Evan DeTurk
@evandeturk.bsky.social
MPhil student @ Cambridge history of science | via @doudna-lab.bsky.social, Princeton/Bassler Lab | Demystifying biotech and biosecurity at scifinow.substack.com/ 🧬🧪☣️
Pinned
✨New preprint!
🧵1/4 Excited to share our work on AI-guided design of minimal RNA-guided nucleases. Amazing work by @petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @evandeturk.bsky.social et al!
Multi-lab collaboration @banfieldlab.bsky.social @jhdcate.bsky.social @jacobsenucla.bsky.social🧬
🔗👇
🧵1/4 Excited to share our work on AI-guided design of minimal RNA-guided nucleases. Amazing work by @petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @evandeturk.bsky.social et al!
Multi-lab collaboration @banfieldlab.bsky.social @jhdcate.bsky.social @jacobsenucla.bsky.social🧬
🔗👇
Excited to share our work designing genome editors with machine learning! 🧬💻 Huge thanks to
@petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @doudna-lab.bsky.social and all co-authors. Check out the thread for a summary of what we found 👇
@petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @doudna-lab.bsky.social and all co-authors. Check out the thread for a summary of what we found 👇
Newest round-up is live, feat. the most entertaining, interesting, and informative stuff I read the past few months. This time around, we've got protein design updates, embryo editing companies, planetary cities, and more: scifinow.substack.com/p/the-round-...
The Round-Up #4
AI-designed proteins, embryo editing, Coruscant IRL, and more!
scifinow.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:22 AM
Newest round-up is live, feat. the most entertaining, interesting, and informative stuff I read the past few months. This time around, we've got protein design updates, embryo editing companies, planetary cities, and more: scifinow.substack.com/p/the-round-...
Reposted by Evan DeTurk
Here are the top 10 most popular post-1945 American authors at the Seattle Public Library over the last 20 years.
December 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Here are the top 10 most popular post-1945 American authors at the Seattle Public Library over the last 20 years.
Missed the stream (whoops!) but had a great time watching the film on YT! Bay Area enjoyers - don’t miss it!
Join me in 25 minutes for the livestream of Lost Landscapes of San Francisco 20! Chat will be open and spirited, www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4Or...
Rick Prelinger | Lost Landscapes 02025: YEAR 20!
YouTube video by The Long Now Foundation
www.youtube.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Missed the stream (whoops!) but had a great time watching the film on YT! Bay Area enjoyers - don’t miss it!
Reposted by Evan DeTurk
First co-led work from the Doudna lab 🤜🤛
We designed minimal RNA-guided nucleases with AI, and even did Cryo-EM during an earthquake (!) Huge honor working with @petrskopintsev.bsky.social, @evandeturk.bsky.social, Jennifer Doudna and co-authors, everyone at D-Lab and @innovativegenomics.bsky.social
We designed minimal RNA-guided nucleases with AI, and even did Cryo-EM during an earthquake (!) Huge honor working with @petrskopintsev.bsky.social, @evandeturk.bsky.social, Jennifer Doudna and co-authors, everyone at D-Lab and @innovativegenomics.bsky.social
✨New preprint!
🧵1/4 Excited to share our work on AI-guided design of minimal RNA-guided nucleases. Amazing work by @petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @evandeturk.bsky.social et al!
Multi-lab collaboration @banfieldlab.bsky.social @jhdcate.bsky.social @jacobsenucla.bsky.social🧬
🔗👇
🧵1/4 Excited to share our work on AI-guided design of minimal RNA-guided nucleases. Amazing work by @petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @evandeturk.bsky.social et al!
Multi-lab collaboration @banfieldlab.bsky.social @jhdcate.bsky.social @jacobsenucla.bsky.social🧬
🔗👇
December 9, 2025 at 9:23 AM
First co-led work from the Doudna lab 🤜🤛
We designed minimal RNA-guided nucleases with AI, and even did Cryo-EM during an earthquake (!) Huge honor working with @petrskopintsev.bsky.social, @evandeturk.bsky.social, Jennifer Doudna and co-authors, everyone at D-Lab and @innovativegenomics.bsky.social
We designed minimal RNA-guided nucleases with AI, and even did Cryo-EM during an earthquake (!) Huge honor working with @petrskopintsev.bsky.social, @evandeturk.bsky.social, Jennifer Doudna and co-authors, everyone at D-Lab and @innovativegenomics.bsky.social
Excited to share our work designing genome editors with machine learning! 🧬💻 Huge thanks to
@petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @doudna-lab.bsky.social and all co-authors. Check out the thread for a summary of what we found 👇
@petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @doudna-lab.bsky.social and all co-authors. Check out the thread for a summary of what we found 👇
✨New preprint!
🧵1/4 Excited to share our work on AI-guided design of minimal RNA-guided nucleases. Amazing work by @petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @evandeturk.bsky.social et al!
Multi-lab collaboration @banfieldlab.bsky.social @jhdcate.bsky.social @jacobsenucla.bsky.social🧬
🔗👇
🧵1/4 Excited to share our work on AI-guided design of minimal RNA-guided nucleases. Amazing work by @petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @evandeturk.bsky.social et al!
Multi-lab collaboration @banfieldlab.bsky.social @jhdcate.bsky.social @jacobsenucla.bsky.social🧬
🔗👇
December 9, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Excited to share our work designing genome editors with machine learning! 🧬💻 Huge thanks to
@petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @doudna-lab.bsky.social and all co-authors. Check out the thread for a summary of what we found 👇
@petrskopintsev.bsky.social @isabelesain.bsky.social @doudna-lab.bsky.social and all co-authors. Check out the thread for a summary of what we found 👇
Reposted by Evan DeTurk
If I see one more stupid Rosalind Franklin take I'm going to lose my mind. Thank god for @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @nccomfort.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:21 AM
If I see one more stupid Rosalind Franklin take I'm going to lose my mind. Thank god for @matthewcobb.bsky.social and @nccomfort.bsky.social. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Evan DeTurk
James D. Watson is dead. Stay tuned for some thoughts, based on my research on his biography, to be published soon.
While I write that up, y'all can throw tomatoes at this if you like. But I will offer a more nuanced take.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
While I write that up, y'all can throw tomatoes at this if you like. But I will offer a more nuanced take.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
James Watson, Co-Discoverer of the Structure of DNA, Is Dead at 97
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:39 PM
James D. Watson is dead. Stay tuned for some thoughts, based on my research on his biography, to be published soon.
While I write that up, y'all can throw tomatoes at this if you like. But I will offer a more nuanced take.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
While I write that up, y'all can throw tomatoes at this if you like. But I will offer a more nuanced take.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/07/s...
Reposted by Evan DeTurk
Cambridge graffiti, late 1960s. This kind of slogan was generally used for guitar heroes (Clapton, Alvin Lee, Hendrix). In this case, it appears the same person also scrawled 'Keep the lefties out' and 'Enoch is right' (amended by another hand to 'Enoch is a right pratt').
November 4, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Cambridge graffiti, late 1960s. This kind of slogan was generally used for guitar heroes (Clapton, Alvin Lee, Hendrix). In this case, it appears the same person also scrawled 'Keep the lefties out' and 'Enoch is right' (amended by another hand to 'Enoch is a right pratt').
An overly political CDC has stripped Americans of a one stop shop for health recommendations, but this piece has some advice about how to best replicate it:
www.theatlantic.com/health/2025/...
www.theatlantic.com/health/2025/...
Who to Trust If You Can’t Trust the CDC
No American institution is equipped to replace the agency. But a few trusted resources can help.
www.theatlantic.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:56 PM
An overly political CDC has stripped Americans of a one stop shop for health recommendations, but this piece has some advice about how to best replicate it:
www.theatlantic.com/health/2025/...
www.theatlantic.com/health/2025/...
If you thought the Animorphs covers were silly, wait till you see 1863 animorphs making fun of Darwin substack.com/@scifinow/no...
October 8, 2025 at 11:17 PM
If you thought the Animorphs covers were silly, wait till you see 1863 animorphs making fun of Darwin substack.com/@scifinow/no...
When Trump issued the gain-of-function Executive Order five months ago, people worried it might be applied too broadly. Sarah Stanley's piece for STAT provides evidence supporting that view. Grants flagged for gene knockouts and antibiotic selection markers in tuberculosis.
The NIH ordered me to stop my ‘dangerous’ gain-of-function research. It isn’t dangerous at all
Safe gain-of-function research is necessary to identify new treatments for diseases like for tuberculosis — but the NIH has imposed unfounded stops.
www.statnews.com
October 6, 2025 at 10:28 PM
When Trump issued the gain-of-function Executive Order five months ago, people worried it might be applied too broadly. Sarah Stanley's piece for STAT provides evidence supporting that view. Grants flagged for gene knockouts and antibiotic selection markers in tuberculosis.
"Ramsdell couldn’t be reached immediately by the AP or his employer, who thought he might be away on a backpacking trip." Legendary!
BREAKING: Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi win the Nobel Prize in medicine for work on peripheral immune tolerance.
The Nobel Prize in medicine goes to 3 scientists for work on peripheral immune tolerance
Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi have won the Nobel Prize in medicine for their discoveries about peripheral immune tolerance.
bit.ly
October 6, 2025 at 8:38 PM
"Ramsdell couldn’t be reached immediately by the AP or his employer, who thought he might be away on a backpacking trip." Legendary!
Reposted by Evan DeTurk
Now online at @nature.com we show how the Panoptes defense system protects against viruses that attempt immune evasion - and expands our understanding of the role of oligonucleotides in immunity.
Check out this work co-led with @benadler.bsky.social here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Check out this work co-led with @benadler.bsky.social here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A miniature CRISPR–Cas10 enzyme confers immunity by inhibitory signalling - Nature
Panoptes, an anti-phage defence system against virus-mediated immune suppression, is revealed.
www.nature.com
October 2, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Now online at @nature.com we show how the Panoptes defense system protects against viruses that attempt immune evasion - and expands our understanding of the role of oligonucleotides in immunity.
Check out this work co-led with @benadler.bsky.social here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Check out this work co-led with @benadler.bsky.social here:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Evan DeTurk
Bonnie Bassler has been named University Professor, Princeton’s highest honor for faculty. "I am delighted by this honor and deeply grateful ... The Department of Molecular Biology took a chance and hired me at the very inception of my research field..." www.princeton.edu/news/2025/09...
Bonnie Bassler named University Professor
Bassler's pioneering research on the molecular mechanisms used by bacteria for intercellular communication has shown life-saving potential. University Professor is Princeton’s highest honor for facult...
www.princeton.edu
September 29, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Bonnie Bassler has been named University Professor, Princeton’s highest honor for faculty. "I am delighted by this honor and deeply grateful ... The Department of Molecular Biology took a chance and hired me at the very inception of my research field..." www.princeton.edu/news/2025/09...
Some of my favorite images from this year’s Wellcome Photography Prize competition!
I had a great time viewing the exhibition @crick.ac.uk; would definitely recommend for anyone in London. Otherwise, you can see all the photos here: wellcome.org/engagement-a...
I had a great time viewing the exhibition @crick.ac.uk; would definitely recommend for anyone in London. Otherwise, you can see all the photos here: wellcome.org/engagement-a...
September 21, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Some of my favorite images from this year’s Wellcome Photography Prize competition!
I had a great time viewing the exhibition @crick.ac.uk; would definitely recommend for anyone in London. Otherwise, you can see all the photos here: wellcome.org/engagement-a...
I had a great time viewing the exhibition @crick.ac.uk; would definitely recommend for anyone in London. Otherwise, you can see all the photos here: wellcome.org/engagement-a...
Lots of interesting and informative reads in the latest Round-Up! New bacterial immune systems, lots of vaccine news, a crazy surrogacy story, a video on the philosophy of apocalyptic fiction, and much more!
open.substack.com/pub/scifinow...
open.substack.com/pub/scifinow...
The Round-Up #3
Vaccines, bacterial immune systems, sciency travel pictures, and more!
open.substack.com
September 19, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Lots of interesting and informative reads in the latest Round-Up! New bacterial immune systems, lots of vaccine news, a crazy surrogacy story, a video on the philosophy of apocalyptic fiction, and much more!
open.substack.com/pub/scifinow...
open.substack.com/pub/scifinow...
Peeped this bust of Rosalind Franklin in University College, Dublin’s library today. I esp dig the lil DNA staircase motif; it’s even going the right direction!
September 10, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Peeped this bust of Rosalind Franklin in University College, Dublin’s library today. I esp dig the lil DNA staircase motif; it’s even going the right direction!
Reposted by Evan DeTurk
fun fact about reverse transcriptase: the “central dogma overturned” hoo-ha was because Jim Watson always conflated the CD with his own “DNA>RNA>protein” (1952). He put it that way in Mol Bio of the Gene (‘65) & everyone read it & accepted his def’n! Crick was Cross.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/s...
David Baltimore, Nobel-Winning Molecular Biologist, Dies at 87
www.nytimes.com
September 10, 2025 at 4:59 AM
fun fact about reverse transcriptase: the “central dogma overturned” hoo-ha was because Jim Watson always conflated the CD with his own “DNA>RNA>protein” (1952). He put it that way in Mol Bio of the Gene (‘65) & everyone read it & accepted his def’n! Crick was Cross.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/s...
Philly trip incoming fall ‘27 ig 🤷🏻♂️
The Institute will unveil a new exhibition in fall 2027, coinciding with the anniversary of Photo 51, and offering the general public a chance to view highlights from the collection. To read the full press release and to explore the newly digitized collection, visit sciencehistory.org/hmbc.
History of Molecular Biology Collection
This unparalleled collection includes Rosalind Franklin's historic 'Photo 51,' which revealed the double-helix structure of DNA.
sciencehistory.org
September 9, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Philly trip incoming fall ‘27 ig 🤷🏻♂️
Reposted by Evan DeTurk
*NEWS* @sciencehistory.org has acquired the History of Molecular Biology Collection from the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI). This unparalleled collection documents the race to identify DNA’s double-helix structure and other significant developments that formed the foundation of molecular biology.
Science History Institute Acquires Molecular Biology Archive That Includes Rosalind Franklin’s Historic ‘Photo 51’
This unparalleled collection documents the race to identify DNA’s double-helix structure and other significant developments that formed the foundation of molecular biology.
www.sciencehistory.org
September 8, 2025 at 3:04 PM
*NEWS* @sciencehistory.org has acquired the History of Molecular Biology Collection from the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI). This unparalleled collection documents the race to identify DNA’s double-helix structure and other significant developments that formed the foundation of molecular biology.
A giant indeed! Discovered reverse transcription, organized Asilomar, created Baltimore Classification, founded the Whitehead Institute, and led two universities. Free of controversy, no - but overall he clearly leaves a tremendous legacy. RIP David Baltimore.
A giant in molecular biology and virology has passed. RIP David Baltimore.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/s...
David Baltimore, Nobel-Winning Molecular Biologist, Dies at 87
www.nytimes.com
September 8, 2025 at 8:46 PM
A giant indeed! Discovered reverse transcription, organized Asilomar, created Baltimore Classification, founded the Whitehead Institute, and led two universities. Free of controversy, no - but overall he clearly leaves a tremendous legacy. RIP David Baltimore.
Reposted by Evan DeTurk
Wrote down a few things I learned in the lab over the past few years! Wanted to do this before getting to far from the bench, hopefully it’s helpful for bio undergrads and RAs. open.substack.com/pub/scifinow...
Advice to young scientists
Things I learned from doing research
open.substack.com
September 5, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Wrote down a few things I learned in the lab over the past few years! Wanted to do this before getting to far from the bench, hopefully it’s helpful for bio undergrads and RAs. open.substack.com/pub/scifinow...
Reposted by Evan DeTurk
Yesterday the president demanded that evidence about Covid vaccines be shown to the public. Today @apoorvanyt.bsky.social & I run through some of the studies made public over the past 4+ years that show that the vaccines work. Gift link: nyti.ms/46k17Tq
nyti.ms
September 2, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Yesterday the president demanded that evidence about Covid vaccines be shown to the public. Today @apoorvanyt.bsky.social & I run through some of the studies made public over the past 4+ years that show that the vaccines work. Gift link: nyti.ms/46k17Tq
Reposted by Evan DeTurk
