Yehu Moran
@yehumoran.bsky.social
Evolutionary and molecular biology seasoned with ecology
https://www.yehumoran.com/
Using mostly sea anemones and other cnidarians as my experimental model organisms. University Professor at HUJI and academic editor for EMBO Press. Opinions are my own.
https://www.yehumoran.com/
Using mostly sea anemones and other cnidarians as my experimental model organisms. University Professor at HUJI and academic editor for EMBO Press. Opinions are my own.
1/5
🚨🚨 preprint alert! 🚨🚨
I wish to introduce CARDIB, not the singer, but the protein.
CARDIB=CARD Inhibitory Binding protein.
In our new work we discover this antiviral protein that is found in all Anthozoa (sea anemones and corals 🪸) but not in other animals.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🚨🚨 preprint alert! 🚨🚨
I wish to introduce CARDIB, not the singer, but the protein.
CARDIB=CARD Inhibitory Binding protein.
In our new work we discover this antiviral protein that is found in all Anthozoa (sea anemones and corals 🪸) but not in other animals.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
An ancient anthozoan protein reveals an alternative evolutionary path of antiviral signaling
How antiviral immunity first arose in animals is a central question in evolutionary biology. Using the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, we identify CARDIB, a previously uncharacterized gene located...
www.biorxiv.org
November 25, 2025 at 12:06 PM
1/5
🚨🚨 preprint alert! 🚨🚨
I wish to introduce CARDIB, not the singer, but the protein.
CARDIB=CARD Inhibitory Binding protein.
In our new work we discover this antiviral protein that is found in all Anthozoa (sea anemones and corals 🪸) but not in other animals.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🚨🚨 preprint alert! 🚨🚨
I wish to introduce CARDIB, not the singer, but the protein.
CARDIB=CARD Inhibitory Binding protein.
In our new work we discover this antiviral protein that is found in all Anthozoa (sea anemones and corals 🪸) but not in other animals.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Very happy and honored for being invited to give a keynote lecture at the 5th ISFSI conference in beautiful Tainan (and no, sea anemones are not fish or shellfish, but they are certainly marine invertebrates and have a fascinating immune system).
November 4, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Very happy and honored for being invited to give a keynote lecture at the 5th ISFSI conference in beautiful Tainan (and no, sea anemones are not fish or shellfish, but they are certainly marine invertebrates and have a fascinating immune system).
1/3 🔥🚨 We have a new @biorxiv-evobio.bsky.social #preprint from our lab! Itamar Kozlovski, an excellent PhD student, established CUT&TAG in #Nematostella. He used this technique to map the transcriptional activation mark H3K27ac in two stinging cell populations
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Epigenomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal cnidocyte specialization in a sea anemone
Cnidarians, including corals, hydras, jellyfish, and sea anemones, possess specialized stinging cells called cnidocytes that function in prey capture and defense. These cells represent a striking evol...
www.biorxiv.org
October 7, 2025 at 12:13 PM
1/3 🔥🚨 We have a new @biorxiv-evobio.bsky.social #preprint from our lab! Itamar Kozlovski, an excellent PhD student, established CUT&TAG in #Nematostella. He used this technique to map the transcriptional activation mark H3K27ac in two stinging cell populations
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
My first ever non-peer reviewed science-related piece. Together with Howard Wolinsky and Holger Breithaupt @embopress.org
It's about how scientists critical of de-extinction are targeted by dark PR tactics: www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
It's about how scientists critical of de-extinction are targeted by dark PR tactics: www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
Scientists targeted by dark PR tactics: Several academic scientists critical of de-extinction projects have become the targets of anonymous smear articles and weaponized copyright infringement claims:...
EMBO Press is an editorially independent publishing platform for the development of EMBO scientific publications.
www.embopress.org
October 3, 2025 at 8:45 AM
My first ever non-peer reviewed science-related piece. Together with Howard Wolinsky and Holger Breithaupt @embopress.org
It's about how scientists critical of de-extinction are targeted by dark PR tactics: www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
It's about how scientists critical of de-extinction are targeted by dark PR tactics: www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....
There’s a reason no one remembers philosophers from Sparta: they had none. Athens valued ideas, Sparta only force.
A 21st-century leader dreaming of a “super-Sparta” isn’t being visionary, he’s showing deeply flawed judgement.
Oh, my country, what a train wreck you’ve become.
A 21st-century leader dreaming of a “super-Sparta” isn’t being visionary, he’s showing deeply flawed judgement.
Oh, my country, what a train wreck you’ve become.
September 16, 2025 at 5:48 AM
There’s a reason no one remembers philosophers from Sparta: they had none. Athens valued ideas, Sparta only force.
A 21st-century leader dreaming of a “super-Sparta” isn’t being visionary, he’s showing deeply flawed judgement.
Oh, my country, what a train wreck you’ve become.
A 21st-century leader dreaming of a “super-Sparta” isn’t being visionary, he’s showing deeply flawed judgement.
Oh, my country, what a train wreck you’ve become.
I'm super proud of this guy!!! 👇
Exciting news to share! I have started my new role as a Lecturer in Evolutionary Biology / Director of MSc Bioinformatics program at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol @bristolbiosci.bsky.social
September 15, 2025 at 6:14 PM
I'm super proud of this guy!!! 👇
Our paper about the interplay between heat stress, viral and antiviral response in sea anemones and #corals 🪸 is finally out!
#OpenAccess
Collaboration between my lab, Maoz Fine and @reefgenomics.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#OpenAccess
Collaboration between my lab, Maoz Fine and @reefgenomics.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Heat Stress Drives Rapid Viral and Antiviral Innate Immunity Activation in Hexacorallia
The class Hexacorallia, encompassing stony corals and sea anemones, plays a critical role in marine ecosystems. Coral bleaching, the disruption of the symbiosis between stony corals and zooxanthellat...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 8, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Our paper about the interplay between heat stress, viral and antiviral response in sea anemones and #corals 🪸 is finally out!
#OpenAccess
Collaboration between my lab, Maoz Fine and @reefgenomics.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#OpenAccess
Collaboration between my lab, Maoz Fine and @reefgenomics.bsky.social
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Very interesting results and a technical breakthrough in gene silencing in Trichoplax:
Dissecting a peptidergic signaling pathway in Trichoplax adhaerens by gene silencing: Current Biology www.cell.com/current-biol...
Dissecting a peptidergic signaling pathway in Trichoplax adhaerens by gene silencing: Current Biology www.cell.com/current-biol...
Dissecting a peptidergic signaling pathway in Trichoplax adhaerens by gene silencing
The simple marine animal Trichoplax adhaerens provides a unique window into early
metazoan evolution. Li et al. develop an efficient RNAi-based gene knockdown method
and uncover how neuropeptide-recep...
www.cell.com
September 7, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Very interesting results and a technical breakthrough in gene silencing in Trichoplax:
Dissecting a peptidergic signaling pathway in Trichoplax adhaerens by gene silencing: Current Biology www.cell.com/current-biol...
Dissecting a peptidergic signaling pathway in Trichoplax adhaerens by gene silencing: Current Biology www.cell.com/current-biol...
A journal drags our review process for months over months. Even the final round after "accepted in principle" with some light text editing drags for weeks. Then the proofs come in, in the least convenient time possible, "we expect you to return your comments within 48 hours" 😖
two men are standing next to each other with blood on their faces . one of the men is wearing a plaid shirt .
ALT: two men are standing next to each other with blood on their faces . one of the men is wearing a plaid shirt .
media.tenor.com
September 5, 2025 at 7:44 AM
A journal drags our review process for months over months. Even the final round after "accepted in principle" with some light text editing drags for weeks. Then the proofs come in, in the least convenient time possible, "we expect you to return your comments within 48 hours" 😖
Reposted by Yehu Moran
Our work on the function of miR-51/miR-100 is out! miR-100 is widely conserved across eumetazoans but its function has been mysterious. Emilio Santillán found in worms it regulates signaling and extracellular matrix genes, some of which seem to be conserved targets! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
An ancient and essential miRNA family controls cellular interaction pathways in C. elegans
A microRNA that arose at the origin of eumetazoans regulates cell adhesion and signaling in C. elegans through conserved targets.
www.science.org
September 3, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Our work on the function of miR-51/miR-100 is out! miR-100 is widely conserved across eumetazoans but its function has been mysterious. Emilio Santillán found in worms it regulates signaling and extracellular matrix genes, some of which seem to be conserved targets! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We sent a paper to a "posh" journal. Waited for more than a month, Finally today the editor rejects the paper without external review. The logic is as follows: "I wanted 🍕, but you sent me a 🍔, and despite my expectations, there was no 🍕! I admit it's a fine 🍔, but where is the 🍕 I was expecting?"
August 13, 2025 at 8:43 PM
We sent a paper to a "posh" journal. Waited for more than a month, Finally today the editor rejects the paper without external review. The logic is as follows: "I wanted 🍕, but you sent me a 🍔, and despite my expectations, there was no 🍕! I admit it's a fine 🍔, but where is the 🍕 I was expecting?"
Achievement unlocked!
Now, I can finally rest 🤪
Now, I can finally rest 🤪
July 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Achievement unlocked!
Now, I can finally rest 🤪
Now, I can finally rest 🤪
July 12, 2025 at 9:35 AM
1/2 The new impact factor numbers are out. No sane person should use them as a proxy for anything, multiple organizations and institutes signed DORA, and still many people rely on them: I'll make it short and sweet: everything that carries "Nature" in its title went up. Sometimes crazily so -->
a man with a mustache says nature is amazing in a store
ALT: a man with a mustache says nature is amazing in a store
media.tenor.com
June 21, 2025 at 5:13 PM
1/2 The new impact factor numbers are out. No sane person should use them as a proxy for anything, multiple organizations and institutes signed DORA, and still many people rely on them: I'll make it short and sweet: everything that carries "Nature" in its title went up. Sometimes crazily so -->
Reposted by Yehu Moran
#TCTeAC ... what's more than organizing one conference? Two conferences! This one is more Day Science on biology of Argonaute proteins from prokaryotes to Metazoa. Great line up of invited speakers. Some special fun included!
#Argonautes2025 - argonautes.img.cas.cz
Join us in Prague 27-30/8/2025 for the next edition of the Argonaute meeting #miRNA #siRNA #piRNA & #PIWI
Abstract submission for talk selection deadline is 30/6!
Please, spread the word @rnasociety.bsky.social @rti-umasschan.bsky.social
Join us in Prague 27-30/8/2025 for the next edition of the Argonaute meeting #miRNA #siRNA #piRNA & #PIWI
Abstract submission for talk selection deadline is 30/6!
Please, spread the word @rnasociety.bsky.social @rti-umasschan.bsky.social
June 18, 2025 at 12:09 PM
#TCTeAC ... what's more than organizing one conference? Two conferences! This one is more Day Science on biology of Argonaute proteins from prokaryotes to Metazoa. Great line up of invited speakers. Some special fun included!
Reposted by Yehu Moran
The fascinating work spearheaded by Kirsten Senti on the diversification and adaptation of endogenous retroviruses in the host gonad 'ecosystem'' is officially published.
🚨📢 New paper alert!
A study led by Kirsten Senti and Julius Brennecke offers new insights into how ancient endogenous retroviruses diversified to exploit different cell “niches” in the fruit fly ovary, and how the host’s defenses adapted in return. https://imba.science/Brennecke_EMBOJ
A study led by Kirsten Senti and Julius Brennecke offers new insights into how ancient endogenous retroviruses diversified to exploit different cell “niches” in the fruit fly ovary, and how the host’s defenses adapted in return. https://imba.science/Brennecke_EMBOJ
June 17, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The fascinating work spearheaded by Kirsten Senti on the diversification and adaptation of endogenous retroviruses in the host gonad 'ecosystem'' is officially published.
After more than 11 years, a long-due "postdocs reunion" with @xxxmichixxx.bsky.social at the @fmiscience.bsky.social
Many thanks for the invitation, Michi! It was great meeting you and your colleagues and catching up on some cool science!
Many thanks for the invitation, Michi! It was great meeting you and your colleagues and catching up on some cool science!
June 12, 2025 at 5:19 PM
After more than 11 years, a long-due "postdocs reunion" with @xxxmichixxx.bsky.social at the @fmiscience.bsky.social
Many thanks for the invitation, Michi! It was great meeting you and your colleagues and catching up on some cool science!
Many thanks for the invitation, Michi! It was great meeting you and your colleagues and catching up on some cool science!
Reposted by Yehu Moran
Our new paper is online in Genome Biology:
"Plasmids, prophages, and defense systems are depleted from plant microbiota genomes"
genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
"Plasmids, prophages, and defense systems are depleted from plant microbiota genomes"
genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Plasmids, prophages, and defense systems are depleted from plant microbiota genomes - Genome Biology
Plant-associated bacteria significantly impact plant growth and health. Understanding how bacterial genomes adapt to plants can provide insights into their growth promotion and virulence functions. He...
genomebiology.biomedcentral.com
June 11, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Our new paper is online in Genome Biology:
"Plasmids, prophages, and defense systems are depleted from plant microbiota genomes"
genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
"Plasmids, prophages, and defense systems are depleted from plant microbiota genomes"
genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Peer Review can be of great value when done properly and awful when done badly. We waited 3.5 months for the decision, Reviewer #2: "Looking on the figures, I get the feeling their antibody is not specific". That's so insightful & informative! It was worth waiting just for this!!! 🙏🤪🤦😱
June 1, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Peer Review can be of great value when done properly and awful when done badly. We waited 3.5 months for the decision, Reviewer #2: "Looking on the figures, I get the feeling their antibody is not specific". That's so insightful & informative! It was worth waiting just for this!!! 🙏🤪🤦😱
Reposted by Yehu Moran
I’m very excited to share our work on the early evolution of animal regulatory genome architecture - the main project of my postdoc, carried out across two wonderful and inspirational labs of @arnausebe.bsky.social and @mamartirenom.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Chromatin loops are an ancestral hallmark of the animal regulatory genome - Nature
The physical organization of the genome in non-bilaterian animals and their closest unicellular relatives is characterized; comparative analysis shows chromatin looping is a conserved feature of ...
www.nature.com
May 7, 2025 at 3:23 PM
I’m very excited to share our work on the early evolution of animal regulatory genome architecture - the main project of my postdoc, carried out across two wonderful and inspirational labs of @arnausebe.bsky.social and @mamartirenom.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
I'm starting a short sabattical of 4 months at @embopress.org today! I hope we can achieve some good things for the molecular eco-evo community and science publishing during this time! #heidelberg
May 5, 2025 at 6:47 AM
I'm starting a short sabattical of 4 months at @embopress.org today! I hope we can achieve some good things for the molecular eco-evo community and science publishing during this time! #heidelberg
Reposted by Yehu Moran
✨🦟✨HOW DO MOSQUITOES HAVE SEX? ✨🦟✨
Join us for a wild journey into hidden female control, rapidly evolving stimulation devices, fierce species competition, and DEADLY MOSQUITOES!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Join us for a wild journey into hidden female control, rapidly evolving stimulation devices, fierce species competition, and DEADLY MOSQUITOES!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
April 20, 2025 at 3:05 PM
✨🦟✨HOW DO MOSQUITOES HAVE SEX? ✨🦟✨
Join us for a wild journey into hidden female control, rapidly evolving stimulation devices, fierce species competition, and DEADLY MOSQUITOES!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Join us for a wild journey into hidden female control, rapidly evolving stimulation devices, fierce species competition, and DEADLY MOSQUITOES!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Yehu Moran
born too late to get a two Western blot Nature paper, born too early to be a science TikTokker, born just in time to start a postdoc during a global pandemic and look for faculty positions during a historic hiring freeze
March 10, 2025 at 4:32 PM
born too late to get a two Western blot Nature paper, born too early to be a science TikTokker, born just in time to start a postdoc during a global pandemic and look for faculty positions during a historic hiring freeze
Excellent work (as usual!) from the Genikhovich group! Highly recommended read.
Our atlas of BMP signaling activity in adult Nematostella is finally out! Fantastic, meticulous work and beautiful illustrations by @paulknabl.bsky.social
Thanks, @fwf-at.bsky.social for funding our work!
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Thanks, @fwf-at.bsky.social for funding our work!
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
A whole-body atlas of BMP signaling activity in an adult sea anemone - BMC Biology
Background BMP signaling is responsible for the second body axis patterning in Bilateria and in the bilaterally symmetric members of the bilaterian sister clade Cnidaria—corals and sea anemones. Howev...
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com
February 22, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Excellent work (as usual!) from the Genikhovich group! Highly recommended read.