UC Santa Cruz Genomics Institute
@ucscgenomics.bsky.social
Focusing the power of genomics to create a healthier world. Leader in pangenomics, conservation genomics, cancer genomics, pathogen genomics, and nanopore sequencing. Home of the UCSC Genome Browser, @ucscxena, UShER, Dockstore, and other high-power tools.
It's Giving Day!!! You can help support 🎗pediatric cancer research AND a "degree-defining experience" for undergraduates by:
💸 Donating to Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative
🗣 Sharing this post to spread the word!
🔗 🎁 bit.ly/give2treehouse
💸 Donating to Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative
🗣 Sharing this post to spread the word!
🔗 🎁 bit.ly/give2treehouse
November 5, 2025 at 12:32 PM
It's Giving Day!!! You can help support 🎗pediatric cancer research AND a "degree-defining experience" for undergraduates by:
💸 Donating to Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative
🗣 Sharing this post to spread the word!
🔗 🎁 bit.ly/give2treehouse
💸 Donating to Treehouse Childhood Cancer Initiative
🗣 Sharing this post to spread the word!
🔗 🎁 bit.ly/give2treehouse
Support diversity and excellence in STEM by giving to our Research Mentoring Internship (RMI) this Giving Day 🎁 Federal cuts to DEI grants have made your gifts VITAL to keeping this program alive. Please support student mentorship today: www.givecampus.com/schools/Univ...
November 5, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Support diversity and excellence in STEM by giving to our Research Mentoring Internship (RMI) this Giving Day 🎁 Federal cuts to DEI grants have made your gifts VITAL to keeping this program alive. Please support student mentorship today: www.givecampus.com/schools/Univ...
A court ruling in favor of @ucsantacruz.bsky.social Genomics Institute associate Ed Geen's startup Astrea Forensics paves the way for whole-genome sequencing, a cutting-edge technique used on degraded DNA in fossilized remains, to be admitted as evidence in trials 🦴🔍 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
October 1, 2025 at 6:12 PM
A court ruling in favor of @ucsantacruz.bsky.social Genomics Institute associate Ed Geen's startup Astrea Forensics paves the way for whole-genome sequencing, a cutting-edge technique used on degraded DNA in fossilized remains, to be admitted as evidence in trials 🦴🔍 www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Breakthrough disease treatments are being developed, but they need #NIH funding! @khmiga.bsky.social and Krizia Chambers joined #RallyForMedicalResearch on Capitol Hill to tell lawmakers how important federal funding is to their research.
🧪🔬 Message your lawmakers: news.ucsc.edu/2025/09/advo...
🧪🔬 Message your lawmakers: news.ucsc.edu/2025/09/advo...
September 23, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Breakthrough disease treatments are being developed, but they need #NIH funding! @khmiga.bsky.social and Krizia Chambers joined #RallyForMedicalResearch on Capitol Hill to tell lawmakers how important federal funding is to their research.
🧪🔬 Message your lawmakers: news.ucsc.edu/2025/09/advo...
🧪🔬 Message your lawmakers: news.ucsc.edu/2025/09/advo...
Scientists at @ucsc have built an automated platform to grow and monitor brain organoids (brain tissue in a dish) 24/7 🧠🤖. It captures neural activity missed by manual methods—boosting reproducibility & paving the way for breakthroughs in brain research.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
September 19, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Scientists at @ucsc have built an automated platform to grow and monitor brain organoids (brain tissue in a dish) 24/7 🧠🤖. It captures neural activity missed by manual methods—boosting reproducibility & paving the way for breakthroughs in brain research.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
📢 Announcing the AnVIL Data Explorer!
This tool makes it easier to access and reuse high-value datasets, including those that focus on specific diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, and rare genetic disorders. Over 280 datasets are already available, with more to come.
news.ucsc.edu/2025/08/new-...
This tool makes it easier to access and reuse high-value datasets, including those that focus on specific diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, and rare genetic disorders. Over 280 datasets are already available, with more to come.
news.ucsc.edu/2025/08/new-...
September 8, 2025 at 6:07 PM
📢 Announcing the AnVIL Data Explorer!
This tool makes it easier to access and reuse high-value datasets, including those that focus on specific diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, and rare genetic disorders. Over 280 datasets are already available, with more to come.
news.ucsc.edu/2025/08/new-...
This tool makes it easier to access and reuse high-value datasets, including those that focus on specific diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, and rare genetic disorders. Over 280 datasets are already available, with more to come.
news.ucsc.edu/2025/08/new-...
Can a father’s stress influence the health of his future children?
Science says yes. Affiliate @upasnasharma.bsky.social studies this effect in mice, and she has received a new McKnight Foundation award to uncover the molecular signals in sperm that are behind it: news.ucsc.edu/2025/07/upas...
Science says yes. Affiliate @upasnasharma.bsky.social studies this effect in mice, and she has received a new McKnight Foundation award to uncover the molecular signals in sperm that are behind it: news.ucsc.edu/2025/07/upas...
July 25, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Can a father’s stress influence the health of his future children?
Science says yes. Affiliate @upasnasharma.bsky.social studies this effect in mice, and she has received a new McKnight Foundation award to uncover the molecular signals in sperm that are behind it: news.ucsc.edu/2025/07/upas...
Science says yes. Affiliate @upasnasharma.bsky.social studies this effect in mice, and she has received a new McKnight Foundation award to uncover the molecular signals in sperm that are behind it: news.ucsc.edu/2025/07/upas...
🦭🧬 After nearly going extinct, northern elephant seals bounced back, but lost almost all genetic variation.
Now, thanks to a new tool out of @ucsantacruz.bsky.social, we can trace family lines for species with low genetic diversity and improve conservation strategies.
📄: doi.org/10.1111/acv....
Now, thanks to a new tool out of @ucsantacruz.bsky.social, we can trace family lines for species with low genetic diversity and improve conservation strategies.
📄: doi.org/10.1111/acv....
July 24, 2025 at 3:30 PM
🦭🧬 After nearly going extinct, northern elephant seals bounced back, but lost almost all genetic variation.
Now, thanks to a new tool out of @ucsantacruz.bsky.social, we can trace family lines for species with low genetic diversity and improve conservation strategies.
📄: doi.org/10.1111/acv....
Now, thanks to a new tool out of @ucsantacruz.bsky.social, we can trace family lines for species with low genetic diversity and improve conservation strategies.
📄: doi.org/10.1111/acv....
🧪🧬🖥️ We have a new variation graphs (vg) update: github.com/vgteam/vg/re...
Changes include:
🤝Improved compatibility with other GFA graph files and transcript annotation files
🪲Various bug fixes, especially for mis-named or broken command-line options
Changes include:
🤝Improved compatibility with other GFA graph files and transcript annotation files
🪲Various bug fixes, especially for mis-named or broken command-line options
July 21, 2025 at 2:21 PM
🧪🧬🖥️ We have a new variation graphs (vg) update: github.com/vgteam/vg/re...
Changes include:
🤝Improved compatibility with other GFA graph files and transcript annotation files
🪲Various bug fixes, especially for mis-named or broken command-line options
Changes include:
🤝Improved compatibility with other GFA graph files and transcript annotation files
🪲Various bug fixes, especially for mis-named or broken command-line options
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: 25 years ago, the world got its first look at a human DNA sequence when @ucsantacruz.bsky.social posted it online. Today, we're using genomics to diagnose rare disease, guide cancer care, track outbreaks, and protect species. 🧬🌎
news.ucsc.edu/2025/07/twen...
news.ucsc.edu/2025/07/twen...
July 7, 2025 at 6:57 PM
THIS DAY IN HISTORY: 25 years ago, the world got its first look at a human DNA sequence when @ucsantacruz.bsky.social posted it online. Today, we're using genomics to diagnose rare disease, guide cancer care, track outbreaks, and protect species. 🧬🌎
news.ucsc.edu/2025/07/twen...
news.ucsc.edu/2025/07/twen...
🎓 We are so proud of all our Research Mentoring Internship (RMI) scholars who are graduating this year! They have all gained valuable skills interning in our affiliated genomics labs and we know that they are going to go on to great things 💙💛🎉🎓
June 12, 2025 at 6:57 PM
🎓 We are so proud of all our Research Mentoring Internship (RMI) scholars who are graduating this year! They have all gained valuable skills interning in our affiliated genomics labs and we know that they are going to go on to great things 💙💛🎉🎓
UC Santa Cruz conservation genomics startup eDNA Explorer is expanding to Canada! 🇨🇦
eDNA Explorer Canada, supported by @genomebc.bsky.social, will allow collaboration around DNA data found in soil and water samples to inform public health and conservation efforts. news.ucsc.edu/2025/06/edna...
eDNA Explorer Canada, supported by @genomebc.bsky.social, will allow collaboration around DNA data found in soil and water samples to inform public health and conservation efforts. news.ucsc.edu/2025/06/edna...
June 5, 2025 at 3:59 PM
UC Santa Cruz conservation genomics startup eDNA Explorer is expanding to Canada! 🇨🇦
eDNA Explorer Canada, supported by @genomebc.bsky.social, will allow collaboration around DNA data found in soil and water samples to inform public health and conservation efforts. news.ucsc.edu/2025/06/edna...
eDNA Explorer Canada, supported by @genomebc.bsky.social, will allow collaboration around DNA data found in soil and water samples to inform public health and conservation efforts. news.ucsc.edu/2025/06/edna...
Our variation graphs tool has had a new release! 🧪🧬🖥️Highlights include
📈 Improvements to vg giraffe unmapped reads and alignment QC.
📈 Improved surjection for more difficult alignments.
📈 Better handle reads from indexed GAF files.
github.com/vgteam/vg/re...
📈 Improvements to vg giraffe unmapped reads and alignment QC.
📈 Improved surjection for more difficult alignments.
📈 Better handle reads from indexed GAF files.
github.com/vgteam/vg/re...
June 4, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Our variation graphs tool has had a new release! 🧪🧬🖥️Highlights include
📈 Improvements to vg giraffe unmapped reads and alignment QC.
📈 Improved surjection for more difficult alignments.
📈 Better handle reads from indexed GAF files.
github.com/vgteam/vg/re...
📈 Improvements to vg giraffe unmapped reads and alignment QC.
📈 Improved surjection for more difficult alignments.
📈 Better handle reads from indexed GAF files.
github.com/vgteam/vg/re...
Join us for Genome June at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History! We have lectures and events planned all month to explore what genomics is contributing to conservation and our knowledge of the environment! santacruzmuseum.org/series/genom...
June 2, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Join us for Genome June at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History! We have lectures and events planned all month to explore what genomics is contributing to conservation and our knowledge of the environment! santacruzmuseum.org/series/genom...
Congratulations to our Director of Genomics Training Programs, Marina Ramon, on receiving the EOP Champion Award! The undergraduates Marina mentors nominated her for this award for providing exceptional support to students 💙💛🎉
May 22, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Congratulations to our Director of Genomics Training Programs, Marina Ramon, on receiving the EOP Champion Award! The undergraduates Marina mentors nominated her for this award for providing exceptional support to students 💙💛🎉
Join us THIS FRIDAY for an exciting symposium celebrating 25 years of genomics!
Opening remarks and a keynote on the future of genomics starts at 2pm in the Seymour Center with live demos and refreshments to follow 🧬
calendar.ucsc.edu/event/25-yea...
Opening remarks and a keynote on the future of genomics starts at 2pm in the Seymour Center with live demos and refreshments to follow 🧬
calendar.ucsc.edu/event/25-yea...
May 14, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Join us THIS FRIDAY for an exciting symposium celebrating 25 years of genomics!
Opening remarks and a keynote on the future of genomics starts at 2pm in the Seymour Center with live demos and refreshments to follow 🧬
calendar.ucsc.edu/event/25-yea...
Opening remarks and a keynote on the future of genomics starts at 2pm in the Seymour Center with live demos and refreshments to follow 🧬
calendar.ucsc.edu/event/25-yea...
Congratulations to UCSC Genomics Institute core member Beth Shapiro on her election to the National Academy of Sciences! 🎉🦣🧬
Shapiro is a leader in the field of ancient DNA and a fierce advocate for conservation. She is currently CSO of Colossal Biosciences.
Shapiro is a leader in the field of ancient DNA and a fierce advocate for conservation. She is currently CSO of Colossal Biosciences.
April 30, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Congratulations to UCSC Genomics Institute core member Beth Shapiro on her election to the National Academy of Sciences! 🎉🦣🧬
Shapiro is a leader in the field of ancient DNA and a fierce advocate for conservation. She is currently CSO of Colossal Biosciences.
Shapiro is a leader in the field of ancient DNA and a fierce advocate for conservation. She is currently CSO of Colossal Biosciences.
🧬 DNA Day is right around the corner! Join us THIS FRIDAY, April 25th, 11am-1pm in the UC Santa Cruz Baskin Engineering Courtyard for interactive activities, research presentations, and more. It's free and fun for all ages! 😎 calendar.ucsc.edu/event/dna-da...
April 22, 2025 at 7:45 PM
🧬 DNA Day is right around the corner! Join us THIS FRIDAY, April 25th, 11am-1pm in the UC Santa Cruz Baskin Engineering Courtyard for interactive activities, research presentations, and more. It's free and fun for all ages! 😎 calendar.ucsc.edu/event/dna-da...
🧪🧬🖥️ Our variation graphs (vg) version 1.65.0 (code name "Carfon") is out now! It has all the fixes from v1.64.1, plus a fix for consistent ref allele traversals in vg call -v.
github.com/vgteam/vg/re...
github.com/vgteam/vg/re...
April 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
🧪🧬🖥️ Our variation graphs (vg) version 1.65.0 (code name "Carfon") is out now! It has all the fixes from v1.64.1, plus a fix for consistent ref allele traversals in vg call -v.
github.com/vgteam/vg/re...
github.com/vgteam/vg/re...
🎗📢 Our clinical pediatric cancer lab at
@ucsantacruz.bsky.social has been cleared to begin testing patient samples! The Colligan Clinical Diagnostic Lab hopes to identify life-saving treatment options using innovative new RNA tests. 🎉https://news.ucsc.edu/2025/03/colligan-clinical-lab.html
@ucsantacruz.bsky.social has been cleared to begin testing patient samples! The Colligan Clinical Diagnostic Lab hopes to identify life-saving treatment options using innovative new RNA tests. 🎉https://news.ucsc.edu/2025/03/colligan-clinical-lab.html
March 3, 2025 at 10:16 PM
🎗📢 Our clinical pediatric cancer lab at
@ucsantacruz.bsky.social has been cleared to begin testing patient samples! The Colligan Clinical Diagnostic Lab hopes to identify life-saving treatment options using innovative new RNA tests. 🎉https://news.ucsc.edu/2025/03/colligan-clinical-lab.html
@ucsantacruz.bsky.social has been cleared to begin testing patient samples! The Colligan Clinical Diagnostic Lab hopes to identify life-saving treatment options using innovative new RNA tests. 🎉https://news.ucsc.edu/2025/03/colligan-clinical-lab.html
New @genomebrowser.bsky.social tracks highlight the power of generative AI for biology:
🧬 AlphaMissense predicts what amino acid variations will create problems in protein folding
🧬 VarChat conducts lit searches for variants
More are in the works! genomics.wordpress.ucsc.edu/news/2025/02...
🧬 AlphaMissense predicts what amino acid variations will create problems in protein folding
🧬 VarChat conducts lit searches for variants
More are in the works! genomics.wordpress.ucsc.edu/news/2025/02...
February 26, 2025 at 9:59 PM
New @genomebrowser.bsky.social tracks highlight the power of generative AI for biology:
🧬 AlphaMissense predicts what amino acid variations will create problems in protein folding
🧬 VarChat conducts lit searches for variants
More are in the works! genomics.wordpress.ucsc.edu/news/2025/02...
🧬 AlphaMissense predicts what amino acid variations will create problems in protein folding
🧬 VarChat conducts lit searches for variants
More are in the works! genomics.wordpress.ucsc.edu/news/2025/02...
Genomics postdocs- deadline to submit to our April 15 symposium in Santa Cruz, CA, is THIS SATURDAY (2/15)! Travel expenses covered for selected applicants ✈️😎🏖 Tag a colleague who is doing amazing research 🥼
Apply here: bit.ly/NextWave25
Apply here: bit.ly/NextWave25
February 13, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Genomics postdocs- deadline to submit to our April 15 symposium in Santa Cruz, CA, is THIS SATURDAY (2/15)! Travel expenses covered for selected applicants ✈️😎🏖 Tag a colleague who is doing amazing research 🥼
Apply here: bit.ly/NextWave25
Apply here: bit.ly/NextWave25
🧬July 7, 2000, UC Santa Cruz published the first draft of a human genome online. Today, the UCSC Genome Browser hosts genomes for thousands of species. Alum Katie Pollard used the Browser to make an exciting discovery about human evolution and continues to use it today: news.ucsc.edu/2025/01/kati...
January 30, 2025 at 9:49 PM
🧬July 7, 2000, UC Santa Cruz published the first draft of a human genome online. Today, the UCSC Genome Browser hosts genomes for thousands of species. Alum Katie Pollard used the Browser to make an exciting discovery about human evolution and continues to use it today: news.ucsc.edu/2025/01/kati...
A new version of our variation graphs (vg) tool, "Boccaleone," is now available! Updates include:
🔵 HiFi and Oxford Nanopore read support to the Giraffe read mapper
🔵 Faster read sorting
🔵 New Unix manual page
Link: github.com/vgteam/vg/re...
🔵 HiFi and Oxford Nanopore read support to the Giraffe read mapper
🔵 Faster read sorting
🔵 New Unix manual page
Link: github.com/vgteam/vg/re...
January 29, 2025 at 5:18 PM
A new version of our variation graphs (vg) tool, "Boccaleone," is now available! Updates include:
🔵 HiFi and Oxford Nanopore read support to the Giraffe read mapper
🔵 Faster read sorting
🔵 New Unix manual page
Link: github.com/vgteam/vg/re...
🔵 HiFi and Oxford Nanopore read support to the Giraffe read mapper
🔵 Faster read sorting
🔵 New Unix manual page
Link: github.com/vgteam/vg/re...
Researchers at @ucsantacruz.bsky.social have demonstrated how long-read sequencing could improve detection of diseases that have eluded diagnosis, at a fraction of the cost. New clinical tests could be on the way.
🗞 news.ucsc.edu/2025/01/pate...
👏🏼👏🏿👏🏾 @khmiga.bsky.social @benedictpaten.bsky.social
🗞 news.ucsc.edu/2025/01/pate...
👏🏼👏🏿👏🏾 @khmiga.bsky.social @benedictpaten.bsky.social
January 24, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Researchers at @ucsantacruz.bsky.social have demonstrated how long-read sequencing could improve detection of diseases that have eluded diagnosis, at a fraction of the cost. New clinical tests could be on the way.
🗞 news.ucsc.edu/2025/01/pate...
👏🏼👏🏿👏🏾 @khmiga.bsky.social @benedictpaten.bsky.social
🗞 news.ucsc.edu/2025/01/pate...
👏🏼👏🏿👏🏾 @khmiga.bsky.social @benedictpaten.bsky.social