A. Sánchez Alvarado
@planaria1.bsky.social
An ongoing collection of places, ideas and people I run into during the practice of science
Metamorphosis in Schizocardium californicum drives dramatic reorganization of cell types, with adult structures forming through transcriptional reprogramming of larval cells rather than their wholesale replacement.
@paul.bump.bsky.social
@lowelab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@paul.bump.bsky.social
@lowelab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 8, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Metamorphosis in Schizocardium californicum drives dramatic reorganization of cell types, with adult structures forming through transcriptional reprogramming of larval cells rather than their wholesale replacement.
@paul.bump.bsky.social
@lowelab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@paul.bump.bsky.social
@lowelab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
From this perspective, the body becomes a system of biological connectivity, in which each cell adjusts its behavior based on an emergent molecular consensus.
October 19, 2025 at 7:56 PM
From this perspective, the body becomes a system of biological connectivity, in which each cell adjusts its behavior based on an emergent molecular consensus.
In sum, our findings demonstrate that planarian stem cells may be regulated by a diverse collection of dynamic microenvironments that collectively support stem cell potency, differentiation, and regenerative capacity.
October 19, 2025 at 7:56 PM
In sum, our findings demonstrate that planarian stem cells may be regulated by a diverse collection of dynamic microenvironments that collectively support stem cell potency, differentiation, and regenerative capacity.
Hecatonoblasts are secretory cells, and though they are physically near stem cells, planarian regeneration continues even if hecatonoblasts are removed.
October 19, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Hecatonoblasts are secretory cells, and though they are physically near stem cells, planarian regeneration continues even if hecatonoblasts are removed.
Spatial transcriptomics revealed a new cell type, which we named Hecatonoblasts because of their numerous projections reminiscent of the mythical Hecatonchieres (hundred-handed ones)
October 19, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Spatial transcriptomics revealed a new cell type, which we named Hecatonoblasts because of their numerous projections reminiscent of the mythical Hecatonchieres (hundred-handed ones)
Instead, stem cells in planaria operate inside a mesenchyme that appears to act as a network of interconnected microenvironments, with signals overlapping and diffusing like a dynamic molecular ecology
October 19, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Instead, stem cells in planaria operate inside a mesenchyme that appears to act as a network of interconnected microenvironments, with signals overlapping and diffusing like a dynamic molecular ecology
Our most recent study shows that stem cells in Schmidtea mediterranea do not rely on physical contacts or fixed structures to maintain their identity and regenerative potential.
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social @cp-cellreports.bsky.social @vilcekfoundation.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social @cp-cellreports.bsky.social @vilcekfoundation.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
October 19, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Our most recent study shows that stem cells in Schmidtea mediterranea do not rely on physical contacts or fixed structures to maintain their identity and regenerative potential.
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social @cp-cellreports.bsky.social @vilcekfoundation.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social @cp-cellreports.bsky.social @vilcekfoundation.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Looking forward to a week of science, new ideas and new acquaintances here in Southern Chile #mbiosys2025
@molbiosystems.bsky.social
@molbiosystems.bsky.social
September 29, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Looking forward to a week of science, new ideas and new acquaintances here in Southern Chile #mbiosys2025
@molbiosystems.bsky.social
@molbiosystems.bsky.social
Ever had an injection or surgery? If so, you benefited from the horseshoe crab
Its blood lysate clots when exposed to bacterial toxins & is used to test sterility of medical equipment & injectable drugs, saving countless human lives
Not bad for an animal inhabiting Earth for ~445 million years
Its blood lysate clots when exposed to bacterial toxins & is used to test sterility of medical equipment & injectable drugs, saving countless human lives
Not bad for an animal inhabiting Earth for ~445 million years
July 2, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Ever had an injection or surgery? If so, you benefited from the horseshoe crab
Its blood lysate clots when exposed to bacterial toxins & is used to test sterility of medical equipment & injectable drugs, saving countless human lives
Not bad for an animal inhabiting Earth for ~445 million years
Its blood lysate clots when exposed to bacterial toxins & is used to test sterility of medical equipment & injectable drugs, saving countless human lives
Not bad for an animal inhabiting Earth for ~445 million years
Beneath the vast night sky, every reflection and shadow invites a question.
Science begins with wonder and dares us to ask, to explore, and to illuminate the unknown
@mblscience.bsky.social @stowersinstitute.bsky.social
Science begins with wonder and dares us to ask, to explore, and to illuminate the unknown
@mblscience.bsky.social @stowersinstitute.bsky.social
June 24, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Beneath the vast night sky, every reflection and shadow invites a question.
Science begins with wonder and dares us to ask, to explore, and to illuminate the unknown
@mblscience.bsky.social @stowersinstitute.bsky.social
Science begins with wonder and dares us to ask, to explore, and to illuminate the unknown
@mblscience.bsky.social @stowersinstitute.bsky.social
An 1871 prep of salmon sperm DNA by Friedrich Miescher I photographed in Tuebingen for #DNADay
And his 1871 paper reporting the isolation of “nuclein” from pus cells
And his 1871 paper reporting the isolation of “nuclein” from pus cells
April 25, 2025 at 11:34 PM
An 1871 prep of salmon sperm DNA by Friedrich Miescher I photographed in Tuebingen for #DNADay
And his 1871 paper reporting the isolation of “nuclein” from pus cells
And his 1871 paper reporting the isolation of “nuclein” from pus cells
At the Nelson-Atkins, “Survival of the Fittest” reveals connections between art and biology: how Darwin’s vision of life inspired artists to capture the nuances of nature.
A fine historical example of how creativity & science shape each other & how together they illuminate the story of survival
A fine historical example of how creativity & science shape each other & how together they illuminate the story of survival
April 12, 2025 at 1:52 AM
At the Nelson-Atkins, “Survival of the Fittest” reveals connections between art and biology: how Darwin’s vision of life inspired artists to capture the nuances of nature.
A fine historical example of how creativity & science shape each other & how together they illuminate the story of survival
A fine historical example of how creativity & science shape each other & how together they illuminate the story of survival
A privilege to listen to the timeless melodies of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, a maestro whose sarod intertwines hearts across cultures
Music is a testament to the power of sound, transcending borders and generations
Music is a testament to the power of sound, transcending borders and generations
April 6, 2025 at 12:21 AM
A privilege to listen to the timeless melodies of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, a maestro whose sarod intertwines hearts across cultures
Music is a testament to the power of sound, transcending borders and generations
Music is a testament to the power of sound, transcending borders and generations
A shield and a sanctuary
A match made across time in the crucible of life
A dance of mutual survival where species thrive by embracing their differences
A match made across time in the crucible of life
A dance of mutual survival where species thrive by embracing their differences
February 1, 2025 at 10:13 PM
A shield and a sanctuary
A match made across time in the crucible of life
A dance of mutual survival where species thrive by embracing their differences
A match made across time in the crucible of life
A dance of mutual survival where species thrive by embracing their differences
Meet the living kaleidoscope: Tridacna gigas
Among Earth’s largest bivalves, they farm algae in their tissues (built-in solar-power), can live a century, and can release upwards of 500 MILLION eggs when they spawn in the moonlight
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social
Among Earth’s largest bivalves, they farm algae in their tissues (built-in solar-power), can live a century, and can release upwards of 500 MILLION eggs when they spawn in the moonlight
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social
February 1, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Meet the living kaleidoscope: Tridacna gigas
Among Earth’s largest bivalves, they farm algae in their tissues (built-in solar-power), can live a century, and can release upwards of 500 MILLION eggs when they spawn in the moonlight
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social
Among Earth’s largest bivalves, they farm algae in their tissues (built-in solar-power), can live a century, and can release upwards of 500 MILLION eggs when they spawn in the moonlight
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social
The crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci is one of the largest starfish species in the world
It possesses light-sensitive eyespots at the tips of its arms
It can regenerate lost arms & has venomous spines covering its upper surface, measuring 4-5 cm in length
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social
It possesses light-sensitive eyespots at the tips of its arms
It can regenerate lost arms & has venomous spines covering its upper surface, measuring 4-5 cm in length
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social
January 26, 2025 at 7:31 PM
The crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci is one of the largest starfish species in the world
It possesses light-sensitive eyespots at the tips of its arms
It can regenerate lost arms & has venomous spines covering its upper surface, measuring 4-5 cm in length
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social
It possesses light-sensitive eyespots at the tips of its arms
It can regenerate lost arms & has venomous spines covering its upper surface, measuring 4-5 cm in length
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social
The crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci is one of the largest starfish species in the world
It possesses light-sensitive eyespots at the tips of its arms
It can regenerate lost arms & has venomous spines covering its upper surface, measuring 4-5 cm in length
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social
It possesses light-sensitive eyespots at the tips of its arms
It can regenerate lost arms & has venomous spines covering its upper surface, measuring 4-5 cm in length
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social
January 26, 2025 at 7:03 PM
The crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci is one of the largest starfish species in the world
It possesses light-sensitive eyespots at the tips of its arms
It can regenerate lost arms & has venomous spines covering its upper surface, measuring 4-5 cm in length
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social
It possesses light-sensitive eyespots at the tips of its arms
It can regenerate lost arms & has venomous spines covering its upper surface, measuring 4-5 cm in length
@stowersinstitute.bsky.social
“I accept this award today with an abiding faith in America and an audacious faith in the future of mankind. I refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of history.”
Martin Luther King Jr
Nobel Prize acceptance speech
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace...
Martin Luther King Jr
Nobel Prize acceptance speech
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace...
January 20, 2025 at 4:24 PM
“I accept this award today with an abiding faith in America and an audacious faith in the future of mankind. I refuse to accept despair as the final response to the ambiguities of history.”
Martin Luther King Jr
Nobel Prize acceptance speech
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace...
Martin Luther King Jr
Nobel Prize acceptance speech
www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace...
Next up is Richard White who is sharing his group’s intriguing work on melanoma cell fate
His group models melanoma in the zebrafish
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Critical finding: positional identity may explain why cancers often have distinct genetic & clinical traits
@liigh-unam.bsky.social
His group models melanoma in the zebrafish
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Critical finding: positional identity may explain why cancers often have distinct genetic & clinical traits
@liigh-unam.bsky.social
January 13, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Next up is Richard White who is sharing his group’s intriguing work on melanoma cell fate
His group models melanoma in the zebrafish
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Critical finding: positional identity may explain why cancers often have distinct genetic & clinical traits
@liigh-unam.bsky.social
His group models melanoma in the zebrafish
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Critical finding: positional identity may explain why cancers often have distinct genetic & clinical traits
@liigh-unam.bsky.social
Daniela Robles @liigh-unam.bsky.social takes the stage to share her and her groups work on cancer genomics
liigh.unam.mx/profile/dani...
Her aim is to use genomic approaches to reveal genetic and environmental risk factors of cancer in diverse populations and cultures
liigh.unam.mx/profile/dani...
Her aim is to use genomic approaches to reveal genetic and environmental risk factors of cancer in diverse populations and cultures
January 13, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Daniela Robles @liigh-unam.bsky.social takes the stage to share her and her groups work on cancer genomics
liigh.unam.mx/profile/dani...
Her aim is to use genomic approaches to reveal genetic and environmental risk factors of cancer in diverse populations and cultures
liigh.unam.mx/profile/dani...
Her aim is to use genomic approaches to reveal genetic and environmental risk factors of cancer in diverse populations and cultures
Daniela Robles @liigh-unam.bsky.social takes the stage to share her and her groups work on cancer genomics
liigh.unam.mx/profile/dani...
Her aim is to use genomic approaches to reveal genetic and environmental risk factors of cancer in diverse populations and cultures
liigh.unam.mx/profile/dani...
Her aim is to use genomic approaches to reveal genetic and environmental risk factors of cancer in diverse populations and cultures
January 13, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Daniela Robles @liigh-unam.bsky.social takes the stage to share her and her groups work on cancer genomics
liigh.unam.mx/profile/dani...
Her aim is to use genomic approaches to reveal genetic and environmental risk factors of cancer in diverse populations and cultures
liigh.unam.mx/profile/dani...
Her aim is to use genomic approaches to reveal genetic and environmental risk factors of cancer in diverse populations and cultures
Student Flash Talks continue! Last 4 included:
-Fitness effects determination using genealogies
-Risk factor identification of cerebrovascular diseases
-Paleogenomics of pathogen diversity in colonial Mexico
-Dendritic cells in women with systemic Lupus
@liigh-unam.bsky.social
-Fitness effects determination using genealogies
-Risk factor identification of cerebrovascular diseases
-Paleogenomics of pathogen diversity in colonial Mexico
-Dendritic cells in women with systemic Lupus
@liigh-unam.bsky.social
January 11, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Student Flash Talks continue! Last 4 included:
-Fitness effects determination using genealogies
-Risk factor identification of cerebrovascular diseases
-Paleogenomics of pathogen diversity in colonial Mexico
-Dendritic cells in women with systemic Lupus
@liigh-unam.bsky.social
-Fitness effects determination using genealogies
-Risk factor identification of cerebrovascular diseases
-Paleogenomics of pathogen diversity in colonial Mexico
-Dendritic cells in women with systemic Lupus
@liigh-unam.bsky.social
Student Flash talks are go!First 4 presentations by trainees included:
-Bacterial communities dynamics to environmental change
-Paleogenomics of Mexican mammoths
-Transcriptomics of agave derived yeast for bioethanol production
-Genomics of melanomas in Mexican patients
@liigh-unam.bsky.social
-Bacterial communities dynamics to environmental change
-Paleogenomics of Mexican mammoths
-Transcriptomics of agave derived yeast for bioethanol production
-Genomics of melanomas in Mexican patients
@liigh-unam.bsky.social
January 11, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Student Flash talks are go!First 4 presentations by trainees included:
-Bacterial communities dynamics to environmental change
-Paleogenomics of Mexican mammoths
-Transcriptomics of agave derived yeast for bioethanol production
-Genomics of melanomas in Mexican patients
@liigh-unam.bsky.social
-Bacterial communities dynamics to environmental change
-Paleogenomics of Mexican mammoths
-Transcriptomics of agave derived yeast for bioethanol production
-Genomics of melanomas in Mexican patients
@liigh-unam.bsky.social