#FossilFriday
Here are 3 beautiful Pentremites sp. Blastoids I collected from the Upper Mississippian (Lower Carboniferous, Serpukhovian) Lower Bangor Limestone in Russellville, Alabama.
Here are 3 beautiful Pentremites sp. Blastoids I collected from the Upper Mississippian (Lower Carboniferous, Serpukhovian) Lower Bangor Limestone in Russellville, Alabama.
November 7, 2025 at 5:34 PM
#FossilFriday
Here are 3 beautiful Pentremites sp. Blastoids I collected from the Upper Mississippian (Lower Carboniferous, Serpukhovian) Lower Bangor Limestone in Russellville, Alabama.
Here are 3 beautiful Pentremites sp. Blastoids I collected from the Upper Mississippian (Lower Carboniferous, Serpukhovian) Lower Bangor Limestone in Russellville, Alabama.
Today in @nature.com, we present our work leveraging functional genomics and human blastoids to uncover a human-specific mechanism in preimplantation development driven by the endogenous retrovirus HERVK.
Special thanks to the reviewers whose comments improved our manuscript a lot! rdcu.be/eI3tD
Special thanks to the reviewers whose comments improved our manuscript a lot! rdcu.be/eI3tD
A human-specific regulatory mechanism revealed in a pre-implantation model
Nature - Genetic manipulation of blastoids reveals the role of recently emerged transposable elements and genes in human development.
rdcu.be
October 1, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Today in @nature.com, we present our work leveraging functional genomics and human blastoids to uncover a human-specific mechanism in preimplantation development driven by the endogenous retrovirus HERVK.
Special thanks to the reviewers whose comments improved our manuscript a lot! rdcu.be/eI3tD
Special thanks to the reviewers whose comments improved our manuscript a lot! rdcu.be/eI3tD
How about some Mississippian Burlington Limestone blastoids?
Blastoids are echinoderms related to starfish, sand dollars and crinoids with 5 point symmetry. These are Cryptoblastus, Poroblastus and Carpenteroblastus from Missouri and Illinois
#FossilFriday
Blastoids are echinoderms related to starfish, sand dollars and crinoids with 5 point symmetry. These are Cryptoblastus, Poroblastus and Carpenteroblastus from Missouri and Illinois
#FossilFriday
September 12, 2025 at 7:57 PM
How about some Mississippian Burlington Limestone blastoids?
Blastoids are echinoderms related to starfish, sand dollars and crinoids with 5 point symmetry. These are Cryptoblastus, Poroblastus and Carpenteroblastus from Missouri and Illinois
#FossilFriday
Blastoids are echinoderms related to starfish, sand dollars and crinoids with 5 point symmetry. These are Cryptoblastus, Poroblastus and Carpenteroblastus from Missouri and Illinois
#FossilFriday
Cool! I went to college at IU Bloomington, tons of fossiliferous limestone and blastoids were common, but I don’t recall any as small and colorful as that one!
April 9, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Cool! I went to college at IU Bloomington, tons of fossiliferous limestone and blastoids were common, but I don’t recall any as small and colorful as that one!
Last weekend I found a handful of Heteroschisma blastoids from the Thunder Bay Limestone near Alpena. Many were loose and a bit beach weathered. The best ones were barely exposed in matrix. They cleaned up pretty quick.
#FossilFriday
#FossilFriday
June 6, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Last weekend I found a handful of Heteroschisma blastoids from the Thunder Bay Limestone near Alpena. Many were loose and a bit beach weathered. The best ones were barely exposed in matrix. They cleaned up pretty quick.
#FossilFriday
#FossilFriday
Our final talk for the day was Nicolas Rivron from IMBA, Vienna who gave the Sammy Lee memorial lecture, giving us a glimpse into the world of in vitro systems (blastoids) used to study the first steps of implantation and how it has evolved across primates. Thank you for the inspiring lecture!
May 20, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Our final talk for the day was Nicolas Rivron from IMBA, Vienna who gave the Sammy Lee memorial lecture, giving us a glimpse into the world of in vitro systems (blastoids) used to study the first steps of implantation and how it has evolved across primates. Thank you for the inspiring lecture!
This is a Devoniblastus found loose surface collecting. No cleaning was required. It's just over 1 cm which is common for most blastoids.
#FossilFriday
#FossilFriday
August 22, 2025 at 5:52 PM
This is a Devoniblastus found loose surface collecting. No cleaning was required. It's just over 1 cm which is common for most blastoids.
#FossilFriday
#FossilFriday
We repressed HERVK LTR5Hs en masse using CARGO LTR5Hs. This revealed that LTR5Hs activity affects the blastoid-forming potential in a dose-dependent manner. We analyzed > 20 clones for each condition (equivalent to ~140 K human blastoids! Close to the population of my hometown León…😂)
May 12, 2025 at 8:27 PM
We repressed HERVK LTR5Hs en masse using CARGO LTR5Hs. This revealed that LTR5Hs activity affects the blastoid-forming potential in a dose-dependent manner. We analyzed > 20 clones for each condition (equivalent to ~140 K human blastoids! Close to the population of my hometown León…😂)
deepBlastoid: A Deep Learning-Based High-Throughput Classifier for Human Blastoids Using Brightfield Images with Confidence Assessment https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.12.05.627041v1
December 9, 2024 at 9:30 PM
deepBlastoid: A Deep Learning-Based High-Throughput Classifier for Human Blastoids Using Brightfield Images with Confidence Assessment https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.12.05.627041v1
Blastoids were pentagonally symmetric - like their distant cousins the sea urchins. But they had no spines and most were on little stalks
x.com/BryozoanNhm/st…
x.com/BryozoanNhm/st…
January 5, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Blastoids were pentagonally symmetric - like their distant cousins the sea urchins. But they had no spines and most were on little stalks
x.com/BryozoanNhm/st…
x.com/BryozoanNhm/st…
This weeks #Friday read explores the role of mTOR in inducing dormancy in human blastoids and human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Read the full paper > zurl.co/nEGjU
#pluripotent #research #growthfactors
#pluripotent #research #growthfactors
January 31, 2025 at 9:46 AM
This weeks #Friday read explores the role of mTOR in inducing dormancy in human blastoids and human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Read the full paper > zurl.co/nEGjU
#pluripotent #research #growthfactors
#pluripotent #research #growthfactors
Hmm...something's not right, or I'm missing something. This recent paper describes human blastoids (4CL) as akin to human blastocysts; they compare DNAme with Guo et al, 2014 Nature. But this seems very high, and is inconsistent with the Guo et al Fig 1c 🤔 #Epigenetics www.cell.com/cell-stem-ce...
January 16, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Hmm...something's not right, or I'm missing something. This recent paper describes human blastoids (4CL) as akin to human blastocysts; they compare DNAme with Guo et al, 2014 Nature. But this seems very high, and is inconsistent with the Guo et al Fig 1c 🤔 #Epigenetics www.cell.com/cell-stem-ce...
11/
Blastoids generated from multiple naive hPSC lines - after expansion on serum - formed both embryonic and extraembryonic cell lineages.
Blastoids generated from multiple naive hPSC lines - after expansion on serum - formed both embryonic and extraembryonic cell lineages.
January 21, 2025 at 10:44 AM
11/
Blastoids generated from multiple naive hPSC lines - after expansion on serum - formed both embryonic and extraembryonic cell lineages.
Blastoids generated from multiple naive hPSC lines - after expansion on serum - formed both embryonic and extraembryonic cell lineages.
Dissecting Small Noncoding RNA Landscapes in Mouse Preimplantation Embryos and Human Blastoids for Modeling Early Human Embryogenesis https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.07.680944v1
October 7, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Dissecting Small Noncoding RNA Landscapes in Mouse Preimplantation Embryos and Human Blastoids for Modeling Early Human Embryogenesis https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.10.07.680944v1
During the Long Night of Research, IMBA scientists hosted a showcase at the ÖAW, attracting over 3,000 visitors. While the Rivron group discussed the role of blastoids in investigating human fertility, the Tanaka group showcased how the axolotl is used to study regeneration.
December 18, 2024 at 5:59 PM
During the Long Night of Research, IMBA scientists hosted a showcase at the ÖAW, attracting over 3,000 visitors. While the Rivron group discussed the role of blastoids in investigating human fertility, the Tanaka group showcased how the axolotl is used to study regeneration.
Cool paper from two cool labs run by old friends. Making the most of human blastoids. Well done Thor, Sabine and labs!
www.cell.com/cell-stem-ce...
www.cell.com/cell-stem-ce...
3D-cultured blastoids model human embryogenesis from pre-implantation to early gastrulation stages
Theunissen et al. describe an efficient protocol for generating blastoids from naive
human pluripotent stem cells and allowing their extended culture on 3D matrices for
up to 21 days. This system of...
www.cell.com
September 12, 2023 at 6:07 AM
Cool paper from two cool labs run by old friends. Making the most of human blastoids. Well done Thor, Sabine and labs!
www.cell.com/cell-stem-ce...
www.cell.com/cell-stem-ce...
Wow, what a coincidence! I created an entire collection of objects inspired by crinoids and blastoids. The resemblance might not be apparent at first glance, but it’s there. I call my creation Galactic Fossils.
#FossilsFriday #SpeculativePaleontology #Fantasy #SciArt #PaleoArt #Crinoids #Blastoids
#FossilsFriday #SpeculativePaleontology #Fantasy #SciArt #PaleoArt #Crinoids #Blastoids
September 26, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Wow, what a coincidence! I created an entire collection of objects inspired by crinoids and blastoids. The resemblance might not be apparent at first glance, but it’s there. I call my creation Galactic Fossils.
#FossilsFriday #SpeculativePaleontology #Fantasy #SciArt #PaleoArt #Crinoids #Blastoids
#FossilsFriday #SpeculativePaleontology #Fantasy #SciArt #PaleoArt #Crinoids #Blastoids
New protocol for growing mouse embryo-like models (blastoids) from stem cells, aiding study of environmental factors on embryo development
📷 Victoria Jorgensen, Min Bao & Sergi Junyent et al
@zernickagoetz.bsky.social lab @caltech.edu in @cp-devcell.bsky.social
➡️ bpod.org.uk/archive/2025...
📷 Victoria Jorgensen, Min Bao & Sergi Junyent et al
@zernickagoetz.bsky.social lab @caltech.edu in @cp-devcell.bsky.social
➡️ bpod.org.uk/archive/2025...
September 15, 2025 at 12:50 PM
New protocol for growing mouse embryo-like models (blastoids) from stem cells, aiding study of environmental factors on embryo development
📷 Victoria Jorgensen, Min Bao & Sergi Junyent et al
@zernickagoetz.bsky.social lab @caltech.edu in @cp-devcell.bsky.social
➡️ bpod.org.uk/archive/2025...
📷 Victoria Jorgensen, Min Bao & Sergi Junyent et al
@zernickagoetz.bsky.social lab @caltech.edu in @cp-devcell.bsky.social
➡️ bpod.org.uk/archive/2025...
Welcome to the first
#Fossilfriday
of 2025!
Here is the Blastoid Penteremites godi. This comes from the Upper Mississippian (Lower Carboniferous) Ridenhower Formation from Floraville, Illinois. Blastoids are an extinct group of Echinoderms that were sessile filter feeders.
#Fossilfriday
of 2025!
Here is the Blastoid Penteremites godi. This comes from the Upper Mississippian (Lower Carboniferous) Ridenhower Formation from Floraville, Illinois. Blastoids are an extinct group of Echinoderms that were sessile filter feeders.
January 3, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Welcome to the first
#Fossilfriday
of 2025!
Here is the Blastoid Penteremites godi. This comes from the Upper Mississippian (Lower Carboniferous) Ridenhower Formation from Floraville, Illinois. Blastoids are an extinct group of Echinoderms that were sessile filter feeders.
#Fossilfriday
of 2025!
Here is the Blastoid Penteremites godi. This comes from the Upper Mississippian (Lower Carboniferous) Ridenhower Formation from Floraville, Illinois. Blastoids are an extinct group of Echinoderms that were sessile filter feeders.
🌱 How can stem cells model the earliest stages of human pregnancy? Join Nicolas Rivron at HT to explore embryo models called #blastoids and what they reveal about human development and fertility.
Register by 10 Oct 👉 humantechnopole.it/en/training/...
Register by 10 Oct 👉 humantechnopole.it/en/training/...
September 9, 2025 at 8:16 AM
🌱 How can stem cells model the earliest stages of human pregnancy? Join Nicolas Rivron at HT to explore embryo models called #blastoids and what they reveal about human development and fertility.
Register by 10 Oct 👉 humantechnopole.it/en/training/...
Register by 10 Oct 👉 humantechnopole.it/en/training/...
Y’ALL THERE IS PEER REVIEWED RESEARCH NOW
JUST PUBLISHED IN NOVEMBER 2024
“Human pluripotent cells are capable of entering a reversible dormant state” I AM SCREAMING
JUST PUBLISHED IN NOVEMBER 2024
“Human pluripotent cells are capable of entering a reversible dormant state” I AM SCREAMING
February 24, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Y’ALL THERE IS PEER REVIEWED RESEARCH NOW
JUST PUBLISHED IN NOVEMBER 2024
“Human pluripotent cells are capable of entering a reversible dormant state” I AM SCREAMING
JUST PUBLISHED IN NOVEMBER 2024
“Human pluripotent cells are capable of entering a reversible dormant state” I AM SCREAMING
Lovecraft based several of his entities on paleozoic echinoids. Most famously the Elder Things which I think are a combination of blastoids and crinoids.
November 10, 2024 at 4:24 PM
Lovecraft based several of his entities on paleozoic echinoids. Most famously the Elder Things which I think are a combination of blastoids and crinoids.
That looks darn good? I reated an object, which you can put together yourself, inspired by blastoids and crinoids.
#fossils #space #imaginary #inspired #fantasy
youtube.com/shorts/S5QuD...
#fossils #space #imaginary #inspired #fantasy
youtube.com/shorts/S5QuD...
Small creation inspired by blastoids. #steel #sculpture #art
YouTube video by Von Hauerland
youtube.com
April 16, 2025 at 6:14 PM
That looks darn good? I reated an object, which you can put together yourself, inspired by blastoids and crinoids.
#fossils #space #imaginary #inspired #fantasy
youtube.com/shorts/S5QuD...
#fossils #space #imaginary #inspired #fantasy
youtube.com/shorts/S5QuD...
New paper by the lab of Aydan Bulut-Karslioglu in collaboration with Nicolas Rivron (IMBA Vienna) now published in Cell! The team discovered that the mechanisms that control embryonic diapause also seem to be actionable in human stem cells and blastoids.
--> www.molgen.mpg.de/4770731
--> www.molgen.mpg.de/4770731
September 26, 2024 at 3:33 PM
New paper by the lab of Aydan Bulut-Karslioglu in collaboration with Nicolas Rivron (IMBA Vienna) now published in Cell! The team discovered that the mechanisms that control embryonic diapause also seem to be actionable in human stem cells and blastoids.
--> www.molgen.mpg.de/4770731
--> www.molgen.mpg.de/4770731
I had a great day fossil collecting with my kids and the Friends of UMMP. We were at a gated quarry containing Devonian Silica Shale. We always find lots of brachiopods. I found a couple nice pieces of placoderm (armored fish) and two rare Hyperoblastus blastoids. I've only found 8 in about 15 trips
September 24, 2023 at 8:54 PM
I had a great day fossil collecting with my kids and the Friends of UMMP. We were at a gated quarry containing Devonian Silica Shale. We always find lots of brachiopods. I found a couple nice pieces of placoderm (armored fish) and two rare Hyperoblastus blastoids. I've only found 8 in about 15 trips