Anneke Lucassen
@alucassen.bsky.social
Prof Genomic Medicine, UoOxford
Director Centre for Personalised Medicine https://cpm.ox.ac.uk/
Interested in how we bring together ethics, social, molecular and clinical sciences to make sense of genomics.
@annekeluc at the other place
Director Centre for Personalised Medicine https://cpm.ox.ac.uk/
Interested in how we bring together ethics, social, molecular and clinical sciences to make sense of genomics.
@annekeluc at the other place
Brilliant! I did not know this paper so thanks from infrequent bluesky user for this nugget reposted.
With sequencing of Hitler's DNA making headlines, time for a reminder: analysing a polygenic score from a dead historically-significant figure won't give new insights into that person's behaviour. In a brief paper last year, we used Beethoven's genome to directly illustrate the fallacies involved.🧪👇
Notes from Beethoven’s genome
Wesseldijk et al. compare the genomic information collected from Ludwig van Beethoven
with population-based datasets used to quantify musical achievement.
www.cell.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Brilliant! I did not know this paper so thanks from infrequent bluesky user for this nugget reposted.
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
Have you got a patent application in? Have you been to Sandhill Road in Palo Alto for funding? Why not???
BTW add the strong prediction that the kid will drink milk!
BTW add the strong prediction that the kid will drink milk!
My test is 99% accurate and predicts that your child will grow to between 5 and 6.5 feet have an IQ between 80 and 130 and live 60-90 years. AND I don’t need any DNA to do my test…
November 11, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Have you got a patent application in? Have you been to Sandhill Road in Palo Alto for funding? Why not???
BTW add the strong prediction that the kid will drink milk!
BTW add the strong prediction that the kid will drink milk!
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
We get the politics the few pay for.
#democracy - it would be a good idea
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
#democracy - it would be a good idea
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Billionaire Tory donor gives £200,000 to Reform UK
JCB chair Lord Bamford hands equal amount to Tories and Reform to support parties he says ‘believe in small business’
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:46 PM
We get the politics the few pay for.
#democracy - it would be a good idea
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
#democracy - it would be a good idea
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
Worried that using ChatGPT harms the planet? A new analysis shows each query uses less energy than a Google search – and far less than lighting a bulb or streaming TV.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
How much energy does ChatGPT really use?
You shouldn’t really worry about your energy use when using domestic AI, it’s probably no worse than watching your favourite soap
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Worried that using ChatGPT harms the planet? A new analysis shows each query uses less energy than a Google search – and far less than lighting a bulb or streaming TV.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
“This thing is definitely bad for us but no one can say what it is”
The evidence that ultra-processed foods are bad for us is piling up. But efforts to reduce their role in our diets face a big hurdle: experts can't agree on what they are and which to target. n.pr/4qMrN7P
People want to avoid ultra-processed foods. But experts struggle to define them
The evidence that ultra-processed foods are bad for us is piling up. But efforts to reduce their role in our diets face a big hurdle: experts can't agree on what they are and which to target.
n.pr
November 10, 2025 at 7:52 PM
“This thing is definitely bad for us but no one can say what it is”
Sounds very appealing: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
She left her desk job and walked 3,541 miles from Mexico to Canada: ‘Give yourself permission’
Jessica Guo hiked 30 miles a day, becoming the first woman to continuously hike two historic US trails in a calendar year
www.theguardian.com
November 9, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Sounds very appealing: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
🧵
🧵
November 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
🧵
🧵
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
Over the last months, we’ve entirely rebuilt search on Our World in Data — we just launched it:
ourworldindata.org/introducing-...
Let me know what you think. Does it work for you?
ourworldindata.org/introducing-...
Let me know what you think. Does it work for you?
Introducing our new, more powerful search
Finding what you’re looking for, or discovering something new, has never been easier.
ourworldindata.org
November 6, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Over the last months, we’ve entirely rebuilt search on Our World in Data — we just launched it:
ourworldindata.org/introducing-...
Let me know what you think. Does it work for you?
ourworldindata.org/introducing-...
Let me know what you think. Does it work for you?
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
BBC vandalism, in an Age of Science to destroy the one science news programme left, after trivializing Science Now. These two programmes were once consecutive & complemented each other, treating listeners as adults.
It's the end of the road for BBC Science in Action. But science itself is facing growing roadblocks. For this terminal edition of SinA I'm joined by @naomioreskes.bsky.social @drdebhoury.bsky.social @michaelemann.bsky.social & @angierasmussen.bsky.social for where now?
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w...
BBC World Service - Science In Action, How science got here, and where next
As anti-science leaves research reeling, does evidence-based policy have a future?
www.bbc.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 10:03 PM
BBC vandalism, in an Age of Science to destroy the one science news programme left, after trivializing Science Now. These two programmes were once consecutive & complemented each other, treating listeners as adults.
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
Sharing this 🎯 post from @barryhunt008.bsky.social over here:
"Wow 🤩
Public Health messaging 100 years ago
👏👏👏"
"Wow 🤩
Public Health messaging 100 years ago
👏👏👏"
![[Alt text generated via Google Lens]
Do's and Don't's for Influenza Prevention.
(Douglas Island News.)
Wear a mask.
Live a clean, healthy life.
Keep the pores open that is bathe frequently.
Wash your hands before each meal.
Live in an abundance of fresh air, day and night.
Keep warm.
Get plenty of sleep.
Gargle frequently (and always after having been out) with a solution of salt in water (1/2 tsp for 8oz water).
Report early symptoms to the doctor at once, Respect the quarantine regulations.
Avoid crowds. You can get the influenza only by -being near some one who is infected.
Avoid persons who sneeze or cough.
Do not neglect your mask.
Do not disregard the advice of a specialist just be-cause you do not understand.
Do not disregard the rights of a community obey cheerfully the rules issued by the authorities.
Do not think you are entitled to special privileges.
Do not go near other people if you have a cold or fever you may expose them to the influenza and death. See the doctor.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:li6aqouldc2xdd6ohr3tfukn/bafkreifhhpflaj5bqbwp7rxtfzj5vhmh4sej3eiveu3zmx57p67jktsfke@jpeg)
November 6, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Sharing this 🎯 post from @barryhunt008.bsky.social over here:
"Wow 🤩
Public Health messaging 100 years ago
👏👏👏"
"Wow 🤩
Public Health messaging 100 years ago
👏👏👏"
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
Sometimes I see a pre-print and pray to the science communication gods that it isn’t reported in the news as though it is a peer reviewed study.
Sometimes I see a pre-print and can only pray that the peer review gods will bring it to me.
November 6, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Sometimes I see a pre-print and pray to the science communication gods that it isn’t reported in the news as though it is a peer reviewed study.
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
Your periodic reminder that mRNA vaccines are a scientific and public health game-changer. Those that have been approved have passed stringent efficacy and safety checks. They protect you and your child against potentially fatal diseases. You may, however, get a sore arm.
September 3, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Your periodic reminder that mRNA vaccines are a scientific and public health game-changer. Those that have been approved have passed stringent efficacy and safety checks. They protect you and your child against potentially fatal diseases. You may, however, get a sore arm.
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
Talent is everywhere, opportunity isn’t. In this letter to the editor, a former teacher reflects on her pupils’ hopes, and the barriers some will face ⤵️
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
Letter to the editor: Every child’s ambition matters – whatever their background
A former teacher fears children’s dreams could be limited by prejudice and urges us to protect their potential
eastangliabylines.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Talent is everywhere, opportunity isn’t. In this letter to the editor, a former teacher reflects on her pupils’ hopes, and the barriers some will face ⤵️
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
"LLMs are common-sense repositories. Yes, they can remix and recycle our knowledge in interesting ways. But they are trapped in the vocabularies we’ve encoded in our data and trained them upon. Large-language models are dead-metaphor machines."
buildcognitiveresonance.substack.com/p/there-is-n...
buildcognitiveresonance.substack.com/p/there-is-n...
There is no Artificial Irony
Large-language models are dead-metaphor machines
buildcognitiveresonance.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:02 PM
"LLMs are common-sense repositories. Yes, they can remix and recycle our knowledge in interesting ways. But they are trapped in the vocabularies we’ve encoded in our data and trained them upon. Large-language models are dead-metaphor machines."
buildcognitiveresonance.substack.com/p/there-is-n...
buildcognitiveresonance.substack.com/p/there-is-n...
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
Join our rescheduled online Bradford Hill Seminar with @alucassen.bsky.social, discussing:
Diagnostic and predictive journeys: Finding the right balance in genomic medicine
📅 Wed 26 November, 1 PM (UK)
Register buff.ly/U06QZ9N
@dphpc.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social @phgfoundation.bsky.social
Diagnostic and predictive journeys: Finding the right balance in genomic medicine
📅 Wed 26 November, 1 PM (UK)
Register buff.ly/U06QZ9N
@dphpc.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social @phgfoundation.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Join our rescheduled online Bradford Hill Seminar with @alucassen.bsky.social, discussing:
Diagnostic and predictive journeys: Finding the right balance in genomic medicine
📅 Wed 26 November, 1 PM (UK)
Register buff.ly/U06QZ9N
@dphpc.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social @phgfoundation.bsky.social
Diagnostic and predictive journeys: Finding the right balance in genomic medicine
📅 Wed 26 November, 1 PM (UK)
Register buff.ly/U06QZ9N
@dphpc.bsky.social @mrc-bsu.bsky.social @phgfoundation.bsky.social
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
Plastic is often seen as a cheap material but scientists in The Lancet argue it is expensive when including damage to health
One estimate of the health damage from just three plastic chemicals – PBDE, BPA and DEHP – in 38 countries was $1.5tn a year.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
One estimate of the health damage from just three plastic chemicals – PBDE, BPA and DEHP – in 38 countries was $1.5tn a year.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
World in $1.5tn ‘plastics crisis’ hitting health from infancy to old age, report warns
Plastic production has increased more than 200 times since 1950 and hits health at every stage from extraction to disposal, says review in the Lancet
www.theguardian.com
August 4, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Plastic is often seen as a cheap material but scientists in The Lancet argue it is expensive when including damage to health
One estimate of the health damage from just three plastic chemicals – PBDE, BPA and DEHP – in 38 countries was $1.5tn a year.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
One estimate of the health damage from just three plastic chemicals – PBDE, BPA and DEHP – in 38 countries was $1.5tn a year.
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
Sheep are destroying precious British habitats – and we taxpayers are footing the bill to the tune of millions in a climate and biodiversity emergency - it’s bad and bonkers ! Me for The Guardian . . . @wildjustice.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Sheep are destroying precious British habitats – and we taxpayers are footing the bill | Chris Packham
Large parts of Dartmoor have been denuded of wildlife, harmed by farming and a mess of government schemes that are costly in every way, says naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham
www.theguardian.com
July 16, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Sheep are destroying precious British habitats – and we taxpayers are footing the bill to the tune of millions in a climate and biodiversity emergency - it’s bad and bonkers ! Me for The Guardian . . . @wildjustice.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Agreed, Brit soc genetic Medicine wrote a briefing on this: bsgm.org.uk/media/12702/...
July 20, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Agreed, Brit soc genetic Medicine wrote a briefing on this: bsgm.org.uk/media/12702/...
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
This this this
Washing hands and wiping down surfaces will not do much to protect children from a deadly, highly infectious, airborne virus. Vaccinate and ventilate.
Washing hands and wiping down surfaces will not do much to protect children from a deadly, highly infectious, airborne virus. Vaccinate and ventilate.
While infection control and cleaning is always a good thing, it’s not going to cut it for measles. Measles is airborne and highly contagious. The best approach is vaccination, and local infection control should focus on ventilation and air cleaning www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Nurseries in England bring in Covid-style protocols as measles cases rise
Staff deploy infection controls and step up cleaning as cases pass 500 for year to date and after one child dies
www.theguardian.com
July 19, 2025 at 7:43 AM
This this this
Washing hands and wiping down surfaces will not do much to protect children from a deadly, highly infectious, airborne virus. Vaccinate and ventilate.
Washing hands and wiping down surfaces will not do much to protect children from a deadly, highly infectious, airborne virus. Vaccinate and ventilate.
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
In a world of polarized headlines, Katharine Hayhoe is cutting through the noise.
She’s not just a top climate scientist — she’s showing how to talk about climate in ways that build trust, not division.
📰 Read more on Scientista:
She’s not just a top climate scientist — she’s showing how to talk about climate in ways that build trust, not division.
📰 Read more on Scientista:
Katharine Hayhoe: Climate Communication that Works
The key to climate communication? Talk about what people already care about.
scientista.substack.com
July 18, 2025 at 5:23 PM
In a world of polarized headlines, Katharine Hayhoe is cutting through the noise.
She’s not just a top climate scientist — she’s showing how to talk about climate in ways that build trust, not division.
📰 Read more on Scientista:
She’s not just a top climate scientist — she’s showing how to talk about climate in ways that build trust, not division.
📰 Read more on Scientista:
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
Love this. Meanwhile can someone please hunt down whoever "Kiroe" is, and make it manifestly clear to them that their graffiti tag sucks and they're never to deface Belfast/Newtownabbey/Carrick ever again...
Nice piece about #StreetArt in Belfast. Folks gettin' those dull junction boxes painted.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Belfast artists transform junction boxes with street art - BBC News
The Belfast Canvas project aims to liven up junction boxes across the city with colourful street art.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 19, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Love this. Meanwhile can someone please hunt down whoever "Kiroe" is, and make it manifestly clear to them that their graffiti tag sucks and they're never to deface Belfast/Newtownabbey/Carrick ever again...
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
Greatly enjoying this book by a physicist turned sociologist explaining why you need more than the laws of physics to explain societal problems.
July 19, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Greatly enjoying this book by a physicist turned sociologist explaining why you need more than the laws of physics to explain societal problems.
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
People often intuitively interpret genetic ancestry PCA plots as simple genetic distances, but this is not always the case. Below are random pairs of individuals that are far apart in PCA space (lines) but actually have fewer total variant differences (numbers).
July 19, 2025 at 7:12 PM
People often intuitively interpret genetic ancestry PCA plots as simple genetic distances, but this is not always the case. Below are random pairs of individuals that are far apart in PCA space (lines) but actually have fewer total variant differences (numbers).
Reposted by Anneke Lucassen
Email Yvette Cooper and tell her that the right to protest is part of any functioning democracy and if she wants to even pretend we’re that, she needs to stop preventing pretty much all protest the government doesn’t like.
action.greenpeace.org.uk/e/854853/4lP...
action.greenpeace.org.uk/e/854853/4lP...
Yvette Cooper: Stop attacking the right to protest.
Tell the Home Secretary to repeal extreme anti-protest laws and protect our right to protest.
action.greenpeace.org.uk
July 18, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Email Yvette Cooper and tell her that the right to protest is part of any functioning democracy and if she wants to even pretend we’re that, she needs to stop preventing pretty much all protest the government doesn’t like.
action.greenpeace.org.uk/e/854853/4lP...
action.greenpeace.org.uk/e/854853/4lP...