Joana Serrano
@serrano-theham.bsky.social
Postdoc EMBLRome | Male reproduction, inheritance, and offspring development | (wannabe) Mediterranean
Reposted by Joana Serrano
Two preprints both out today identifying *different* reverse transcriptase systems associated with arrays reminiscent of CRISPR/Cas, encoded by different phage.
One from Anthropic and one from Stanford. Worth pointing out that the Stanford work clearly began earlier, and has more wetlab follow-up:
One from Anthropic and one from Stanford. Worth pointing out that the Stanford work clearly began earlier, and has more wetlab follow-up:
Many important bacterial non-coding RNAs and structural elements remain undiscovered. To help, David Li, Garyk Brixi, Michael Fischbach, @brianhie.bsky.social & team introduce Minerva, which uses a genome language model to predict RNA base pairing, repeats, & other interactions from sequence alone.
September 23, 2026 at 11:54 PM
Two preprints both out today identifying *different* reverse transcriptase systems associated with arrays reminiscent of CRISPR/Cas, encoded by different phage.
One from Anthropic and one from Stanford. Worth pointing out that the Stanford work clearly began earlier, and has more wetlab follow-up:
One from Anthropic and one from Stanford. Worth pointing out that the Stanford work clearly began earlier, and has more wetlab follow-up:
Reposted by Joana Serrano
There is still time to apply for the EMBL International PhD Programme! 📢
Don’t miss this opportunity to receive dedicated mentoring while doing interdisciplinary research.
Research groups across EMBL are recruiting now! bit.ly/4x9Edss
Don’t miss this opportunity to receive dedicated mentoring while doing interdisciplinary research.
Research groups across EMBL are recruiting now! bit.ly/4x9Edss
September 21, 2026 at 9:42 AM
There is still time to apply for the EMBL International PhD Programme! 📢
Don’t miss this opportunity to receive dedicated mentoring while doing interdisciplinary research.
Research groups across EMBL are recruiting now! bit.ly/4x9Edss
Don’t miss this opportunity to receive dedicated mentoring while doing interdisciplinary research.
Research groups across EMBL are recruiting now! bit.ly/4x9Edss
Reposted by Joana Serrano
Companies are now selling genetic testing on IVF-created embryos to select ‘your best baby’.
We argue that this presents a new source of pressure for parents and will widen reproductive inequalities!
In @nathumbehav.nature.com with @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social and @kph3k.bsky.social!
We argue that this presents a new source of pressure for parents and will widen reproductive inequalities!
In @nathumbehav.nature.com with @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social and @kph3k.bsky.social!
September 22, 2026 at 5:07 AM
Companies are now selling genetic testing on IVF-created embryos to select ‘your best baby’.
We argue that this presents a new source of pressure for parents and will widen reproductive inequalities!
In @nathumbehav.nature.com with @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social and @kph3k.bsky.social!
We argue that this presents a new source of pressure for parents and will widen reproductive inequalities!
In @nathumbehav.nature.com with @gaiaghirardi.bsky.social and @kph3k.bsky.social!
September 22, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Reposted by Joana Serrano
“Today, the European Commission preliminarily found both TikTok and Meta in breach of their obligation to grant researchers adequate access to public data under the Digital Services Act (DSA).”
🧪
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
🧪
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Commission preliminarily finds TikTok and Meta in breach of their transparency obligations under the Digital Services Act
Today, the European Commission preliminarily found both TikTok and Meta in breach of their obligation to grant researchers adequate access to public data under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
ec.europa.eu
October 24, 2025 at 2:57 PM
“Today, the European Commission preliminarily found both TikTok and Meta in breach of their obligation to grant researchers adequate access to public data under the Digital Services Act (DSA).”
🧪
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
🧪
ec.europa.eu/commission/p...
Reposted by Joana Serrano
Well, I think that is *enormously* harder to establish than you are assuming, because so many aspects of the experiment whose role we have no knowledge of, including in the initial conditions, are unmeasured.
October 17, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Well, I think that is *enormously* harder to establish than you are assuming, because so many aspects of the experiment whose role we have no knowledge of, including in the initial conditions, are unmeasured.
Reposted by Joana Serrano
I mean the stochasticity is "inherent to development" in the sense that the phenotypic outcomes are only partly specified by genetics and, even under identical conditions, you would still get variation in outcomes
October 17, 2025 at 8:47 AM
I mean the stochasticity is "inherent to development" in the sense that the phenotypic outcomes are only partly specified by genetics and, even under identical conditions, you would still get variation in outcomes
Reposted by Joana Serrano
Yes and I'm disagreeing with that :) I don't think developmental biologists have discovered a new source of stochasticity in the universe. Biological systems are complex and have many factors we don't know about and are unable to measure. But fundamentally they are no different from other systems.
October 17, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Yes and I'm disagreeing with that :) I don't think developmental biologists have discovered a new source of stochasticity in the universe. Biological systems are complex and have many factors we don't know about and are unable to measure. But fundamentally they are no different from other systems.
Reposted by Joana Serrano
Just because we can't currently measure the factors that affect eg molecular concentrations, cell morphologies, differential growth, doesn't make them fundamentally different, or imply that their variation is somehow partitioned off from the world that we can measure.
October 17, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Just because we can't currently measure the factors that affect eg molecular concentrations, cell morphologies, differential growth, doesn't make them fundamentally different, or imply that their variation is somehow partitioned off from the world that we can measure.
Reposted by Joana Serrano
Are you proposing that this 3rd category of 'developmental' variance is somehow independent of either genetic or environmental factors? What's the source of it then, quantum mechanics?
October 16, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Are you proposing that this 3rd category of 'developmental' variance is somehow independent of either genetic or environmental factors? What's the source of it then, quantum mechanics?
Reposted by Joana Serrano
So, in my view, handedness is a great example of a trait where the relationship between genotype and phenotype is just inherently probabilistic. What you inherit is a likelihood, but how that plays out depends significantly on chance. (No hidden variables).
October 16, 2025 at 6:22 PM
So, in my view, handedness is a great example of a trait where the relationship between genotype and phenotype is just inherently probabilistic. What you inherit is a likelihood, but how that plays out depends significantly on chance. (No hidden variables).
Reposted by Joana Serrano
Now published! Our paper on:
(1) Accurate sequencing of sperm at scale
(2) Positive selection of spermatogenesis driver mutations across the exome
(3) Offspring disease risks from male reproductive aging
[1/n]
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(1) Accurate sequencing of sperm at scale
(2) Positive selection of spermatogenesis driver mutations across the exome
(3) Offspring disease risks from male reproductive aging
[1/n]
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Sperm sequencing reveals extensive positive selection in the male germline - Nature
A combination of whole-genome NanoSeq with deep whole-exome and targeted NanoSeq is used to accurately characterize mutation rates and genes under positive selection in sperm cells.
www.nature.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Now published! Our paper on:
(1) Accurate sequencing of sperm at scale
(2) Positive selection of spermatogenesis driver mutations across the exome
(3) Offspring disease risks from male reproductive aging
[1/n]
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
(1) Accurate sequencing of sperm at scale
(2) Positive selection of spermatogenesis driver mutations across the exome
(3) Offspring disease risks from male reproductive aging
[1/n]
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Joana Serrano
A new research from EMBL Rome scientists suggests that the pupil does more than just respond to light and internal states – it may actively shape our vision.
Their findings reveal that the pupil can integrate input from both eyes, impacting the entire visual pathway.
www.embl.org/news/science...
Their findings reveal that the pupil can integrate input from both eyes, impacting the entire visual pathway.
www.embl.org/news/science...
September 19, 2025 at 6:51 AM
A new research from EMBL Rome scientists suggests that the pupil does more than just respond to light and internal states – it may actively shape our vision.
Their findings reveal that the pupil can integrate input from both eyes, impacting the entire visual pathway.
www.embl.org/news/science...
Their findings reveal that the pupil can integrate input from both eyes, impacting the entire visual pathway.
www.embl.org/news/science...
Reposted by Joana Serrano
Genetic "optimization" of embryos appears to be becoming mainstream. The narrative currently is largely controlled by startups that range across the spectrum from hardcore snake-oil to well-intentioned & occasionally strong domain expertise. But these are not neutral parties. 1/
July 31, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Genetic "optimization" of embryos appears to be becoming mainstream. The narrative currently is largely controlled by startups that range across the spectrum from hardcore snake-oil to well-intentioned & occasionally strong domain expertise. But these are not neutral parties. 1/
Reposted by Joana Serrano
Long-awaited results suggest that mitochondrial donation can prevent babies from inheriting diseases caused by mutant mitochondria
go.nature.com/4nUQHAq
go.nature.com/4nUQHAq
‘Landmark’ study: three-person IVF leads to eight healthy children
Long-awaited results suggest that mitochondrial donation can prevent babies from inheriting diseases caused by mutant mitochondria.
go.nature.com
July 17, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Long-awaited results suggest that mitochondrial donation can prevent babies from inheriting diseases caused by mutant mitochondria
go.nature.com/4nUQHAq
go.nature.com/4nUQHAq
Reposted by Joana Serrano
I wrote about the genomics side of the NHS health plan here (www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...) - it is more than the newborn sequencing side - and probably most importantly it is well thought through
On my trip back from France I've written a length article about the genomics heavy 10-year health plan for England - read on to hear my thoughts about the ambition and realism of this plan - what ...
On my trip back from France I've written a length article about the genomics heavy 10-year health plan for England - read on to hear my thoughts about the ambition and realism of this plan - what ...
www.linkedin.com
July 11, 2025 at 8:14 AM
I wrote about the genomics side of the NHS health plan here (www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...) - it is more than the newborn sequencing side - and probably most importantly it is well thought through
Reposted by Joana Serrano
Excellent analysis of unanswered questions: would this would be a great thing, a marginally good thing, or a bad thing? I don't know; neither does NHS. Why not do more piloting to find out?
I suspect the university/bioindustrial complex will win & we'll do it. It's sexy & it "seems" to make sense.
I suspect the university/bioindustrial complex will win & we'll do it. It's sexy & it "seems" to make sense.
Should we welcome the UK's plans to roll out genome sequencing for all babies? My column for @thenewworldmag.bsky.social
www.thenewworld.co.uk/philip-ball-...
www.thenewworld.co.uk/philip-ball-...
The danger of fetishising genome sequencing
The worry is that this becomes a technology that we use because we can rather than because we know it can make a difference
www.thenewworld.co.uk
July 10, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Excellent analysis of unanswered questions: would this would be a great thing, a marginally good thing, or a bad thing? I don't know; neither does NHS. Why not do more piloting to find out?
I suspect the university/bioindustrial complex will win & we'll do it. It's sexy & it "seems" to make sense.
I suspect the university/bioindustrial complex will win & we'll do it. It's sexy & it "seems" to make sense.
Reposted by Joana Serrano
Karolinska is looking for 20 (!!) assistant professors and offering 6 year appointments with ~1M USD startup packages.
ki.se/en/about-ki/...
ki.se/en/about-ki/...
Call for 20 Assistant Professor positions
Karolinska Institutet is a world-leading medical university with a long and proud history of ground-breaking research. We are now recruiting outstanding early-career researchers with particularly exce...
ki.se
June 25, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Karolinska is looking for 20 (!!) assistant professors and offering 6 year appointments with ~1M USD startup packages.
ki.se/en/about-ki/...
ki.se/en/about-ki/...
Reposted by Joana Serrano
TCA cycle rewiring underpins implantation and histone acetylation programming https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.25.650409v1
April 29, 2025 at 1:37 PM
TCA cycle rewiring underpins implantation and histone acetylation programming https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.25.650409v1
Reposted by Joana Serrano
The deadline for the following grants is 7 March:
- Scientific Meeting Grants
- Grants from our Fund for Innovations in Sustainable Conferencing
- JCS-FocalPlane Training Grants @jcellsci.bsky.social @focalplane.bsky.social
Find out more and apply at: www.biologists.com/grants
- Scientific Meeting Grants
- Grants from our Fund for Innovations in Sustainable Conferencing
- JCS-FocalPlane Training Grants @jcellsci.bsky.social @focalplane.bsky.social
Find out more and apply at: www.biologists.com/grants
About our grants
Our grants support and encourage the sharing of knowledge throughout the community by facilitating international collaboration, event attendance and the organisation of scientific meetings,…
www.biologists.com
March 3, 2025 at 10:15 AM
The deadline for the following grants is 7 March:
- Scientific Meeting Grants
- Grants from our Fund for Innovations in Sustainable Conferencing
- JCS-FocalPlane Training Grants @jcellsci.bsky.social @focalplane.bsky.social
Find out more and apply at: www.biologists.com/grants
- Scientific Meeting Grants
- Grants from our Fund for Innovations in Sustainable Conferencing
- JCS-FocalPlane Training Grants @jcellsci.bsky.social @focalplane.bsky.social
Find out more and apply at: www.biologists.com/grants
Reposted by Joana Serrano
Great write up at @thetransmitter.bsky.social on the seeming erasure of SABV in the new era of NIH. Gotta say The Transmitter is killing it the last few weeks, first to report on the Federal Register block and now this. Leading the charge! 💪 www.thetransmitter.org/policy/exclu...
Exclusive: NIH appears to archive policy requiring female animals in studies
Such a shift would “put us back in the dark ages in terms of our science,” says neuroscientist Anne Murphy, who helped to formulate the original policy.
www.thetransmitter.org
February 25, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Great write up at @thetransmitter.bsky.social on the seeming erasure of SABV in the new era of NIH. Gotta say The Transmitter is killing it the last few weeks, first to report on the Federal Register block and now this. Leading the charge! 💪 www.thetransmitter.org/policy/exclu...
Reposted by Joana Serrano
5/ How should the scientific community respond?
Seek immediate IRB guidance.
Demand that universities & professional bodies speak out.
Use legal challenges where possible.
Avoid self-censorship & anticipatory compliance.
Speak with one voice—ethical standards must be maintained.
Seek immediate IRB guidance.
Demand that universities & professional bodies speak out.
Use legal challenges where possible.
Avoid self-censorship & anticipatory compliance.
Speak with one voice—ethical standards must be maintained.
February 12, 2025 at 12:10 PM
5/ How should the scientific community respond?
Seek immediate IRB guidance.
Demand that universities & professional bodies speak out.
Use legal challenges where possible.
Avoid self-censorship & anticipatory compliance.
Speak with one voice—ethical standards must be maintained.
Seek immediate IRB guidance.
Demand that universities & professional bodies speak out.
Use legal challenges where possible.
Avoid self-censorship & anticipatory compliance.
Speak with one voice—ethical standards must be maintained.
Reposted by Joana Serrano
"Health institutions may be hesitant to criticise the new administration publicly, but this timidity is a mistake. Trump's actions must be called out for the damage they are doing.
(...)
The medical and scientific communities must come together and stand up for this vision."
@thelancet.bsky.social
(...)
The medical and scientific communities must come together and stand up for this vision."
@thelancet.bsky.social
American chaos: standing up for health and medicine
Withdrawal from WHO and the Paris Agreements. USAID shuttered and aid halted, ceasing
health programmes globally. A freeze on US$3 trillion worth of federal grants and
loans, jeopardising the function...
www.thelancet.com
February 7, 2025 at 2:44 PM
"Health institutions may be hesitant to criticise the new administration publicly, but this timidity is a mistake. Trump's actions must be called out for the damage they are doing.
(...)
The medical and scientific communities must come together and stand up for this vision."
@thelancet.bsky.social
(...)
The medical and scientific communities must come together and stand up for this vision."
@thelancet.bsky.social
Crucial (and beautiful) work on Y-chromosome gene function in spermatogenesis with systematic male reproductive phenotyping! A key step toward understanding male-factor infertility — often overlooked but responsible for 50% of infertility cases. More studies like this are needed. #ReproductiveHealth
Researchers at the Crick have uncovered which genes on the Y chromosome regulate the development of sperm and affect fertility in male mice. This could eventually help us to understand male infertility.
www.crick.ac.uk/news-and-rep...
www.crick.ac.uk/news-and-rep...
Uncovering the role of Y chromosome genes in male fertility in mice
Researchers at the Crick have uncovered which genes on the Y chromosome regulate the development of sperm and impact fertility in male mice. This research could help us understand why some men don’t p...
www.crick.ac.uk
January 29, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Crucial (and beautiful) work on Y-chromosome gene function in spermatogenesis with systematic male reproductive phenotyping! A key step toward understanding male-factor infertility — often overlooked but responsible for 50% of infertility cases. More studies like this are needed. #ReproductiveHealth