions at the Xist locus, revealing a two-step mechanism integrating developmental and X-dosage signals to initiate X-chromosome inactivation.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Laurence Pearl 🔥 @laurencepearl.bsky.social · 6d

If it’s for liquid-phase separation as a major mechanism in cellular organisation, they will hear me scream all the way over in Stockholm

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Laurence Pearl 🔥 @laurencepearl.bsky.social · 6d

A lot of hype appearing that the scientifically illiterate concept of liquid-phase separation as a significant factor in cellular organisation will get a Nobel Prize this year.

Glad my career is over.

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Rob Klose @robklose.bsky.social · 8d

Exactly

Reposted by Rob Klose

John Greally @greally.bsky.social · 8d

Ooooh, now we disagree! That proposal only really works if the underlying ambiguity is clarified explicitly ("epigenetics" = each of the following).

In which case, why not leave out the word #epigenetics and just, you know, explain what you mean? It's what humans do with language.

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Reposted by Rob Klose

Mikhail Spivakov @mspivakov.bsky.social · 9d

Many enhancers that drive tissue-specific gene expression are already connected to gene promoters in human pluripotent cells.

In a new preprint, we share some clues about when, how, and why this happens!

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Poising and connectivity of emergent human developmental enhancers in the transition from naive to primed pluripotency

In primed human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) resembling post-implantation epiblast, numerous lineage-specific enhancers assume the poised chromatin state, co-marked by H3K4me1 and Polycomb-associate...

www.biorxiv.org

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