Ed Hollox
@edhollox.bsky.social
Professor of Genetics at U of Leicester. Genome structural variation.
"Anyone with gumption and a sharp mind will take the measure of two things: what's said and what's done." Views my own.
"Anyone with gumption and a sharp mind will take the measure of two things: what's said and what's done." Views my own.
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Hey @erinbiba.bsky.social I hope this finds you
November 29, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Hey @erinbiba.bsky.social I hope this finds you
Reposted by Ed Hollox
"An old saying about such follies is that “six months in the lab can you save you an afternoon in the library”; here we may have wasted a trillion dollars and several years to rediscover what cognitive science already knew."
garymarcus.substack.com/p/a-trillion...
garymarcus.substack.com/p/a-trillion...
A trillion dollars is a terrible thing to waste
The machine learning community is finally waking up to the madness, but the detour of the last few years has been costly.
garymarcus.substack.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:41 AM
"An old saying about such follies is that “six months in the lab can you save you an afternoon in the library”; here we may have wasted a trillion dollars and several years to rediscover what cognitive science already knew."
garymarcus.substack.com/p/a-trillion...
garymarcus.substack.com/p/a-trillion...
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Taken together, CIRdb presents a valuable resource of exome-wide genetic variation in a population at the edge of Southwestern European genetic diversity. Check it out! www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Expanding CIRdb, a comprehensive catalog of whole-exome sequencing data of Canary Islanders
Within the intricate European genetic diversity landscape, Canary Islanders exhibit a unique genetic admixture, comprising European (EUR), North African (NAF), and sub-Saharan African (SSA) ancestries...
www.medrxiv.org
November 27, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Taken together, CIRdb presents a valuable resource of exome-wide genetic variation in a population at the edge of Southwestern European genetic diversity. Check it out! www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Ed Hollox
“Analysis of 87 ancient & modern cat genomes suggests that domestic cats did not spread to Europe with Neolithic farmers. Conversely, they were introduced to Europe around 2000 years ago, probably from North Africa....“ De Martino et al in @science.org. Ancient DNA + cats = science purrfection. 🧬🐱🧪
The dispersal of domestic cats from North Africa to Europe around 2000 years ago
The domestic cat (Felis catus) descends from the African wildcat Felis lybica lybica. Its global distribution alongside humans testifies to its successful adaptation to anthropogenic environments. Unc...
www.science.org
November 27, 2025 at 7:11 PM
“Analysis of 87 ancient & modern cat genomes suggests that domestic cats did not spread to Europe with Neolithic farmers. Conversely, they were introduced to Europe around 2000 years ago, probably from North Africa....“ De Martino et al in @science.org. Ancient DNA + cats = science purrfection. 🧬🐱🧪
My frymnbial has be playing up recently, doc. Like the proud rat, i find these so funny I just cannot be annoyed.
November 27, 2025 at 2:42 PM
My frymnbial has be playing up recently, doc. Like the proud rat, i find these so funny I just cannot be annoyed.
Can't beat a bit of old Shakey. Read it out, that change of pace (meter?) in the penultimate line.
For some reason had this popping unbidden into my thoughts this week, to the extent I had to look it up & obviously it's Shakespeare. I wonder if it was like this in his head all the time, an ongoing stream of uncanny verbal music
November 27, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Can't beat a bit of old Shakey. Read it out, that change of pace (meter?) in the penultimate line.
Reposted by Ed Hollox
anyway my favorite channel of late is the BBC Archive. they don't make lads like this anymore youtu.be/NKPApAsJbj4...
1979: Steeplejack FRED DIBNAH takes down a MASSIVE chimney BRICK by BRICK | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 3:04 PM
anyway my favorite channel of late is the BBC Archive. they don't make lads like this anymore youtu.be/NKPApAsJbj4...
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Amazing. Bypass model safeguards and get helpful responses about nukes, bioweapons, cyberattacks, etc., simply by putting the adversarial prompt in a poem.
Adversarial Poetry as a Universal Single-Turn Jailbreak Mechanism in Large Language Models arxiv.org/abs/2511.153...
Adversarial Poetry as a Universal Single-Turn Jailbreak Mechanism in Large Language Models arxiv.org/abs/2511.153...
November 21, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Amazing. Bypass model safeguards and get helpful responses about nukes, bioweapons, cyberattacks, etc., simply by putting the adversarial prompt in a poem.
Adversarial Poetry as a Universal Single-Turn Jailbreak Mechanism in Large Language Models arxiv.org/abs/2511.153...
Adversarial Poetry as a Universal Single-Turn Jailbreak Mechanism in Large Language Models arxiv.org/abs/2511.153...
Channelling its inner angry PE teacher, my lock screen now says "Have you completed your mandatory training? It's mandatory for a reason."
So in the latest passive-aggressive UKHE move, my work PC lock screen image is now a reminder of the "voluntary severance scheme" with associated QR code...
November 20, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Channelling its inner angry PE teacher, my lock screen now says "Have you completed your mandatory training? It's mandatory for a reason."
As a 10 year old who was beginning to REALLY LIKE chemistry, I thought this was amazing. Yes, I was that kid...
Just missed it, damn. The 40th anniversary of the discovery of buckminsterfullerene last Friday: www.nature.com/articles/318...
C60: Buckminsterfullerene - Nature
Before 1985, it was generally accepted that elemental carbon exists in two forms, or allotropes: diamond and graphite. Then, Kroto et al. identified the signature of a new, stable form of carbon that ...
www.nature.com
November 19, 2025 at 6:50 PM
As a 10 year old who was beginning to REALLY LIKE chemistry, I thought this was amazing. Yes, I was that kid...
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Confiscating jewellery from survivors of a war zone makes you look like a fucking Nazi. And the obscene thing is, that is the intention. It's there to look appropriately harsh. Indecent. Filthy. A moral stain. And no-one of good character would have ever proposed such a thing in the first place.
November 17, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Confiscating jewellery from survivors of a war zone makes you look like a fucking Nazi. And the obscene thing is, that is the intention. It's there to look appropriately harsh. Indecent. Filthy. A moral stain. And no-one of good character would have ever proposed such a thing in the first place.
Industrial action works. Well done colleagues at Nottingham. As for us, we carry on @leicesterucu.bsky.social
In response to our industrial action, the university proposed a resolution that removed the threat of compulsory redundancies for the next year and introduced a negotiation process over course closures. And at our branch meeting, we accepted this offer.
November 15, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Industrial action works. Well done colleagues at Nottingham. As for us, we carry on @leicesterucu.bsky.social
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Every university should renovate the disciplinary framework of its courses and ask whether it is responding to its global responsibilities. But no university should recognise any merit in withdrawing from the study of other languages, cultures & societies
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
The latest threat to UK modern languages is yet another faux pas
Nottingham and Leicester are taking a swing at language departments. But those proposing closures have taken their eye off the ball, say four linguists
www.timeshighereducation.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Every university should renovate the disciplinary framework of its courses and ask whether it is responding to its global responsibilities. But no university should recognise any merit in withdrawing from the study of other languages, cultures & societies
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/late...
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Pickets across the country. A march through Leicester.
Hundreds of jobs on the line.
We’re not standing by while the sector burns.
We will continue to fight.
Congrats to all involved for yesterday!
Hundreds of jobs on the line.
We’re not standing by while the sector burns.
We will continue to fight.
Congrats to all involved for yesterday!
November 13, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Pickets across the country. A march through Leicester.
Hundreds of jobs on the line.
We’re not standing by while the sector burns.
We will continue to fight.
Congrats to all involved for yesterday!
Hundreds of jobs on the line.
We’re not standing by while the sector burns.
We will continue to fight.
Congrats to all involved for yesterday!
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Come join us in beautiful Britanny, France in May 2026 for a workshop that I am organizing with @lucievirevolte.bsky.social and @psudmant.bsky.social on Rapid host adaptations to infections:
sites.google.com/berkeley.edu...
sites.google.com/berkeley.edu...
October 23, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Come join us in beautiful Britanny, France in May 2026 for a workshop that I am organizing with @lucievirevolte.bsky.social and @psudmant.bsky.social on Rapid host adaptations to infections:
sites.google.com/berkeley.edu...
sites.google.com/berkeley.edu...
Reposted by Ed Hollox
UCU (@ucu.org.uk) has called a national demonstration against the planned redundancies at the University of Leicester.
Please come and march alongside us in Leicester on 12 November.
All welcome!
Please come and march alongside us in Leicester on 12 November.
All welcome!
October 30, 2025 at 9:11 AM
UCU (@ucu.org.uk) has called a national demonstration against the planned redundancies at the University of Leicester.
Please come and march alongside us in Leicester on 12 November.
All welcome!
Please come and march alongside us in Leicester on 12 November.
All welcome!
Reposted by Ed Hollox
@leicesterchem.bsky.social dream team taking a stand ✊ Some of these fine minds are directly in the firing line! ☠️ 🪓 saveleicesteruni.com
November 12, 2025 at 11:43 AM
@leicesterchem.bsky.social dream team taking a stand ✊ Some of these fine minds are directly in the firing line! ☠️ 🪓 saveleicesteruni.com
Reposted by Ed Hollox
New PhD studentship opportunity in my lab & with collaborators from the Pinniped Genomes Consortium. Come help us unravel the genomics of seal physiological super powers! Closing date 7th January 2026 🧪🦭🧬🌍🦑🐳 #marine #mammals
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
The evolutionary genomics of life-history adaptations in pinnipeds - Yorkshire Environmental Sciences • Doctoral Training Network
Project summary Pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, fur seals and walrus) are keystone marine predators, and sentinels for marine ecosystem health. Advances in genomic technology open up the possibility to u...
yes-dtn.ac.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:23 AM
New PhD studentship opportunity in my lab & with collaborators from the Pinniped Genomes Consortium. Come help us unravel the genomics of seal physiological super powers! Closing date 7th January 2026 🧪🦭🧬🌍🦑🐳 #marine #mammals
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
#consgen #popgen #phylo #molevol #evolution
yes-dtn.ac.uk/research/the...
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Senior management at Lancaster University insist cuts of 1 in 4 jobs are “difficult but necessary”
This means “we messed up the finances & you’ll be paying for it”
www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/nationa...
This means “we messed up the finances & you’ll be paying for it”
www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/nationa...
Lancaster University industrial action begins Monday with 1 in 4 jobs set to be axed
Staff at Lancaster University will begin industrial action on Monday November 10 over management’s threat to axe one in four staff, the University and College Union (UCU) announced.
www.lancasterguardian.co.uk
November 10, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Senior management at Lancaster University insist cuts of 1 in 4 jobs are “difficult but necessary”
This means “we messed up the finances & you’ll be paying for it”
www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/nationa...
This means “we messed up the finances & you’ll be paying for it”
www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/nationa...
It is a deep loss to the East Midlands that it will be impossible to take a degree in any Modern Language in the region's universities. Nottingham and Leicester closing thier ML degree programmes. No planning, entire regions will be without key degrees, all institutions chasing the same students.
Excellent article here. Our students are our greatest advocates. Counter proposals will be put forward, and we are supporting colleagues in Music, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies at Nottingham with their campaigns www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
University of Nottingham students fight 'insane' cull of courses
Traitors composer Sam Watts is among those against plans to cut University of Nottingham courses.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 11:04 AM
It is a deep loss to the East Midlands that it will be impossible to take a degree in any Modern Language in the region's universities. Nottingham and Leicester closing thier ML degree programmes. No planning, entire regions will be without key degrees, all institutions chasing the same students.
Reposted by Ed Hollox
Okay, here are some first reflections on Watson.
Watson's life is a tragedy, really of Shakespearean proportions. He did not, as most bios will tell you, do one great thing when he was young and then collect laurels for it for the next 60 years. His career arc was unlike any in science.
Watson's life is a tragedy, really of Shakespearean proportions. He did not, as most bios will tell you, do one great thing when he was young and then collect laurels for it for the next 60 years. His career arc was unlike any in science.
November 8, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Okay, here are some first reflections on Watson.
Watson's life is a tragedy, really of Shakespearean proportions. He did not, as most bios will tell you, do one great thing when he was young and then collect laurels for it for the next 60 years. His career arc was unlike any in science.
Watson's life is a tragedy, really of Shakespearean proportions. He did not, as most bios will tell you, do one great thing when he was young and then collect laurels for it for the next 60 years. His career arc was unlike any in science.
Excellent response here, particularly how the restrictive post 16 system effectively limits choices to humanities OR sciences. Future scientists need training in the humanities.
Professor Ulrike Tillmann, Chair of the Royal Society Education Committee, responds to the Curriculum and Assessment Review 2025: royalsociety.org/news/2025/11...
Royal Society response to Curriculum and Assessment Review 2025 | Royal Society
Professor Ulrike Tillmann, Chair of the Royal Society Education Committee responds.
royalsociety.org
November 6, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Excellent response here, particularly how the restrictive post 16 system effectively limits choices to humanities OR sciences. Future scientists need training in the humanities.
Reposted by Ed Hollox
We have a 4 year fully-funded PhD opportunity to join our group @earlhaminst.bsky.social on an Eng Bio project: Engineering stable synthetic chromosomes. Jointly with the BioFoundry and @cgrandel.bsky.social. Read more about the project shorturl.at/GZMbB and about our research shorturl.at/HR6p5
November 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM
We have a 4 year fully-funded PhD opportunity to join our group @earlhaminst.bsky.social on an Eng Bio project: Engineering stable synthetic chromosomes. Jointly with the BioFoundry and @cgrandel.bsky.social. Read more about the project shorturl.at/GZMbB and about our research shorturl.at/HR6p5
Morning noon and night, damn ilku-duty. I have no time to observe the sun and moon, nor teach my students the scribal craft!
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 4, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Morning noon and night, damn ilku-duty. I have no time to observe the sun and moon, nor teach my students the scribal craft!