Shawn Burgess
@burgesslab.bsky.social
zebrafish researcher, genetics and genomics of regeneration
All posts are my personal opinions and do not reflect the position of the NIH or US government
All posts are my personal opinions and do not reflect the position of the NIH or US government
Pinned
Shawn Burgess
@burgesslab.bsky.social
· May 15
Danio rerio Annotation ReportTwitterFacebookLinkedInGitHubNCBI Insights BlogTwitterFacebookYoutube
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Some exciting news! NCBI has finished the annotation pipeline for our new #zebrafish reference sequence GRCz12tu:
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/refseq/annot...
This is a big step up in data depth and quality and should be super helpful going forward.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/refseq/annot...
This is a big step up in data depth and quality and should be super helpful going forward.
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
We’ve got a couple of PhD projects open. Including one with the lovely @adamgrieve.bsky.social and @scholpplab.bsky.social on Rhbdl proteins in #zebrafish which is open to UK and international students tinyurl.com/fishprotease
Funded PhD SWBio DTP- (STANDARD) Brains, Blades, and Zebrafish: Dissecting Rhomboid Protease Roles in Neuronal Development and Signalling at University of Bristol on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Funded PhD SWBio DTP- (STANDARD) Brains, Blades, and Zebrafish: Dissecting Rhomboid Protease Roles in Neuronal Development and Signalling at University of Bristol...
tinyurl.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:34 AM
We’ve got a couple of PhD projects open. Including one with the lovely @adamgrieve.bsky.social and @scholpplab.bsky.social on Rhbdl proteins in #zebrafish which is open to UK and international students tinyurl.com/fishprotease
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
![[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)
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
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 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
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
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
NEWS: Oxford scientists capture genome’s structure in unprecedented detail
@rdm.ox.ac.uk scientists have achieved the most detailed view yet of how DNA folds and functions inside living cells, using a new technique called MCC ultra .
@rdm.ox.ac.uk scientists have achieved the most detailed view yet of how DNA folds and functions inside living cells, using a new technique called MCC ultra .
Oxford scientists capture genome’s structure in unprecedented detail
Radcliff Department of Medicine scientists have achieved the most detailed view yet of how DNA folds and functions inside living cells, revealing the physical structures that control when and how genes are switched on.
www.medsci.ox.ac.uk
November 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM
NEWS: Oxford scientists capture genome’s structure in unprecedented detail
@rdm.ox.ac.uk scientists have achieved the most detailed view yet of how DNA folds and functions inside living cells, using a new technique called MCC ultra .
@rdm.ox.ac.uk scientists have achieved the most detailed view yet of how DNA folds and functions inside living cells, using a new technique called MCC ultra .
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
Check out this month's handpicked preprints in developmantal & stem cell biology on the Node
thenode.biologists.com/prelighters-...
thenode.biologists.com/prelighters-...
thenode.biologists.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Check out this month's handpicked preprints in developmantal & stem cell biology on the Node
thenode.biologists.com/prelighters-...
thenode.biologists.com/prelighters-...
The cockroaches deserve their turn at running the world.
Under-the-weather TikTokers are slicing raw potatoes and placing them in their — and their children’s — socks before bed. The theory is that the potato draws out toxins.
However, experts warn against relying on folk remedies over medical care.
However, experts warn against relying on folk remedies over medical care.
No, putting a potato in your sock will not cure a cold
TikTokers are placing slices of raw potatoes in their — and their children’s socks — overnight to cure illnesses.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:26 PM
The cockroaches deserve their turn at running the world.
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
Huang, K. and Perrimon, N. (2025) Metabolic command centers in Drosophila: How the fat body and oenocytes orchestrate immunity, reproduction, and aging. Current Opinion in Insect Science. 101459. doi: 10.1016/j.cois.2025.101459. PMID: 41218693
November 12, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Huang, K. and Perrimon, N. (2025) Metabolic command centers in Drosophila: How the fat body and oenocytes orchestrate immunity, reproduction, and aging. Current Opinion in Insect Science. 101459. doi: 10.1016/j.cois.2025.101459. PMID: 41218693
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
Fundamentally, what we need is leadership. But we break with the chorus of most #OpenScience initiatives here and emphasize very strongly that this leadership must come from funders and institutions.
We researchers can support the battle, but we cannot lead the charge. Funders hold the cards.
6/n
We researchers can support the battle, but we cannot lead the charge. Funders hold the cards.
6/n
November 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Fundamentally, what we need is leadership. But we break with the chorus of most #OpenScience initiatives here and emphasize very strongly that this leadership must come from funders and institutions.
We researchers can support the battle, but we cannot lead the charge. Funders hold the cards.
6/n
We researchers can support the battle, but we cannot lead the charge. Funders hold the cards.
6/n
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
More fundamentally, every active scientist has been brought up in a system where The Drain was already normalized.
This system hasn't always existed. For-profit publishers are a recent invention. Their value proposition has always been awful, and now they are actively eroding trust in science.
5/n
This system hasn't always existed. For-profit publishers are a recent invention. Their value proposition has always been awful, and now they are actively eroding trust in science.
5/n
November 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
More fundamentally, every active scientist has been brought up in a system where The Drain was already normalized.
This system hasn't always existed. For-profit publishers are a recent invention. Their value proposition has always been awful, and now they are actively eroding trust in science.
5/n
This system hasn't always existed. For-profit publishers are a recent invention. Their value proposition has always been awful, and now they are actively eroding trust in science.
5/n
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
Scientists operate on principles of good faith. But this is just ridiculous. If you, dear reader, take nothing else away from The Drain paper, it is that publishers cannot be invited to the table any longer.
They can participate and carve a space, but they can't be part of shaping policy.
3/n
They can participate and carve a space, but they can't be part of shaping policy.
3/n
November 11, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Scientists operate on principles of good faith. But this is just ridiculous. If you, dear reader, take nothing else away from The Drain paper, it is that publishers cannot be invited to the table any longer.
They can participate and carve a space, but they can't be part of shaping policy.
3/n
They can participate and carve a space, but they can't be part of shaping policy.
3/n
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
46 Years Ago
1979 was also a year with great punk rock, post-punk, and ska albums.
Here's a selection—is your favorite among them?
Mine is definitely Ramones - It's Alive
#punk #punks #punkrock #postpunk #ska #vinyl #legends #musiclegends #history #punkrockhistory
1979 was also a year with great punk rock, post-punk, and ska albums.
Here's a selection—is your favorite among them?
Mine is definitely Ramones - It's Alive
#punk #punks #punkrock #postpunk #ska #vinyl #legends #musiclegends #history #punkrockhistory
November 9, 2025 at 5:28 AM
46 Years Ago
1979 was also a year with great punk rock, post-punk, and ska albums.
Here's a selection—is your favorite among them?
Mine is definitely Ramones - It's Alive
#punk #punks #punkrock #postpunk #ska #vinyl #legends #musiclegends #history #punkrockhistory
1979 was also a year with great punk rock, post-punk, and ska albums.
Here's a selection—is your favorite among them?
Mine is definitely Ramones - It's Alive
#punk #punks #punkrock #postpunk #ska #vinyl #legends #musiclegends #history #punkrockhistory
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
every generation loves Rumours. it’s fucking Rumours
November 9, 2025 at 2:55 AM
every generation loves Rumours. it’s fucking Rumours
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
November 9, 2025 at 12:10 AM
So it turns out... the US air travel system was incredibly, deeply dependent on federal funding to just run day-to-day all this time, to the benefit of private airline shareholders, when everyone thinks that state-run trains are leeching off the government. Weird!
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
8 high level positions at NIH posted including 6 institute director positions (NIMH, NIGMS, NICHD, NIDCR, NHGRI, NLM).
Only open for 2 weeks (applications due November 21).
Application materials include a) CV b) vision statement c) a photocopy of doctoral degree.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
Only open for 2 weeks (applications due November 21).
Application materials include a) CV b) vision statement c) a photocopy of doctoral degree.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
hr.nih.gov
November 7, 2025 at 10:20 PM
8 high level positions at NIH posted including 6 institute director positions (NIMH, NIGMS, NICHD, NIDCR, NHGRI, NLM).
Only open for 2 weeks (applications due November 21).
Application materials include a) CV b) vision statement c) a photocopy of doctoral degree.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
Only open for 2 weeks (applications due November 21).
Application materials include a) CV b) vision statement c) a photocopy of doctoral degree.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
So I’ve got some real bad news about a large fraction of the AI in medicine efforts
The LLM thing is remarkable because if anyone was like "I never went to medical school anyway here's my magic anti disease device pls give 100 billion" they'd be laughed out the room or beaten with sticks but we're supposed to let guys who never read a book hand us an app claiming it'll write them
November 8, 2025 at 9:20 AM
So I’ve got some real bad news about a large fraction of the AI in medicine efforts
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
1.This is not the only known example we know of ChatGPT cheering on a vulnerable young person to die by suicide, this time it is a recent Texas A&M grad
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
November 7, 2025 at 1:50 AM
1.This is not the only known example we know of ChatGPT cheering on a vulnerable young person to die by suicide, this time it is a recent Texas A&M grad
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
Call me controversial, but technology that leads vulnerable people into crisis and even holds their hand as they die by suicide should not be endorsed by schools and universities, we should not be giving discounted subscriptions to this monstrous tech to young people AT ALL
The boyfriend of a friend of my son's has spent several weeks in a psych ward due to Chat GPT induced psychosis. He isn't suicidal but AI encouraged him down a toxic and paranoid wormhole until he became completely delusional. Evil stuff.
1.This is not the only known example we know of ChatGPT cheering on a vulnerable young person to die by suicide, this time it is a recent Texas A&M grad
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
2. Every single university that has invited OpenAI into our midst should be asked to account for their choices.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/u...
November 7, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Call me controversial, but technology that leads vulnerable people into crisis and even holds their hand as they die by suicide should not be endorsed by schools and universities, we should not be giving discounted subscriptions to this monstrous tech to young people AT ALL
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
November 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
Many scientists (including me) have viewed AI review warily. But responses to trials of qed have been very positive. I was impressed with its output, which was developed by iteration with a large number of human reviewers. 3/n
November 6, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Many scientists (including me) have viewed AI review warily. But responses to trials of qed have been very positive. I was impressed with its output, which was developed by iteration with a large number of human reviewers. 3/n
Reposted by Shawn Burgess
Authors can now send papers directly from bioRxiv to qed and get feedback on improvements they should make – ‘gaps’ that require more work or revision of the claims. 2/n
November 6, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Authors can now send papers directly from bioRxiv to qed and get feedback on improvements they should make – ‘gaps’ that require more work or revision of the claims. 2/n