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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · Aug 7

Some consolidation in the single cell space - 10X Genomics (@10xgenomics.bsky.social) set to acquire Scale Biosciences

www.genengnews.com/topics/omics...

10x Genomics Scales Up, Agrees to Acquire Scale Biosciences

An exclusive interview with Serge Saxonov of 10x Genomics and Giovanna Prout of Scale Biosciences on what the acquisition means for single cell genomics.

www.genengnews.com

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Reposted by Shawn Baker

Element Biosciences @elembio.bsky.social · Jul 29

📢 We are very proud to announce that over 50 of our #AVITI24 5D #multiomic systems have already been installed around the globe enabling scientists to unravel the most complex questions about our biology.

bit.ly/458UCky

Element Biosciences Surpasses 50 AVITI24™ 5D Multiomic System Installations In Just Months

Element Biosciences today announced that installations of its flagship AVITI24 5D Multiomic system have surpassed 50 units globally.

bit.ly

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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · Jul 3

Atlas, Twist's DNA data storage spin-off, is claiming that "pretty quickly" the majority of DNA sequencing (by "orders of magnitude") will be for reading data storage. I'm skeptical. Maybe we have different definitions of "pretty quickly".
#dnasynth #datastorage

www.genomeweb.com/business-new...

Twist Spinoff Atlas Data Storage Designing Chip, Seeking Partner for Sequencing DNA-Based Archives

The California startup will have to convince companies across the economy to swap from rolls of magnetic tape to DNA as the vessel for their most important digital data.

www.genomeweb.com

Reposted by Shawn Baker

Kristian G. Andersen @kgandersen.bsky.social · Jun 26

Quick update on this - a good one!

Thanks to our fantastic colleagues at county HHSA, we're able to continue our wastewater surveillance work, including generating retroactive data from the last few months, as well as new data moving forward.

For how long, we'll see, but expect updates soon! 🌟❤️

Kristian G. Andersen @kgandersen.bsky.social · Apr 9

Very thankful to @sandiegouniontribune.com for covering the termination of our wastewater surveillance in San Diego.

If we don't want to lose sight of infectious diseases in our community, we need new funding - please reach out: searchcovid.info

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/07/d...

DOGE cuts shut down San Diego County’s wastewater testing system

Other alternatives are available, but none show coronavirus subtypes like San Diego’s SEARCH

www.sandiegouniontribune.com

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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · Jun 25

So the Soma kit may do well, but my guess is it will be a lot harder for ILMN to sell proteomics kits than it is for them to sell standard DNA sequencing kits. And, as you’ve said, can they build upon what they’re buying from Soma.

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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · Jun 25

I didn’t say they only sell boxes, but that they struggle selling inexpensive things (even it’s still a box). The exception, of course, are the kits that run on the boxes - those sell really well.

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Reposted by Shawn Baker

Vincent J Lynch 🐘🦣🦥 🦇🐋🐢🐍 @devoevomed.bsky.social · Jun 12

Updated a broken link in my substack post about the
#ColossalBio #DeExtinction #DisInformation campaign – dire wolves are still extinct.

open.substack.com/pub/devoevom...

The Extinction of Truth

Or, a Colossal Pile of Bullshit

open.substack.com

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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · Jun 23

And hopefully ILMN will get better at selling things (like kits) that don't cost $1M+. They don't have a great history at trying to broaden their product portfolio with lower cost products. This may be different enough to break that pattern.

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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · Jun 23

True, they don't need to dominate like they do is sequencing. I just wonder how well SomaLogic will do against Olink. There are LOTS of proteomics platforms out there (which will continue for the foreseeable future), but these two are more "head to head". I'm not sure ILMN picked the best one.

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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · Jun 23

Illumina goes “all in” on proteomics by purchasing SomaLogic (from
Standard BioTools). Can they overtake Olink?

www.illumina.com/company/news...

Illumina to acquire SomaLogic, accelerating its proteomics business and advancing the company's multiomics strategy

www.illumina.com

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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · Jun 17

Can't wait to listen to this one!

Keith Robison @omicsomics.bsky.social · Jun 17

Had a fun chat recently with Kevin Libuit on his The Bioinformatics Lab podcast

on.soundcloud.com/2hxiS7sDlK0x...

EP 56 Open Conversation with Keith Robison

Ketih's Blog, Omics Omics: https://omicsomics.blogspot.com/ Summary In this conversation, Keith Robison discusses the inception of his blog Omix, the evolution of social media in the scientific comm

on.soundcloud.com

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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · Jun 17

www.genengnews.com/topics/artif...

Xaira Therapeutics Releases Largest Perturb-Seq Dataset to Power the Virtual Cell

The AI unicorn's Perturb-seq atlas is publicly available and detects dose-dependent genetic effects to enhance predictive power for drug discovery.

www.genengnews.com

Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · Jun 11

The most charitable thing I can say about Twist’s (@twistbioscience.com) China tariff request is that it’s “unconvincing”. Tariffs aren’t the way to protect IP. This is just about making Chinese DNA more expensive.

endpoints.news/twist-biosci...

downloads.regulations.gov/BIS-2025-002...

downloads.regulations.gov

Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · May 29

@jaredwhitlock.bsky.social has written an article about the many new companies spun out/spawned by ex-Illuminites. In it he references the crowdsourced "Illumina Diaspora" database Millard Chan and I created to keep track of them all.
sandiegomics.com/illumina-dia...
endpts.com/how-illumina...

DNA giant Illumina spawned an ecosystem of competitors and customers

For Illumina, its former employees are both a boon and a problem. In the 27 years since its founding, the DNA sequencing company unlocked new frontiers in biology, medicine and ...

endpts.com

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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · May 29

Roche has finally given their upcoming DNA sequencer a name - Axelios. So now we can stop calling it "Genia + Stratos".

www.genomeweb.com/molecular-di...

Roche Highlights New Tests, Instrument Launches at Investor Day

The firm touted new assays, provided an update on its nanopore sequencer, and offered insights into upcoming pipeline launches.

www.genomeweb.com

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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · May 7

I should have put “win” in quotes. Kinda like a guy saying “Decided I’m too busy to punch you today”. Winning? Also, “wins” have been so infrequent they might have forgotten what they look like. We fear what we don’t understand 🤣

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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · May 6

Illumina hasn't had a lot of wins recently. I think they'd count this as a win.

endpts.com/sec-expected...

Exclusive: SEC expected to drop investigation of Illumina's $8B Grail deal

The SEC is expected to drop an investigation into Illumina's $8 billion acquisition of cancer test developer Grail, Endpoints News has learned.

endpts.com

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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · May 6

This has to be one of the most "anti-science" and "anti-common sense" administrations the US has ever had. Tariffs are a tax, pure and simple and the consumer will be the one to pay the cost.

Graham Wiley @gbw42.bsky.social · May 6

Tariffs hit the $ILMN supply chain.

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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · May 6

@twistbioscience.com is spinning out their DNA data storage tech. Atlas Data Storage is kicking off with $155M in "seed" funding 😳 That's a lot of "seed" for a market that doesn't exist yet. Best of luck! #dnasynthesis

investors.twistbioscience.com/news-release...

investors.twistbioscience.com

Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · Apr 12

Novartis announced a big commitment/addition to the San Diego biotech scene.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/04/10/a...

Amid tariff turmoil, Swiss drugmaker commits to build $1.1B research hub in San Diego

Novartis plans to make San Diego the center of its West Coast research hub.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com

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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · Mar 4

Things just keep getting worse for ILMN. Stagnant growth, increased competition from @elembio.bsky.social and Ultima, the threat of competition from Roche SBX, and now they’re shut down in China where they get 7% of their revenue. Yikes.

www.reuters.com/business/hea...

China bans imports of Illumina's gene sequencers right after Trump tariff action

China announced a ban on Tuesday on imports of genetic sequencers from U.S. medical equipment maker Illumina , just minutes after U.S. President Donald Trump's additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods took effect.

www.reuters.com

Reposted by Shawn Baker

Eric Topol @erictopol.bsky.social · Mar 1

Francis Collins, the NIH Director for 12 years, led the Human Genome Project and other NIH efforts for 32 years, resigned today. Key words from his resignation letter
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/01/u...

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Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · Feb 28

Wow, perhaps Tang Capital was just trying to buy Singular Genomics to shut them down for the cash. I assumed Tang was trying to combine them with other acquisitions. Glad they weren’t the winning bid.

Adam Feuerstein✡️ @adamfeuerstein.bsky.social · Feb 27

How to eliminate biotech zombies: Buy them www.statnews.com/2025/02/27/b...

How to eliminate biotech zombies: Buy them

Why one health care investor buys “zombie” biotechs to shut them down.

www.statnews.com

Shawn Baker @sandiegomics.bsky.social · Feb 28

I wish this had been around when I was building/marketing RNA products at Illumina. It wouldn’t have given me a bigger budget, but it would have been something to feel smug about 🤣

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Reposted by Shawn Baker

Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · Feb 26

RNA xkcd.com/3056

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