Uri Frank
@thecocodium.bsky.social
Professor @uniofgalway.bsky.social. I am interested in developmental biology, stem cells, regeneration, and other things. http://urifranklab.org
chromosome.ie
chromosome.ie
Reposted by Uri Frank
Out today, our take on 6-methyladenine #6mA evolution in Eukaryotes @natgenet.nature.com. We asked a simple question, is really DNA 6mA common across the eukaryotes? The answer is "yes" if you're a unicellular eukaryote 🦠, not so if you're multicellular 🐝🌱🍄. www.nature.com/articles/s41... 1/9
Adenine DNA methylation associated with transcriptionally permissive chromatin is widespread across eukaryotes - Nature Genetics
Long-read sequencing in 18 unicellular eukaryotes reveals that 6mA is widespread across eukaryotes and is enriched at transcriptionally permissive regions, which are also marked by H3K4me3.
www.nature.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Out today, our take on 6-methyladenine #6mA evolution in Eukaryotes @natgenet.nature.com. We asked a simple question, is really DNA 6mA common across the eukaryotes? The answer is "yes" if you're a unicellular eukaryote 🦠, not so if you're multicellular 🐝🌱🍄. www.nature.com/articles/s41... 1/9
Reposted by Uri Frank
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, TD, has today announced €34.5 million in funding to support 39 cutting-edge research projects under the Frontiers for the Future Programme. Read here: www.researchireland.ie/news/frontiers-for-the-future/
November 14, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, TD, has today announced €34.5 million in funding to support 39 cutting-edge research projects under the Frontiers for the Future Programme. Read here: www.researchireland.ie/news/frontiers-for-the-future/
Reposted by Uri Frank
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
November 3, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Nature suggests you use their "Manuscript Adviser" bot to get advice before submitting
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
I uploaded the classic Watson & Crick paper about DNA structure, and the Adviser had this to say about one of the greatest paper endings of the century:
Reposted by Uri Frank
Chaetognaths have lost gene body methylation and shifted #5mC back to Transposable Elements. This reversion to the ancestral state is coupled with a simplification of DNMT3 architecture. We posit that trans-splicing might compensate.
It is an honour to have contributed to this 20y struggle ⛰️.
It is an honour to have contributed to this 20y struggle ⛰️.
After nearly twenty years in the making, our attempt at understanding what makes the chaetognath phylum so unique has finally been published! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
with #LauraPiovani @dariagavr.bsky.social @alexdemendoza.bsky.social @chemamd.bsky.social and others /1
with #LauraPiovani @dariagavr.bsky.social @alexdemendoza.bsky.social @chemamd.bsky.social and others /1
The genomic origin of the unique chaetognath body plan - Nature
Genomic, single-cell transcriptomic and epigenetic analyses show that chaetognaths, following extensive gene loss in the gnathiferan lineage, relied on newly evolved genes and lineage-specific tandem ...
www.nature.com
August 14, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Chaetognaths have lost gene body methylation and shifted #5mC back to Transposable Elements. This reversion to the ancestral state is coupled with a simplification of DNMT3 architecture. We posit that trans-splicing might compensate.
It is an honour to have contributed to this 20y struggle ⛰️.
It is an honour to have contributed to this 20y struggle ⛰️.
Reposted by Uri Frank
We are excited to highlight our Rising Star Awardee, Dr. Can Aztekin @canaztekin.bsky.social whose work highlighting the importance of oxygen in regulating regeneration is inspiring. #Onetowatch
August 18, 2025 at 3:38 PM
We are excited to highlight our Rising Star Awardee, Dr. Can Aztekin @canaztekin.bsky.social whose work highlighting the importance of oxygen in regulating regeneration is inspiring. #Onetowatch
Reposted by Uri Frank
Announcing this year's Life Time Achievement Award. The one and only amazing Professor Brigette Galliot. Our inspiration with both her research and her service.
August 18, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Announcing this year's Life Time Achievement Award. The one and only amazing Professor Brigette Galliot. Our inspiration with both her research and her service.
Reposted by Uri Frank
Cnidarian-Microbe Interactions
Fully-funded postdoctoral position is available in the Gibson Lab at the Stowers Institute to investigate any aspect of cnidarian-microbe interactions. Strong background in coral symbiosis or eukaryotic microbiology preferred.
Contact Matt Gibson: mg2@stowers.org
Fully-funded postdoctoral position is available in the Gibson Lab at the Stowers Institute to investigate any aspect of cnidarian-microbe interactions. Strong background in coral symbiosis or eukaryotic microbiology preferred.
Contact Matt Gibson: mg2@stowers.org
August 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Cnidarian-Microbe Interactions
Fully-funded postdoctoral position is available in the Gibson Lab at the Stowers Institute to investigate any aspect of cnidarian-microbe interactions. Strong background in coral symbiosis or eukaryotic microbiology preferred.
Contact Matt Gibson: mg2@stowers.org
Fully-funded postdoctoral position is available in the Gibson Lab at the Stowers Institute to investigate any aspect of cnidarian-microbe interactions. Strong background in coral symbiosis or eukaryotic microbiology preferred.
Contact Matt Gibson: mg2@stowers.org
Reposted by Uri Frank
Happy to see our latest work out in @molbioevol.bsky.social. We revisit the evolution of 5-methylcytosine across neglected eukaryotic supergroups, establishing an ancestral repressive role silencing genome invaders, both transposons and viral elements👾: academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-... 🧵 1/7
Repressive cytosine methylation is a marker of viral gene transfer across divergent eukaryotes
Abstract. Cytosine DNA methylation patterns vary widely across eukaryotes, with its ancestral roles being understood to have included both transposable ele
academic.oup.com
July 28, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Happy to see our latest work out in @molbioevol.bsky.social. We revisit the evolution of 5-methylcytosine across neglected eukaryotic supergroups, establishing an ancestral repressive role silencing genome invaders, both transposons and viral elements👾: academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-... 🧵 1/7
Reposted by Uri Frank
Our study on a male-essential microRNA and the evolution of other dosage compensation mechanisms in birds is now out in Nature! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A male-essential miRNA is key for avian sex chromosome dosage compensation - Nature
Birds have evolved a unique sex chromosome dosage compensation mechanism involving the male-biased microRNA (miR-2954), which is essential for male survival by regulating the expression of dosage-sens...
www.nature.com
July 16, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Our study on a male-essential microRNA and the evolution of other dosage compensation mechanisms in birds is now out in Nature! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
't was lovely to host @julianolab.bsky.social here @uniofgalway.bsky.social. Great presentation and lots of fun later on a pint with @jgahan.bsky.social @rmacgabhann.bsky.social @hrhorkan.bsky.social and friends.
June 27, 2025 at 9:36 AM
't was lovely to host @julianolab.bsky.social here @uniofgalway.bsky.social. Great presentation and lots of fun later on a pint with @jgahan.bsky.social @rmacgabhann.bsky.social @hrhorkan.bsky.social and friends.
I am looking for a new postdoc to join the lab. Interested in pluripotency, germ cells, and in investigating these in a genetically tractable cnidarian? Get in touch! We offer a long-term contract, excellent research environment, and a lovely city #Galway. www.urifranklab.org
June 20, 2025 at 1:24 PM
I am looking for a new postdoc to join the lab. Interested in pluripotency, germ cells, and in investigating these in a genetically tractable cnidarian? Get in touch! We offer a long-term contract, excellent research environment, and a lovely city #Galway. www.urifranklab.org
Reposted by Uri Frank
David’s @davidmoersdorf.bsky.social cool paper about the role of Chordin in BMP signaling in the sea anemone Nematostella is finally out www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Chordin-mediated BMP shuttling patterns the secondary body axis in a cnidarian
Chordin-mediated BMP shuttling is the candidate mechanism for generating bilateral symmetry in the cnidarian-bilaterian ancestor.
www.science.org
June 13, 2025 at 8:35 PM
David’s @davidmoersdorf.bsky.social cool paper about the role of Chordin in BMP signaling in the sea anemone Nematostella is finally out www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Uri Frank
Happy to share our genome paper now typeset. We sequenced and assembled the genome of Bougainvillia (jellyfish not the plant!) which has 28 eyes!
doi.org/10.1093/g3jo...
doi.org/10.1093/g3jo...
June 4, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Happy to share our genome paper now typeset. We sequenced and assembled the genome of Bougainvillia (jellyfish not the plant!) which has 28 eyes!
doi.org/10.1093/g3jo...
doi.org/10.1093/g3jo...
Reposted by Uri Frank
"Aboral cell types of Clytia and coral larvae have shared features and link taurine to the regulation of settlement" Kudos to Julia Ramon-Mateu and Anna Ferraioli @biodev-vlfr.bsky.social, and thanks to our collaborators for their coral larva expertise www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Aboral cell types of Clytia and coral larvae have shared features and link taurine to the regulation of settlement
Larvae of jellyfish and corals have specialized sensory cells with shared features potentially linked to settlement regulation.
www.science.org
May 17, 2025 at 9:39 AM
"Aboral cell types of Clytia and coral larvae have shared features and link taurine to the regulation of settlement" Kudos to Julia Ramon-Mateu and Anna Ferraioli @biodev-vlfr.bsky.social, and thanks to our collaborators for their coral larva expertise www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Uri Frank
Delighted to see this work from my lab published today, where we identify a population of ETV-1 positive glutamatergic neurons that are activated in the brain in response to a distant injury.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Neuronal activation in the axolotl brain promotes tail regeneration - npj Regenerative Medicine
npj Regenerative Medicine - Neuronal activation in the axolotl brain promotes tail regeneration
www.nature.com
May 8, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Delighted to see this work from my lab published today, where we identify a population of ETV-1 positive glutamatergic neurons that are activated in the brain in response to a distant injury.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Uri Frank
Check out our latest work on the evolution of animal genome regulation out today in @nature.com. Nicely summarized below by @ianakim.bsky.social.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This is a major output from our ERC-StG project Evocellmap @erc.europa.eu at @crg.eu
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This is a major output from our ERC-StG project Evocellmap @erc.europa.eu at @crg.eu
May 7, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Check out our latest work on the evolution of animal genome regulation out today in @nature.com. Nicely summarized below by @ianakim.bsky.social.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This is a major output from our ERC-StG project Evocellmap @erc.europa.eu at @crg.eu
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
This is a major output from our ERC-StG project Evocellmap @erc.europa.eu at @crg.eu
Reposted by Uri Frank
Proud to present the peer-reviewed version of our Cell Type Allometry paper, out today in Science Advances!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Are animals of different sizes made of the same cell types?
Here’s an update of the main points and revision items
(with memes!)
Thread 👇🧵
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Are animals of different sizes made of the same cell types?
Here’s an update of the main points and revision items
(with memes!)
Thread 👇🧵
May 7, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Proud to present the peer-reviewed version of our Cell Type Allometry paper, out today in Science Advances!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Are animals of different sizes made of the same cell types?
Here’s an update of the main points and revision items
(with memes!)
Thread 👇🧵
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Are animals of different sizes made of the same cell types?
Here’s an update of the main points and revision items
(with memes!)
Thread 👇🧵
Just back from visiting @viennabiocenter.bsky.social where I met with colleagues @ulrichtechnau.bsky.social @genikhovich.bsky.social @tessmarraiblelabs.bsky.social Oleg Simakov and many others. Lovely weather and great science.
April 30, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Just back from visiting @viennabiocenter.bsky.social where I met with colleagues @ulrichtechnau.bsky.social @genikhovich.bsky.social @tessmarraiblelabs.bsky.social Oleg Simakov and many others. Lovely weather and great science.
Reposted by Uri Frank
‼️ Attention non-bilaterian enthusiasts ‼️
Join us for the non-bilaterian satellite symposium at PASEDB 2025 this July!
Come hear the latest in cnidarians, sponges, ctenophores & more!
Talks will be selected from abstracts. Contact me with questions. Register at the link below:
Join us for the non-bilaterian satellite symposium at PASEDB 2025 this July!
Come hear the latest in cnidarians, sponges, ctenophores & more!
Talks will be selected from abstracts. Contact me with questions. Register at the link below:
Our next meeting at Miami will have four satellite symposia: Spiralia, Arthropods, Fishes, and Non-bilaterian EvoDevo on July 22. Invited and selected talks from abstracts. Apply from here evodevo.wildapricot.org/event-6007396
The Pan American Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology - 2025 Biennial Meeting of the Pan American Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology
evodevo.wildapricot.org
April 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM
‼️ Attention non-bilaterian enthusiasts ‼️
Join us for the non-bilaterian satellite symposium at PASEDB 2025 this July!
Come hear the latest in cnidarians, sponges, ctenophores & more!
Talks will be selected from abstracts. Contact me with questions. Register at the link below:
Join us for the non-bilaterian satellite symposium at PASEDB 2025 this July!
Come hear the latest in cnidarians, sponges, ctenophores & more!
Talks will be selected from abstracts. Contact me with questions. Register at the link below:
Reposted by Uri Frank
Registrations are now open for the next @embo.org EvoChromo meeting in December.
meetings.embo.org/event/24-evo...
Join us in beautiful Costa Brava to discuss chromatin evolution!
Co-organized with @tobiaswarnecke.bsky.social @sandraduharcourt.bsky.social @levine-lab.bsky.social and Nick Irwin
meetings.embo.org/event/24-evo...
Join us in beautiful Costa Brava to discuss chromatin evolution!
Co-organized with @tobiaswarnecke.bsky.social @sandraduharcourt.bsky.social @levine-lab.bsky.social and Nick Irwin
EvoChromo: Evolutionary approaches to research in chromatin
Chromatin is the complex of DNA, RNA and protein that is found making up the chromosomes in eukaryotic cells. Chromatin is essential for proper genome function and is involved in chromosome segregati…
meetings.embo.org
April 10, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Registrations are now open for the next @embo.org EvoChromo meeting in December.
meetings.embo.org/event/24-evo...
Join us in beautiful Costa Brava to discuss chromatin evolution!
Co-organized with @tobiaswarnecke.bsky.social @sandraduharcourt.bsky.social @levine-lab.bsky.social and Nick Irwin
meetings.embo.org/event/24-evo...
Join us in beautiful Costa Brava to discuss chromatin evolution!
Co-organized with @tobiaswarnecke.bsky.social @sandraduharcourt.bsky.social @levine-lab.bsky.social and Nick Irwin
Reposted by Uri Frank
In this Review, @bernasozen.bsky.social, Patrick Tam & Martin Pera summarize how recent studies of embryo models have advanced our understanding of cell state transitions of the pluripotent human epiblast and highlights some key remaining questions:
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
April 8, 2025 at 8:51 AM
In this Review, @bernasozen.bsky.social, Patrick Tam & Martin Pera summarize how recent studies of embryo models have advanced our understanding of cell state transitions of the pluripotent human epiblast and highlights some key remaining questions:
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
Reposted by Uri Frank
🧬🧪Exciting chromatin research conference hosted by @aicc-ireland.bsky.social in May! The deadline for poster/talk abstracts is April 28, see details in the post below.
We are very excited to launch the registration for our 2025 symposium on 'Chromatin, Epigenetics and Transcription' today!
Join us at @tcddublin.bsky.social on May 28th for this event featuring keynote, new PI and PhD/postdoc talks and posters!
allirelandchromatinconsortium.ie/annual-meeti...
Join us at @tcddublin.bsky.social on May 28th for this event featuring keynote, new PI and PhD/postdoc talks and posters!
allirelandchromatinconsortium.ie/annual-meeti...
March 24, 2025 at 12:58 PM
🧬🧪Exciting chromatin research conference hosted by @aicc-ireland.bsky.social in May! The deadline for poster/talk abstracts is April 28, see details in the post below.
Reposted by Uri Frank
Tanya's @tclebedeva.bsky.social paper on endomesoderm specification in the beta-catenin-negative area of the Nematostella embryo is out! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
β-catenin-driven endomesoderm specification is a Bilateria-specific novelty - Nature Communications
Lebedeva et al. show that unlike Bilateria, the embryo of the cnidarian Nematostella specifies its endomesoderm in the β-catenin-negative domain. In contrast, subsequent β-catenin-dependent axial patt...
www.nature.com
March 13, 2025 at 11:26 AM
Tanya's @tclebedeva.bsky.social paper on endomesoderm specification in the beta-catenin-negative area of the Nematostella embryo is out! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Uri Frank
Looking forward to welcoming @peterlewislab.bsky.social from @uwmadison.bsky.social for our March webinar on 'Dissecting the Biochemical Complexes Governing Gene Silencing' on March 28th!
Register here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
@activemotifusa.bsky.social
Register here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
@activemotifusa.bsky.social
March 13, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Looking forward to welcoming @peterlewislab.bsky.social from @uwmadison.bsky.social for our March webinar on 'Dissecting the Biochemical Complexes Governing Gene Silencing' on March 28th!
Register here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
@activemotifusa.bsky.social
Register here: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
@activemotifusa.bsky.social
Reposted by Uri Frank
🎉 bioRxiv & medRxiv are now managed by openRxiv, a new independent nonprofit. This transition allows for more flexibility and innovation. Our mission remains being a free service to authors ensuring rapid sharing of scientific information before peer review.
ℹ️ openrxiv.org/introducing-...
ℹ️ openrxiv.org/introducing-...
Introducing openRxiv: a new independent home for preprint sharing in the life sciences - openRxiv
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of openRxiv as an independent nonprofit to oversee bioRxiv and medRxiv, the world’s leading preprint servers for life and health sciences. openRxiv ensures that r...
openrxiv.org
March 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM
🎉 bioRxiv & medRxiv are now managed by openRxiv, a new independent nonprofit. This transition allows for more flexibility and innovation. Our mission remains being a free service to authors ensuring rapid sharing of scientific information before peer review.
ℹ️ openrxiv.org/introducing-...
ℹ️ openrxiv.org/introducing-...