Jonathan Pettitt
@genotripe.bsky.social
Gene Supremo and Worm Wizard
aberdeenwormlab.org
aberdeenwormlab.org
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
What usually gets lost in the focus on what an evil racist James Watson was is just how colossal of a dumbass he was and just how far he set the field back.
But @sramach.bsky.social and @cbo.bsky.social kept their eye on the ball.
But @sramach.bsky.social and @cbo.bsky.social kept their eye on the ball.
"What James Watson got wrong about DNA"
By the great Sohini Ramachandran (@sramach.bsky.social) and your boy for The Boston Globe (@bostonglobe.com).
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/14/o...
By the great Sohini Ramachandran (@sramach.bsky.social) and your boy for The Boston Globe (@bostonglobe.com).
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/14/o...
What James Watson got wrong about DNA - The Boston Globe
The science he helped pioneer consistently undermines his view that genes determine everything about us.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 15, 2025 at 4:19 AM
What usually gets lost in the focus on what an evil racist James Watson was is just how colossal of a dumbass he was and just how far he set the field back.
But @sramach.bsky.social and @cbo.bsky.social kept their eye on the ball.
But @sramach.bsky.social and @cbo.bsky.social kept their eye on the ball.
This was a fabulous meeting! Huge thanks to @pontus-skoglund.bsky.social and @janetk.bsky.social for organising it. Been a while since I’ve been to a meeting with so many engaging talks.
Today we have our fantastic Autumn Meeting on Ancient Genomes @royalsociety.org !
November 14, 2025 at 10:43 PM
This was a fabulous meeting! Huge thanks to @pontus-skoglund.bsky.social and @janetk.bsky.social for organising it. Been a while since I’ve been to a meeting with so many engaging talks.
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
As I told the CNN, without details and data it is not possible to assess the claims.
More importantly, the scientific value of this media campaign, balanced against the possible stigmatization of individuals with these real conditions today, is highly questionable. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/13/s...
More importantly, the scientific value of this media campaign, balanced against the possible stigmatization of individuals with these real conditions today, is highly questionable. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/13/s...
Researchers say they have verified and sequenced Hitler’s DNA – and found a genetic disorder | CNN
Analysis of Adolf Hitler’s DNA reveals he may have had a rare genetic disorder that can delay puberty.
edition.cnn.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:28 PM
As I told the CNN, without details and data it is not possible to assess the claims.
More importantly, the scientific value of this media campaign, balanced against the possible stigmatization of individuals with these real conditions today, is highly questionable. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/13/s...
More importantly, the scientific value of this media campaign, balanced against the possible stigmatization of individuals with these real conditions today, is highly questionable. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/13/s...
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
Randall Munroe, welcome to The War on Cars.
![4-panel vertical comic. (1) 100 Years Ago [two people standing next to bicycle with small car nearby] PERSON 1: It’s too dangerous riding a bike with these cars around. I should get a car, too. (2) 50 Years Ago [two people between smaller car and bigger car] PERSON 2 with short hair: Small cars are less safe in collisions with larger vehicles, so I should get a bigger one. (3) Today [two people between big car and even bigger car] PERSON 1: Everyone has huge SUVs now. If I don’t get the biggest one, I’m putting my family at risk. (4) Soon [two people next to large armored car with spiked clubs attached] PERSON 2: If I don’t install more whirling spike clubs, I’ll be destroyed by all the other drivers who...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiby6can6k76yzfmv2czxs4pu2l7zie7bqbrpswi7h3ifmiadkuqvu@jpeg)
November 14, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Randall Munroe, welcome to The War on Cars.
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
This
![[Scene is a kitchen - a middle aged woman called JANET is boiling peas at the stove. A younger more colourfully dressed woman named LIZ approached her.]
JANET:
Ugh...
LIZ:
What's up?
JANET:
I am so bored of cooking peas!
LIZ:
Have you tried...
AI peas?
JANET:
AI peas?
LIZ:
They're peas with AI!
[Liz holds up to us a packet of peas labelled: Pea-i AI - Peas with AI].
LIZ:
Al-powered peas harness the potential of your peas
JANET:
What
LIZ [Now a voiceover as we cut to a whizzy technology diagram of peas all connected by meaningless dotted lines]
Why not take your peas to the next level with Al Peas' new Al tools to power your peas?
[Show a techno diagram of a pea with a label reading 'AI' pointing to a random zone in it]
LIZ:
Each pea has Al in a way we haven't quite worked out yet but it's fine
[Show Janet and Liz now in a Matrix-style world of peas]
LIZ:
With Al peas you can supercharge productivity and make AI work for your peas!
JANET:
What
LIZ:
Shut up
LIZ:
Our game-changing Pea-Al gives you the freedom to unlock the potential of the power of the future of your peas workflow
From opening the bag of peas
to boiling the peas
to eating the peas
To spending millions on adding Al to the peas and then having to work out what that even means.
JANET:
Is it really necessary to-
LIZ [Grabbing Janet by the collar]:
THE PEAS HAVE GOT AI, JANET
[Cut to an advert ending screen, with the bag of peas and the slogan:
AI PEAS: Just 'Peas' for god's sake buy the AI peas.
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiayqa37f7kik7l7s7fbtfp2sir5ckb662ry2lylinyjrfa2rkvvka@jpeg)
November 14, 2025 at 6:09 PM
This
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
Congratulations to Richard Durbin on being awarded our Genetics Society Medal!
November 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Congratulations to Richard Durbin on being awarded our Genetics Society Medal!
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
Congratulations to @vinuesalab.bsky.social from @crick.ac.uk on winning the 2026 JBS Haldane Lecture. Carola will present her JBS Haldane Lecture next year at @rigb.org!
November 14, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Congratulations to @vinuesalab.bsky.social from @crick.ac.uk on winning the 2026 JBS Haldane Lecture. Carola will present her JBS Haldane Lecture next year at @rigb.org!
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
We also had the treasurer report. This was @lorenzlab.bsky.social ‘s last AGM. We want to thank Alexander for all his great work and dedication to the society!
November 14, 2025 at 12:21 PM
We also had the treasurer report. This was @lorenzlab.bsky.social ‘s last AGM. We want to thank Alexander for all his great work and dedication to the society!
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
Our President Gil McVean welcoming all our members to our AGM @royalsociety.org, where members will vote on the incorporation of the society!
November 14, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Our President Gil McVean welcoming all our members to our AGM @royalsociety.org, where members will vote on the incorporation of the society!
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
Pre @gensocuk.bsky.social talk @crick.ac.uk by Svante Pääbo, and interesting thoughts on how to define a “modern” human. More tomorrow!
November 13, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Pre @gensocuk.bsky.social talk @crick.ac.uk by Svante Pääbo, and interesting thoughts on how to define a “modern” human. More tomorrow!
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
Nobel Prize winner Svante Pääbo giving the Genetics Society public lecture at @crick.ac.uk. Svante is recounting how Neandertals and Denisovans live on in many of us!
November 13, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Nobel Prize winner Svante Pääbo giving the Genetics Society public lecture at @crick.ac.uk. Svante is recounting how Neandertals and Denisovans live on in many of us!
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
"What James Watson got wrong about DNA"
By the great Sohini Ramachandran (@sramach.bsky.social) and your boy for The Boston Globe (@bostonglobe.com).
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/14/o...
By the great Sohini Ramachandran (@sramach.bsky.social) and your boy for The Boston Globe (@bostonglobe.com).
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/14/o...
What James Watson got wrong about DNA - The Boston Globe
The science he helped pioneer consistently undermines his view that genes determine everything about us.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
"What James Watson got wrong about DNA"
By the great Sohini Ramachandran (@sramach.bsky.social) and your boy for The Boston Globe (@bostonglobe.com).
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/14/o...
By the great Sohini Ramachandran (@sramach.bsky.social) and your boy for The Boston Globe (@bostonglobe.com).
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/14/o...
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
I’ve also been heckled by Robert Winston. Two great white scientists who felt the need to challenge, rudely, in public, what I was saying because I, a mere science teacher, dared suggest they were wrong about things.
I (an atheist) gave a talk at a Humanist event once where I pointed this out, only to be heckled disgracefully by Richard Dawkins. The audience took my side. It’s such an obviously ridiculous, easily refuted position to take.
November 14, 2025 at 7:28 AM
I’ve also been heckled by Robert Winston. Two great white scientists who felt the need to challenge, rudely, in public, what I was saying because I, a mere science teacher, dared suggest they were wrong about things.
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
After having followed papers on the gut microbiome and mental health problems for a few years, I would not be surprised if conceptual and methodological flaws undermine most claims in this literature.
The link between the gut #microbiome and autism is not backed by science, researchers say.
Read the full opinion piece in @cp-neuron.bsky.social: spkl.io/63322AbxpA
@wiringthebrain.bsky.social, @statsepi.bsky.social, & @deevybee.bsky.social
Read the full opinion piece in @cp-neuron.bsky.social: spkl.io/63322AbxpA
@wiringthebrain.bsky.social, @statsepi.bsky.social, & @deevybee.bsky.social
November 14, 2025 at 7:24 AM
After having followed papers on the gut microbiome and mental health problems for a few years, I would not be surprised if conceptual and methodological flaws undermine most claims in this literature.
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
Join us for an extraordinary evening with Nobel Laureate Svante Pääbo!
Prof Pääbo will present a FREE public talk titled “Of Neanderthals and Denisovans, and how they live on in many of us” at the @crick.ac.uk.
Register here: genetics.org.uk/events/of-ne...
Prof Pääbo will present a FREE public talk titled “Of Neanderthals and Denisovans, and how they live on in many of us” at the @crick.ac.uk.
Register here: genetics.org.uk/events/of-ne...
October 27, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Join us for an extraordinary evening with Nobel Laureate Svante Pääbo!
Prof Pääbo will present a FREE public talk titled “Of Neanderthals and Denisovans, and how they live on in many of us” at the @crick.ac.uk.
Register here: genetics.org.uk/events/of-ne...
Prof Pääbo will present a FREE public talk titled “Of Neanderthals and Denisovans, and how they live on in many of us” at the @crick.ac.uk.
Register here: genetics.org.uk/events/of-ne...
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
Health Secretary Wes Streeting says that the British Medical Association, which represents Britain's doctors, is a threat to the NHS. Streeting took a record £225k from private healthcare-related donors in just two years.
British Medical Association ‘threat to future of NHS’, says Streeting ahead of doctors’ strike
Health secretary accuses doctors’ union of ‘cartel-like behaviour’ and tells it to ‘get real’ over pay demands
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Health Secretary Wes Streeting says that the British Medical Association, which represents Britain's doctors, is a threat to the NHS. Streeting took a record £225k from private healthcare-related donors in just two years.
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
Whooooaaaa, this is extremely neat!
And spectropolarimetry (which is the best, and what we used in my first paper too!) is at its core 💙
In a nutshell: astronomers used the polarization of light to study the shape of a supernova explosion before it interacted with surrounding material.
🔭🧪
And spectropolarimetry (which is the best, and what we used in my first paper too!) is at its core 💙
In a nutshell: astronomers used the polarization of light to study the shape of a supernova explosion before it interacted with surrounding material.
🔭🧪
For the first time ever, astronomers have unveiled the shape of a supernova explosion just a day after detection, as the blast was breaking through the star’s surface.
Achieved by our VLT, this feat will help us understand how massive stars die: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2520/
🔭 🧪 ☄️
Achieved by our VLT, this feat will help us understand how massive stars die: https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2520/
🔭 🧪 ☄️
November 12, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Whooooaaaa, this is extremely neat!
And spectropolarimetry (which is the best, and what we used in my first paper too!) is at its core 💙
In a nutshell: astronomers used the polarization of light to study the shape of a supernova explosion before it interacted with surrounding material.
🔭🧪
And spectropolarimetry (which is the best, and what we used in my first paper too!) is at its core 💙
In a nutshell: astronomers used the polarization of light to study the shape of a supernova explosion before it interacted with surrounding material.
🔭🧪
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
Our journalism changes things.
For 10 years, we've held power to account in Scotland. Today: our fresh new look.
Same mission. Still digging.
Explore: theferret.scot
Join us tonight at Drygate Glasgow, 7:30pm 🎉
For 10 years, we've held power to account in Scotland. Today: our fresh new look.
Same mission. Still digging.
Explore: theferret.scot
Join us tonight at Drygate Glasgow, 7:30pm 🎉
November 13, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Our journalism changes things.
For 10 years, we've held power to account in Scotland. Today: our fresh new look.
Same mission. Still digging.
Explore: theferret.scot
Join us tonight at Drygate Glasgow, 7:30pm 🎉
For 10 years, we've held power to account in Scotland. Today: our fresh new look.
Same mission. Still digging.
Explore: theferret.scot
Join us tonight at Drygate Glasgow, 7:30pm 🎉
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
The future Pope apparently loved the Blues Brothers and was intentionally dressed that way: www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
What's from Chicago, hates Illinois Nazis, and is holy as fuck?
It's the Pope in 1982.
It's the Pope in 1982.
November 13, 2025 at 3:58 AM
The future Pope apparently loved the Blues Brothers and was intentionally dressed that way: www.thetimes.com/world/europe...
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
🧪 Something that might help is if academia genuinely valued research outputs other than publications (or yet more grant apps).
One of the reasons I chose to be independent from the system is because there was no real career reward for the creative work I wanted to do.
One of the reasons I chose to be independent from the system is because there was no real career reward for the creative work I wanted to do.
“It’s time for the ‘publish more’ mindset to perish.”
Mandy Hill, writing in the Financial Times, calls for reform in academic publishing:
Read the full letter (paywall) 🔗 https://cup.org/3WRVlDm
Mandy Hill, writing in the Financial Times, calls for reform in academic publishing:
Read the full letter (paywall) 🔗 https://cup.org/3WRVlDm
November 12, 2025 at 9:07 PM
🧪 Something that might help is if academia genuinely valued research outputs other than publications (or yet more grant apps).
One of the reasons I chose to be independent from the system is because there was no real career reward for the creative work I wanted to do.
One of the reasons I chose to be independent from the system is because there was no real career reward for the creative work I wanted to do.
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
at last. Expression of concern has appeared on BMJ stem cell paper with 44 comments
pubpeer.com/publications...
pubpeer.com/publications...
PubPeer - Prevention of acute myocardial infarction induced heart fail...
There are comments on PubPeer for publication: Prevention of acute myocardial infarction induced heart failure by intracoronary infusion of mesenchymal stem cells: phase 3 randomised clinical trial (P...
pubpeer.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:44 PM
at last. Expression of concern has appeared on BMJ stem cell paper with 44 comments
pubpeer.com/publications...
pubpeer.com/publications...
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
Leading medical publication the British Medical Journal recognises SUVs as a danger to public health in a new editorial co-authored by T&E’s James Nix: bit.ly/4hVDlBC
Large SUVs are a danger to pedestrians, cyclists & other drivers.
It's time to take action to reduce their presence in urban areas.
Large SUVs are a danger to pedestrians, cyclists & other drivers.
It's time to take action to reduce their presence in urban areas.
November 12, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Leading medical publication the British Medical Journal recognises SUVs as a danger to public health in a new editorial co-authored by T&E’s James Nix: bit.ly/4hVDlBC
Large SUVs are a danger to pedestrians, cyclists & other drivers.
It's time to take action to reduce their presence in urban areas.
Large SUVs are a danger to pedestrians, cyclists & other drivers.
It's time to take action to reduce their presence in urban areas.
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
Today, I learned that Joan of Arc was executed primarily for her gender treason more than her supposed heresies.
![On May 23 Joan was brought to a room near her cell where some of the
judges and assessors had gathered. The University of Paris’ decision,
broken down into six articles, was read to her. In addition to charging her
as a heretic, schismatic, apostate and witch, one article drew attention to
her male clothing. The indictment stated:
You have said that you wore and still wear man’s dress at God’s
command . . . and so you have put on a short tunic, jerkin, and hose with
many points. You even wear your hair cut short above the ears, without
keeping about you anything to denote your sex, save what nature has
given you.
They went on, telling her it was blasphemous for her to have worn male
garb, especially during the times she received the eucharist. Since she
claimed she would rather die than change her clothing, she was charged
with transgressing divine law, Holy Scripture and the canons of the
Church. “You are full of vain boasting . . . given to idolatry and
worship[ing] yourself and your clothes.” 9 This charge would become the
basis for Joan’s conviction.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:lfgbxkojtpvx5mrlwfajfd2h/bafkreibnu4qe52y7uf3ijvtqbt2engpgpbsvkhf26cashi7nqct5u24nda@jpeg)
November 12, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Today, I learned that Joan of Arc was executed primarily for her gender treason more than her supposed heresies.
Reposted by Jonathan Pettitt
"'In mobility more than elsewhere, the central issue is supply rather than demand,' says the elected official, who assures that the municipality has 'massively amplified the supply in infrastructure.'"
Paris cycling numbers double in one year thanks to massive investment and it’s not stopping.
momentummag.com/paris-cyclin...
momentummag.com/paris-cyclin...
Paris cycling numbers double in one year thanks to massive investment and it's not stopping
The report delves into the nuances of Parisian cycling culture, exploring the vibrant community of riders who navigate the city's streets
momentummag.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:08 PM
"'In mobility more than elsewhere, the central issue is supply rather than demand,' says the elected official, who assures that the municipality has 'massively amplified the supply in infrastructure.'"