Gerrich
@gerrich.bsky.social
Non-conventional microbes, metabolic engineering and microbial genetics. Bacteria go brrr
Finally, finished with my thesis, now off to new frontiers!
https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1949-532X
Finally, finished with my thesis, now off to new frontiers!
https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1949-532X
Pinned
Gerrich
@gerrich.bsky.social
· Jan 7
Construction and comparison of different vehicles for heterologous gene expression in Zymomonas mobilis
In this study, a series of shuttle vectors compatible with modular cloning were constructed based on the replication mechanisms of the native Z. mobilis plasmids pZMO1, pZMOB04, pZMOB05, pZMOB06, pZM...
doi.org
My last thesis paper post:
This one is for plasmid enthusiasts.
Comparing seven different replication system for application in the Zymomonas mobilis.
The pBBR1 replicon and six replicons from native Z. mobilis plasmids of different strains.
Published in @microbiotech.bsky.social 🧪
This one is for plasmid enthusiasts.
Comparing seven different replication system for application in the Zymomonas mobilis.
The pBBR1 replicon and six replicons from native Z. mobilis plasmids of different strains.
Published in @microbiotech.bsky.social 🧪
Reposted by Gerrich
Today's timeline theme is "Awesome Shirts" apparently.
December 18, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Today's timeline theme is "Awesome Shirts" apparently.
Reposted by Gerrich
A long standing goal in synthetic biology is ‘PURE makes PURE’ - effectively the start of self-replicating biology in a tube from just adding biochemicals and DNA instructions. This looks like a promising breakthrough from the Maerkl lab. 👀
PURE makes PURE: reconstitution of the PURE cell-free system from self-synthesized non-ribosomal proteins https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.17.694911v1
December 18, 2025 at 5:38 AM
A long standing goal in synthetic biology is ‘PURE makes PURE’ - effectively the start of self-replicating biology in a tube from just adding biochemicals and DNA instructions. This looks like a promising breakthrough from the Maerkl lab. 👀
Reposted by Gerrich
Slight improvement by team members 😅
December 17, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Slight improvement by team members 😅
Reposted by Gerrich
Organelles do NOT have a single uniform pH.
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
Organelles harbour pH gradients https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.12.694065v1
December 17, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Organelles do NOT have a single uniform pH.
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
December 16, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Reposted by Gerrich
Cetraria islandica, an edible #lichen, often called Iceland Moss…even though it isn’t a moss. Looks very Star Trek. Newfoundland, Canada. #fungi #fungifriends
December 16, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Cetraria islandica, an edible #lichen, often called Iceland Moss…even though it isn’t a moss. Looks very Star Trek. Newfoundland, Canada. #fungi #fungifriends
Reposted by Gerrich
🗞️ New preprint from the lab, led by our postdoc Ana Garoña (not on here) in collab with @andreagiometto.bsky.social: “Experimental evolution of cellular miniaturization reveals a mechanism for cell size evolution”, aka: “honey, we shrank the yeasts!” 🎥
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
December 9, 2025 at 5:08 PM
🗞️ New preprint from the lab, led by our postdoc Ana Garoña (not on here) in collab with @andreagiometto.bsky.social: “Experimental evolution of cellular miniaturization reveals a mechanism for cell size evolution”, aka: “honey, we shrank the yeasts!” 🎥
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Gerrich
The 2025 Agar Art Contest winners have been selected! This year’s theme, “Microbes Make the World Go Round,” inspired 557 global entries—from food fermentation to antibiotic production. See the masterpieces and finalists! asm.org/press-releas... #agarart
December 15, 2025 at 4:59 PM
The 2025 Agar Art Contest winners have been selected! This year’s theme, “Microbes Make the World Go Round,” inspired 557 global entries—from food fermentation to antibiotic production. See the masterpieces and finalists! asm.org/press-releas... #agarart
Reposted by Gerrich
Genetic engineering, painting, sculpting, floristry, and fantasy are united in @nickdesnoyer.bsky.social 's flower design art project. New essay out now on a blossoming frontier of transgenic art!
Mutating The Medium
A blooming future for biodesign
allmovingparts.substack.com
December 15, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Genetic engineering, painting, sculpting, floristry, and fantasy are united in @nickdesnoyer.bsky.social 's flower design art project. New essay out now on a blossoming frontier of transgenic art!
Reposted by Gerrich
Pleased to share this thoughtful essay by Jess on my flower design project🌹🧬
As a small thank-you for spreading the work, I'm randomly giving away 5 of these new morphogenesis hoodies to whoever reposts this!
As a small thank-you for spreading the work, I'm randomly giving away 5 of these new morphogenesis hoodies to whoever reposts this!
December 15, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Pleased to share this thoughtful essay by Jess on my flower design project🌹🧬
As a small thank-you for spreading the work, I'm randomly giving away 5 of these new morphogenesis hoodies to whoever reposts this!
As a small thank-you for spreading the work, I'm randomly giving away 5 of these new morphogenesis hoodies to whoever reposts this!
Love it when a Golde Gate cloning result looks like this. 🦠
December 15, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Love it when a Golde Gate cloning result looks like this. 🦠
I am obsessing waaay too much about getting cited for my research this year.
December 15, 2025 at 10:48 AM
I am obsessing waaay too much about getting cited for my research this year.
Reposted by Gerrich
Compared to restriction-modification systems, streamlined plasmids prevent hosts from acquiring AMR plasmids more effectively! RM is effective in the short-term, however plasmids escape restriction fast (very likely via methylation) whereas streamlined plasmids remain efficient over several days.
December 12, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Compared to restriction-modification systems, streamlined plasmids prevent hosts from acquiring AMR plasmids more effectively! RM is effective in the short-term, however plasmids escape restriction fast (very likely via methylation) whereas streamlined plasmids remain efficient over several days.
Reposted by Gerrich
PhD contract available in the @icmabcsic.bsky.social in my group to work on the synthesis and characterization of New Photosensitisers for Panchromatic Photoisomerization. Retweets appreciated. Candidates please contact me directly.
December 12, 2025 at 10:42 AM
PhD contract available in the @icmabcsic.bsky.social in my group to work on the synthesis and characterization of New Photosensitisers for Panchromatic Photoisomerization. Retweets appreciated. Candidates please contact me directly.
Reposted by Gerrich
reading about genAI slop brokers makes me want to draw more weird manual art. extremely realistic brachiosaurus reconstruction for you
December 12, 2025 at 5:06 AM
reading about genAI slop brokers makes me want to draw more weird manual art. extremely realistic brachiosaurus reconstruction for you
Reposted by Gerrich
Check out this work by the amazing @leahmcphillips.bsky.social from during her PhD!!
Stable inheritance of the Streptomyces linear plasmid SCP1 by dual ParABS partition systems https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.10.693275v1
December 11, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Check out this work by the amazing @leahmcphillips.bsky.social from during her PhD!!
Reposted by Gerrich
As 2025 wraps up, we’re looking back at some of the most intriguing microbes that made their scientific debut this year. This blog highlights standout bacterial species that caught our eye. Read the full #FEMSmicroBlog: buff.ly/2wz7k16
#NewMicrobes
#NewMicrobes
December 10, 2025 at 11:01 AM
As 2025 wraps up, we’re looking back at some of the most intriguing microbes that made their scientific debut this year. This blog highlights standout bacterial species that caught our eye. Read the full #FEMSmicroBlog: buff.ly/2wz7k16
#NewMicrobes
#NewMicrobes
My contamination made it into the @contamclub.bsky.social calendar for 2026! 🦠
I just got my copy. Also will send out some calendars as x-mas presents to friends and collaborators. 🎅🏻🌲
I just got my copy. Also will send out some calendars as x-mas presents to friends and collaborators. 🎅🏻🌲
December 10, 2025 at 6:14 AM
My contamination made it into the @contamclub.bsky.social calendar for 2026! 🦠
I just got my copy. Also will send out some calendars as x-mas presents to friends and collaborators. 🎅🏻🌲
I just got my copy. Also will send out some calendars as x-mas presents to friends and collaborators. 🎅🏻🌲
Reposted by Gerrich
Excited to share new work from @cultivarium.bsky.social on genetic tools (plasmids, inducible promoters, transposases, + more) for Sporosarcina pasteurii.
S. pasteurii is used commercially for biocement, controlling road dust, and stabilizing soils, but had no prior published genetics:
S. pasteurii is used commercially for biocement, controlling road dust, and stabilizing soils, but had no prior published genetics:
December 8, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Excited to share new work from @cultivarium.bsky.social on genetic tools (plasmids, inducible promoters, transposases, + more) for Sporosarcina pasteurii.
S. pasteurii is used commercially for biocement, controlling road dust, and stabilizing soils, but had no prior published genetics:
S. pasteurii is used commercially for biocement, controlling road dust, and stabilizing soils, but had no prior published genetics:
Reposted by Gerrich
sorry, but how dumb to still have an account there... 🤦♂️
how does any serious politician, organisation or journalist justify not to leave this "platform"? how much has to happen for you to stop supporting all this?
www.politico.eu/article/x-ax...
how does any serious politician, organisation or journalist justify not to leave this "platform"? how much has to happen for you to stop supporting all this?
www.politico.eu/article/x-ax...
X axes European Commission’s ad account after €120M EU fine
Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, accused the EU executive of trying to amplify its own social media post about the fine on X by trying “to take advantage of an exploit in our Ad Composer.”…
www.politico.eu
December 9, 2025 at 5:26 AM
sorry, but how dumb to still have an account there... 🤦♂️
how does any serious politician, organisation or journalist justify not to leave this "platform"? how much has to happen for you to stop supporting all this?
www.politico.eu/article/x-ax...
how does any serious politician, organisation or journalist justify not to leave this "platform"? how much has to happen for you to stop supporting all this?
www.politico.eu/article/x-ax...
Reposted by Gerrich
A genetic platform for a biocementation bacterium https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.05.692644v1
December 7, 2025 at 2:02 AM
A genetic platform for a biocementation bacterium https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.05.692644v1
Reposted by Gerrich
IT WOOOORKED!!!!!! 🥳
My Himar1 antibiotic-free genome integration plasmid worked!!!!
Not only did it shove my FuGFP transcription unit into the genome, but it did it FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES.
HOW COOL IS THAT?!
Link to genome of BL21 and BL21+FuGFP here:
drive.google.com/drive/folder...
My Himar1 antibiotic-free genome integration plasmid worked!!!!
Not only did it shove my FuGFP transcription unit into the genome, but it did it FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES.
HOW COOL IS THAT?!
Link to genome of BL21 and BL21+FuGFP here:
drive.google.com/drive/folder...
December 8, 2025 at 3:00 AM
IT WOOOORKED!!!!!! 🥳
My Himar1 antibiotic-free genome integration plasmid worked!!!!
Not only did it shove my FuGFP transcription unit into the genome, but it did it FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES.
HOW COOL IS THAT?!
Link to genome of BL21 and BL21+FuGFP here:
drive.google.com/drive/folder...
My Himar1 antibiotic-free genome integration plasmid worked!!!!
Not only did it shove my FuGFP transcription unit into the genome, but it did it FIVE DIFFERENT TIMES.
HOW COOL IS THAT?!
Link to genome of BL21 and BL21+FuGFP here:
drive.google.com/drive/folder...
Reposted by Gerrich
Exaptation — a shift in the function of a trait during evolution —is a basic evolutionary biology concept.
December 5, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Exaptation — a shift in the function of a trait during evolution —is a basic evolutionary biology concept.
Reposted by Gerrich
This series shows how a damselfly reaches a dewdrop on a horsetail stem, turns its head, touches its eye to the drop, and brings it onto its face for a drink.
December 5, 2025 at 10:55 AM
This series shows how a damselfly reaches a dewdrop on a horsetail stem, turns its head, touches its eye to the drop, and brings it onto its face for a drink.
Reposted by Gerrich
There's a software engineer in Hong Kong who makes incredibly detailed scientific diagrams for wikipedia, like this clickable metro-style map of metabolic pathways!!!
December 4, 2025 at 1:18 AM
There's a software engineer in Hong Kong who makes incredibly detailed scientific diagrams for wikipedia, like this clickable metro-style map of metabolic pathways!!!