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Reposted by José Teles Reis

Simon Fisher @profsimonfisher.bsky.social · 5d

Twenty-four years ago today, our paper “A forkhead-domain gene is mutated in a severe speech and language disorder” was published: www.nature.com/articles/350....
A personal thread about the ups & downs of the journey we took to get to that point....1/n
🗣️🧬🧪

Image shows the first two printed pages of the paper “A forkhead-domain gene is mutated in a severe speech and language disorder” by Cecilia Lai and colleagues, published in Nature in 2001 (volume 413, pages 519-523). The abstract reads as follows:
Individuals affected with developmental disorders of speech and language have substantial difficulty acquiring expressive and/or receptive language in the absence of any profound sensory or neurological impairment and despite adequate intelligence and opportunity. Although studies of twins consistently indicate that a significant genetic component is involved, most families segregating speech and language deficits show complex patterns of inheritance, and a gene that predisposes individuals to such disorders has not been identified. We have studied a unique three-generation pedigree, KE, in which a severe speech and language disorder is transmitted as an autosomal-dominant monogenic trait. Our previous work mapped the locus responsible, SPCH1, to a 5.6-cM interval of region 7q31 on chromosome 7. We also identified an unrelated individual, CS, in whom speech and language impairment is associated with a chromosomal translocation involving the SPCH1 interval. Here we show that the gene FOXP2, which encodes a putative transcription factor containing a polyglutamine tract and a forkhead DNA-binding domain, is directly disrupted by the translocation breakpoint in CS. In addition, we identify a point mutation in affected members of the KE family that alters an invariant amino-acid residue in the forkhead domain. Our findings suggest that FOXP2 is involved in the developmental process that culminates in speech and language.

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Reposted by José Teles Reis

FlyBase @flybase.bsky.social · 5d

There's an update on the state of FlyBase on the FlyBase.org front page. You can contribute to FlyBase at this link wiki.flybase.org/wiki/FlyBase...
We express enormous gratitude to the people, labs, groups, and foundations who have already helped us.
#FlyBase #Drosophila

FlyBase Update – October 2025
The termination of the NIH/NHGRI FlyBase grant has placed the long-term sustainability of FlyBase at risk. However, thanks to the generous support of several key individuals and institutions, we are pleased to announce that FlyBase will remain operational through the coming year. We extend our deepest gratitude to Yukiko Yamashita, Cassandra Extavour, Hugo Bellen, Thom Kaufman, the Genetics Society of America / Drosophila Board, the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center, an anonymous donor and the Wellcome Trust. We are especially thankful for a generous gift from Seemay Chou, Jed McCaleb, and The Navigation Fund. We also greatly appreciate the continued support from the broader Drosophila community – your donations and service fees have been vital in helping us stay afloat. Special thanks also go to Jessica Manning for her tireless administrative work at Harvard, to Ruth Lehmann, Hugo Bellen, and Paul Sternberg for advice and efforts, and to the Board of the European Drosophila Society for all their efforts. Sadly, we must also share that several long-standing FlyBase team members have recently moved on. We are immensely grateful to Susan Russo-Gelbart, Lynn Crosby, Gil dos Santos, Kris Broll, Victoria Jenkins, and TyAnna Lovato for their many years of dedicated service and contributions to FlyBase. Looking ahead, ensuring FlyBase’s sustainability beyond the next year – and successfully integrating with the Alliance – will require new funding sources. We kindly ask for your continued support:
• European labs: Please consider contributing to the Cambridge, U.K. FlyBase group
• U.S. and other non-European labs: Please consider contributing to the U.S. FlyBase groups
• Both U.K. and U.S. FlyBase are working diligently to establish an invoicing system. We appreciate your continued patience.
For more information on how to support us, please visit: Contribute to FlyBase wiki page https://wiki.flybase.org/wiki/FlyBase:Contribute_to_FlyBase

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José Teles Reis @josetelesreis.bsky.social · 8d

Yes, definitely not a substitute. But if it becomes a way to consume literature on non-expert topics, I won't oppose it. As long as it is trustworthy. I wonder when it will come that we can strongly trust AI content and consume it.

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José Teles Reis @josetelesreis.bsky.social · 9d

Curious... as an author and having deep insight into your paper, how much would you recommend this as a tool to generate popular science pieces ?

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Reposted by José Teles Reis

Elinne Becket, PhD @bielleogy.bsky.social · 9d

I'm still mad someone decided to call them H2A, H2B, H3, H4.

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Reposted by José Teles Reis

EDRC2025 @edrc2025.bsky.social · 11d

We have had a great final morning at #EDRC2025 with three fantastic keynote lectures by Maria Gambetta, Tor Erik Rusten and Silke Sachse

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José Teles Reis @josetelesreis.bsky.social · 10d

I'm flying back home after 4 days of fantastic science at the #EDRC2025
It was delightful to hear about all the new work, meeting old and new friends. I'm feeling energized to get back to my CO2 pad.
Long live the Drosophila community!

The main conference room of the EDRC meeting with a packed audience.

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Reposted by José Teles Reis

Ben de Bivort @debivort.bsky.social · 14d

better than average science day?

• sperm whale eating a giant squid confirmed
• HHMI policy: preprints as most important form of publication

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José Teles Reis @josetelesreis.bsky.social · 13d

Heading here, I was wondering if you were coming Tim! American fly meeting is just around the corner!

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José Teles Reis @josetelesreis.bsky.social · 13d

And what a talk it was.... Beautiful biology @neurogut.bsky.social

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José Teles Reis @josetelesreis.bsky.social · 13d

Fly folks are rocking here in Alicante! #EDRC2025

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EDRC2025 @edrc2025.bsky.social · 15d

Only a few hours left before our meeting starts! Are you travelling to #EDRC2025 now? Let us know by using the oficial #EDRC2025 hashtag!

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Rohan Khadilkar @rohankhadilkar.bsky.social · 15d

Super excited for the European Drosophila Research Conference 2025 in Alicante, Spain. Going to be 4 days of exciting science and lots of fun! My PhD student, Ujjayita will be giving a talk and I have a poster. Pls do drop by! 😊
#Drosophila #EDRC2025

EDRC2025 @edrc2025.bsky.social · 26d

Abstract submission is now closed but you can still register to #EDRC2025 until the meeting starts! Looking forward to seeing you all in Alicante!

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José Teles Reis @josetelesreis.bsky.social · 15d

We are here! #EDRC2025

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Reposted by José Teles Reis

C. Andrew Frank @candrewfrank.bsky.social · 16d

We have an uncorrected proof published for Bhagaban Mallik's study on Mitochondrial Complex I and how it regulates synapse function. You can find it in @plosbiology.org. I am so proud!

H/T collaborators: Drs. Sajad Bhat and Xinnan Wang @xinnanwanglab.bsky.social

journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...

Mitochondrial Complex I and ROS control neuromuscular function through opposing pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms

How do neurons adapt to mitochondrial dysfunction in different tissues? This study shows that Mitochondrial Complex I depletion triggers ROS-driven compensatory signaling in motor neurons that preserv...

journals.plos.org

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José Teles Reis @josetelesreis.bsky.social · 15d

On route to Alicante #EDRC2025
🪰🇪🇸

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PLOS Biology @plosbiology.org · 16d

How do different tissues respond to mitochondrial dysfunction? @candrewfrank.bsky.social &co show that Complex I depletion triggers ROS-driven compensatory signaling in #MotorNeurons, but degeneration in muscles, with implications for #MitochondrialDisease @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4nLUIGJ

Left: Image of the Drosophila melanogaster third instar larval ventral nerve cord used to examine mitochondrial morphology. Green fluorescence labels neuronal mitochondrial clusters decorated by a transgenically expressed Mito-GFP protein. Magenta fluorescence labels the Drosophila Bruchpilot protein, a component of active zones. Image credit: Bhagaban Mallik. Right: Image of synaptic boutons at the Drosophila melanogaster third instar larval neuromuscular junction rendered into three dimensions to quantify volumes of synaptic mitochondria. Green fluorescence labels neuronal mitochondria localized to the presynaptic boutons. Mitochondria are decorated by a transgenically expressed Mito-GFP protein. Magenta fluorescence labels the Drosophila Discs Large protein, an organizer of the postsynaptic density in the muscle. Image credit: Bhagaban Mallik and Thomas Moninger.

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Current Biology @currentbiology.bsky.social · 16d

Our latest issue is out!👇
www.cell.com/current-biol...

On the cover: Nautilus ≈ 🐙+🐚

(Maybe — like the Nautilus — our journal is a living fossil, believing in the interest and inspiration our readers might draw from the diversity of biological systems, questions and approaches we try to feature🙏 )

Nautiloids (pictured)—a lineage of ancient, externally shelled cephalopods—once dominated our oceans, but today, these living fossils are threatened and in need of protection from over-exploitation.

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Robert Grosse @ grosselab @grosselab.bsky.social · 17d

we found that nuclear envelope rupture triggers rapid DIAPH3 formin influx to generate a actin mesh to prevent further chromatin leakage from damaged nuclei. thanks to Pitter Huesgen @degradomics.bsky.social and @cibss.bsky.social, @chrkam.bsky.social

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The Interactive Fly @interactivefly.bsky.social · 16d

Cong, B., Thakur, T., Uribe, A. H., Stamou, E., Gopinath, S., Sansom, O., Maddocks, O., Cagan, R. (2025). Colon cancer cells evade drug action by enhancing drug metabolism. Oncogene www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Colon cancer cells evade drug action by enhancing drug metabolism - Oncogene

Oncogene - Colon cancer cells evade drug action by enhancing drug metabolism

www.nature.com

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Reposted by José Teles Reis

Ardem Patapoutian @ardemp.bskyverified.social · 20d

Apparently, chimpanzees consume equivalent of 1-2 standard alcoholic drinks per day in the wild via fermented fruit!! (h/t Nick Villarino)
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Ethanol ingestion via frugivory in wild chimpanzees

Natural daily consumption of dietary alcohol by chimpanzees suggests human attraction to alcohol may come from our ancestral diet.

www.science.org

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José Teles Reis @josetelesreis.bsky.social · 20d

Just went through the full program/abstracts for the @edrc2025.bsky.social and wow! It's going to be such a rich meeting!🔥🪰💯

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Reposted by José Teles Reis

Mark Peifer (He, him) @peiferlabunc.bsky.social · 27d

Interesting to see how the eLife review process shaped this controversial study. The current summary is worth a read! 🧪
elifesciences.org/articles/89106

Research Article
Evolutionary Biology
Evidence for deliberate burial of the dead by Homo naledi
Lee R Berger Is a corresponding author Tebogo Vincent Makhubela Is a corresponding author Keneiloe MolopyaneAshley KrügerPatrick Randolph-Quinney Is a corresponding author Marina ElliottBecca PeixottoAgustín FuentesPaul TafforeauJohn Hawks Is a corresponding author see all

eLife Assessment
The authors study the context of the skeletal remains of three individuals and associated sediment samples to conclude that the hominin species Homo naledi intentionally buried their dead. Demonstration of the earliest known instance of intentional funerary practice – with a relatively small-brained hominin engaging in a highly complex behavior that has otherwise been observed from Homo sapiens and Homo neanderthalensis – would represent a landmark finding. The authors have revised their manuscript extensively in light of the reviews of their initial submission, with improved illustration, context, discussion, and theoretical frameworks, leading to an improved case supporting their conclusion that Homo naledi intentionally buried their dead. One of the reviewers concludes that the findings convincingly demonstrate intentional burial practices, while another considers evidence for such an unambiguous conclusion to be incomplete given a lack of definitive knowledge around how the hominins got into the chamber. We look forward to seeing the continued development and assessment of this hypothesis. It is worth noting that the detailed reviews (both rounds) and comprehensive author response are commendable and consequential parts of the scientific record of this study. The editors note that the authors' response repeatedly invokes precedent from previous publications to help justify the conclusions in this paper. While doing so is helpful, the editors also note that scientific norms and knowledge are constantly evolving, and that any study has to rest on its own scientific merit.

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Metastasis Research Society @metastasisresearch.bsky.social · 28d

Don't miss our next webinar by Zoi Diamantopoulou on "Timing the perfect strike: Using circadian rhythms to target metastasis" - September 22, 2025 - more details and register here: metastasis-research.org/2025/09/11/z...

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José Teles Reis @josetelesreis.bsky.social · Sep 9

"And it shows" 🤣 so funny

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