Navigating quirky trivia, milestones and misconceptions of genomics – and reflecting on science communication and the research process.
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A microRNA (miRNA) is on the news since Wednesday; many just haven’t been told. I am referring to AMT-130 by UniQure, the gene therapy slowing the progression of Huntington’s disease [1]. In a nutshell, the miRNA in AMT-130 reduces the…
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Disagreeing with Sherlock Holmes
Sorry Sherlock Holmes, after 13 years in science, I find hard to agree with your most famous quote: “Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.” Adapted to the lab, your pill of…
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miRNA, endo-siRNA, piRNA [How many types of ncRNA do you know?Ep. 3/7]
This week, our journey in the ncRNAs universe explore the two players of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, and their close relative. Let’s get going fellow travellers! 7. microRNA (miRNA) They are ~22 nt long, and play a central role…
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snoRNA, sdRNA, scaRNA [How many types of ncRNA do you know? Ep. 2/7]
This week, our journey in the ncRNAs universe brings us into the very heart of the cell, in its nucleus! With a view on the cytoplasm… Let’s get going fellow travellers! 4. small nucleolar RNA (snoRNA) They are ~60-300 nt…
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5+1 Free and Legal Ways to Read Articles behind Paywalls
We have all been there: the article we need is locked behind a paywall. I feel your frustration: who can afford 30 bucks for every paper? Shouldn’t knowledge be free? How the *$#@£ do I get that paper? Sci-Hub would…
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rRNA, tRNA, tsRNA [How many types of ncRNA do you know? Ep. 1/7]
Welcome to the universe of non-coding RNAs! This is a gigantic realm – our cells transcribe over 75% of the genome into RNAs that are never translated! [1, 2] – where the unknown is not just around the proverbial corner,…
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How many types of non-coding RNA do you know?
Only 2% of the human genome codes for a protein [1], and yet 75% is transcribed [2]. These non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) show a mind-boggling heterogeneity of sizes, shapes, origins and functions. Many ncRNAs are essential, either directing or fine-tuning cellular,…
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Scientific and Medical Writers are not FAILED Scientists
“Scientific and medical writers are just failed scientists”This toxic and yet common misconception is born from the misbelief that science is only done in a lab. Academia doesn’t even try to dispel the misconception, rarely discussing alternate careers. Even big…
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How I Conned Myself in the Pursuit of a PhD
I’m proud of my PhD in neuroscience, but, in hindsight, it conned me for 4 years. Or, maybe, did I con myself? No, I didn’t believe that once I had earned a doctorate, professorship would follow in two, three years.…
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15 Bio/Biotech SciFi Novels From the Past 25 Years
I’ll keep it short: I have compiled a list of science fiction novels about biology and biotechnology from the past 25 years (2000-2025). They touch and revolve around many themes dear to us, such as genetic engineering, paleogenetics, evolutionary leaps,…
WritinGenomics 