Modern-Day Oracles or Bullshit Machines?
Jevin West (@jevinwest.bsky.social) and I have spent the last eight months developing the course on large language models (LLMs) that we think every college freshman needs to take.
thebullshitmachines.com
Agents of change: a partnership between mobile genetic elements facilitates rapid bacterial adaptation
#TrendsMicrobiol Spotlight by Elizabeth Duan, @oliviakosterlitz.bsky.social and Benjamin Kerr
on the Nat Eco Evo paper from @sanmillan.bsky.social group
www.cell.com/trends/micro...
thebullshitmachines.com
While the evolutionary interests of mobile genetic elements may differ from those
of their bacterial hosts, these elements can be beneficial for their hosts by delivering,
disrupting, or activating ge...
Latest paper. We show that evolution repeats itself in predictable ways. This directly addresses the assertion by Stephen Jay Gould that evolution is not predictable. The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes/no. www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
It's all gone. They've taken down all the CDC datasets from data.cdc.gov
Data that's critical for public health & research. Data paid for by citizens. That the government now censors.
"Do not fear those who tell the truth. Fear those who try to hide it. They are willing to sacrifice other things."
The National Science foundation has just updated their FAQ to say they are complying with the court order and has restored access to funds and the ACM$ platform new.nsf.gov/executive-or...
And its out! New paper for #integron aficionados. We found gene-less cassettes in superintegrons that express/silence other cassettes in the array. Here is a 🧵(if I know how to do this in Bluesky...😆)
academic.oup.com/nar/advance-...
Carl T. Bergstrom
Ákos T Kovács
Still on a science high after an incredible Microbial Population GRS/GRC. Honored to have been able to talk about my work. Grateful for all the amazing feedback, ideas, and inspiring conversations—especially from the brilliant scientists whose papers I’ve long admired. Can’t wait for the next one!
Abstract. Integrons are genetic platforms that acquire new genes encoded in integron cassettes (ICs), building arrays of adaptive functions. ICs generally encod
Maybe this will help NSF PRFB fellows like me who are not getting paid 🧪
Check out this amazing Spotlight on our recently published paper -> www.cell.com/trends/micro...
Huge thanks to @oliviakosterlitz.bsky.social, Benjamin Kerr and Elisabeth Duan for this great spolight.
James McInerney
Jose A Escudero
Kevin Bird
Dr Emma Hodcroft
I've seen multiple posts about this. If you know of any efforts to archive datasets/articles on CDC website, please let me know, so I can boost, and support with donations if possible.
#stopTheScrub #saveCDCData #IstandWithPublicHealth
Olivia Kosterlitz
While the evolutionary interests of mobile genetic elements may differ from those
of their bacterial hosts, these elements can be beneficial for their hosts by delivering,
disrupting, or activating ge...
As a PRFB fellow myself, I can independently confirm this is true! I will not be receiving a paycheck in February and it is unclear the next time I will be paid. No communication from NSF either on how they will determine grants are in ‘compliance’ to deem which funding will be resumed.
Olivia Kosterlitz
Looking forward to seeing everyone, new and old, at the Microbial Population Biology GRS + GRC in just a couple days!
go.bsky.app/GGxRjzC
If you like plasmids, insertion sequences, and bacterial evolution, you'll like this one! Now published in its fancy journal format.
Thanks to everyone involved in the project, especially
Jorge Sastre-Dominguez, @sanmillan.bsky.social and the fundación "la Caixa".
nature.com/articles/s41...
From a journalist friend: Just spreading the word. The CDC is purging data, so people should archive their favorite CDC datasets today, namely ones around race/ethnic diversity, LGBTQ, and reproductive health. Also health data involving climate. The youth risk behavior survey has already gone down.
NEW Restraining Order Issued Against Funding Freeze
🧪
NPR.org
"For now, the order blocks any suspension of federal dollars to the 22 states that were party to the suit — as well as the District of Columbia."
