Cedric Feschotte
@cedricfeschotte.bsky.social
Prof at Cornell, #firstgen, immigrant 🇫🇷🇺🇸. Transposons, viruses, and all the cool stuff genomes are made of. https://www.feschottelab.com
Pinned
Gag proteins encoded by endogenous retroviruses are required for zebrafish development | PNAS
Transposable elements (TEs) make up the bulk of eukaryotic genomes and examples abound
of TE-derived sequences repurposed for organismal function. ...
www.pnas.org
💥🥳 At long last, our latest paper is out!
Gag proteins of endogenous retroviruses are required for zebrafish development
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Led heroically by Sylvia Chang & @jonowells.bsky.social
A study which has changed the way I think of #transposons! No less! 🧵 1/n
Gag proteins of endogenous retroviruses are required for zebrafish development
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Led heroically by Sylvia Chang & @jonowells.bsky.social
A study which has changed the way I think of #transposons! No less! 🧵 1/n
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
As we mourn Jane Goodall, this @nature.com article explores three ways in which she changed science:
1. Altering the way we view both other primates and ourselves
2. Inspiring generations of women scientists
3. Communicating science in a way that engaged the public
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
1. Altering the way we view both other primates and ourselves
2. Inspiring generations of women scientists
3. Communicating science in a way that engaged the public
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Jane Goodall’s legacy: three ways she changed science
The primatologist challenged what it meant to be a scientist.
www.nature.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:53 AM
As we mourn Jane Goodall, this @nature.com article explores three ways in which she changed science:
1. Altering the way we view both other primates and ourselves
2. Inspiring generations of women scientists
3. Communicating science in a way that engaged the public
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
1. Altering the way we view both other primates and ourselves
2. Inspiring generations of women scientists
3. Communicating science in a way that engaged the public
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
Out after peer review, collaborative study from Nordborg & Weigel labs with help from many others. Not the largest collection of new Arabidopsis thaliana genomes, but we hopefully put forward some good ideas for how to think about pangenomes and their analysis!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
August 20, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Out after peer review, collaborative study from Nordborg & Weigel labs with help from many others. Not the largest collection of new Arabidopsis thaliana genomes, but we hopefully put forward some good ideas for how to think about pangenomes and their analysis!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
Thrilled to share what we learned from re-annotating the mobilome of the brown algae model [Ectocarpus] 🌊🌿🏖️
genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
A wonderful collaboration with @ericadinatale.bsky.social, @cssmartinho.bsky.social, @rorycraig.bsky.social, and Susana Coelho! 🎉
genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
A wonderful collaboration with @ericadinatale.bsky.social, @cssmartinho.bsky.social, @rorycraig.bsky.social, and Susana Coelho! 🎉
October 2, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Thrilled to share what we learned from re-annotating the mobilome of the brown algae model [Ectocarpus] 🌊🌿🏖️
genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
A wonderful collaboration with @ericadinatale.bsky.social, @cssmartinho.bsky.social, @rorycraig.bsky.social, and Susana Coelho! 🎉
genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
A wonderful collaboration with @ericadinatale.bsky.social, @cssmartinho.bsky.social, @rorycraig.bsky.social, and Susana Coelho! 🎉
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
1/8 Our new paper w/ Drs. Caixia Gao & Gogo Liu groups reveals how #CRISPR-Cas12 systems evolved from transposon-encoded TnpB nucleases through RNA splitting by analyzing “TranC” systems (evolutionary intermediates bridging selfish elements and adaptive immunity). #Evolution
Now online! Functional RNA splitting drove the evolutionary emergence of type V CRISPR-Cas systems from transposons
Functional RNA splitting drove the evolutionary emergence of type V CRISPR-Cas systems from transposons
Identification of TranC systems reveals evolutionary intermediates bridging from transposon-encoded TnpBs and CRISPR-Cas12 effectors. Evolutionary, structural, and functional analyses show that RNA splitting into tracrRNA and crRNA was a pivotal step in the emergence of type V CRISPR systems.
dlvr.it
October 1, 2025 at 10:35 AM
1/8 Our new paper w/ Drs. Caixia Gao & Gogo Liu groups reveals how #CRISPR-Cas12 systems evolved from transposon-encoded TnpB nucleases through RNA splitting by analyzing “TranC” systems (evolutionary intermediates bridging selfish elements and adaptive immunity). #Evolution
Enchanted by the serene beauty of the Princeton campus and inspired by the creativity and generosity of the scientists I’ve met throughout this visit. Such a privilege to visit all these amazing places to present our science! Thanks Ricardo Mallarino for hosting me!
September 25, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Enchanted by the serene beauty of the Princeton campus and inspired by the creativity and generosity of the scientists I’ve met throughout this visit. Such a privilege to visit all these amazing places to present our science! Thanks Ricardo Mallarino for hosting me!
📣 Our department is hiring an Assistant Professor in Evolutionary Cell and Molecular Biology to join the @weillinstitute.bsky.social PLS spread the word!
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30607
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30607
Cornell University, Molecular Biology & Genetics
Job #AJO30607, WDR-00055221 Assistant Professor, Molecular Biology & Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, US
academicjobsonline.org
September 23, 2025 at 12:50 PM
📣 Our department is hiring an Assistant Professor in Evolutionary Cell and Molecular Biology to join the @weillinstitute.bsky.social PLS spread the word!
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30607
academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30607
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
Please re-post:
Interested in chromatin and its evolution? Good news! There's still time to join us in beautiful Catalonia (9-12 Dec) to discuss eukaryotic, bacterial, archaeal, and viral chromatin and how it all hangs together meetings.embo.org/event/24-evo...
Abstract deadline: 30 September
Interested in chromatin and its evolution? Good news! There's still time to join us in beautiful Catalonia (9-12 Dec) to discuss eukaryotic, bacterial, archaeal, and viral chromatin and how it all hangs together meetings.embo.org/event/24-evo...
Abstract deadline: 30 September
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
September 8, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Please re-post:
Interested in chromatin and its evolution? Good news! There's still time to join us in beautiful Catalonia (9-12 Dec) to discuss eukaryotic, bacterial, archaeal, and viral chromatin and how it all hangs together meetings.embo.org/event/24-evo...
Abstract deadline: 30 September
Interested in chromatin and its evolution? Good news! There's still time to join us in beautiful Catalonia (9-12 Dec) to discuss eukaryotic, bacterial, archaeal, and viral chromatin and how it all hangs together meetings.embo.org/event/24-evo...
Abstract deadline: 30 September
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
In these dark times, it comes as a rare pleasure to highlight @natanaels.bsky.social & @marcdemanuel.bsky.social's work on germline and somatic mutations in humans. 1/n
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Collateral mutagenesis funnels multiple sources of DNA damage into a ubiquitous mutational signature
Mutations reflect the net effects of myriad types of damage, replication errors, and repair mechanisms, and thus are expected to differ across cell types with distinct exposures to mutagens, division ...
www.biorxiv.org
September 2, 2025 at 11:44 AM
In these dark times, it comes as a rare pleasure to highlight @natanaels.bsky.social & @marcdemanuel.bsky.social's work on germline and somatic mutations in humans. 1/n
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Kathy Burns kicks off #MGEMBL25 in beautiful Woods Hole, MA. It’s the 5th iteration of this meeting on mobile genetic elements devotedly spearheaded by Irina Arkhipova. Grateful and excited to be back here!
August 28, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Kathy Burns kicks off #MGEMBL25 in beautiful Woods Hole, MA. It’s the 5th iteration of this meeting on mobile genetic elements devotedly spearheaded by Irina Arkhipova. Grateful and excited to be back here!
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
Our work "Aquarius helicase facilitates HIV-1 integration into R-loop enriched genomic regions" is out @natmicrobiol.nature.com, showing HIV-1 integration into R-loop genomic regions upon their resolution by cellular splicing helicase Aquarius (AQR) of the Intron Binding Complex (IBC)🧵.
August 20, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Our work "Aquarius helicase facilitates HIV-1 integration into R-loop enriched genomic regions" is out @natmicrobiol.nature.com, showing HIV-1 integration into R-loop genomic regions upon their resolution by cellular splicing helicase Aquarius (AQR) of the Intron Binding Complex (IBC)🧵.
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
#zebrafish genome update, our T2T assembly of the inbred strain of AB (M-AB) generated by my buddy Nori Sakai has now been released at NCBI and will be a second reference genome for zebrafish (GRCz12ab):
JBQAYU000000000.1 Danio rerio :: NCBI
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
August 15, 2025 at 4:17 PM
#zebrafish genome update, our T2T assembly of the inbred strain of AB (M-AB) generated by my buddy Nori Sakai has now been released at NCBI and will be a second reference genome for zebrafish (GRCz12ab):
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
1/ How do animals develop immunity against a newly encountered transposable element from scratch? Our study reveals that the mobility of TEs is their Achilles heel, allowing hosts to develop a powerful small RNA-mediated silencing response.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
August 14, 2025 at 5:09 PM
1/ How do animals develop immunity against a newly encountered transposable element from scratch? Our study reveals that the mobility of TEs is their Achilles heel, allowing hosts to develop a powerful small RNA-mediated silencing response.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
One of my all-time faves
Evolution is more like a tinkerer than an engineer. New things happen not by perfect engineering but by working with what's already available and repurposing existing objects through recombinations and modifications. This is a classic lesson for any kind of innovation, including that of new ideas..
August 13, 2025 at 2:37 AM
One of my all-time faves
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
Smart! A Raven doing Raven things.
August 12, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Smart! A Raven doing Raven things.
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
Wonderful (and humble) essay on mentorship by Brandon Gaut, on occasion of Brandon receiving the inaugural Mentorship Award of @genetics-gsa.bsky.social. I hope this will be widely read!
academic.oup.com/genetics/art...
academic.oup.com/genetics/art...
August 10, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Wonderful (and humble) essay on mentorship by Brandon Gaut, on occasion of Brandon receiving the inaugural Mentorship Award of @genetics-gsa.bsky.social. I hope this will be widely read!
academic.oup.com/genetics/art...
academic.oup.com/genetics/art...
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
My team has updated our free database of POSTDOC fellowships.
This database contains 286 entries. For each entry, we provide a link, short description, deadline, amount, and eligibility criteria.
Download this updated and expanded database here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
This database contains 286 entries. For each entry, we provide a link, short description, deadline, amount, and eligibility criteria.
Download this updated and expanded database here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
August 10, 2025 at 7:50 PM
My team has updated our free database of POSTDOC fellowships.
This database contains 286 entries. For each entry, we provide a link, short description, deadline, amount, and eligibility criteria.
Download this updated and expanded database here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
This database contains 286 entries. For each entry, we provide a link, short description, deadline, amount, and eligibility criteria.
Download this updated and expanded database here: research.jhu.edu/rdt/funding-...
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
We’re looking for curious, innovative science leaders at EMBL Heidelberg! 🔬🧬🦠
Join a vibrant, interdisciplinary community where collaboration and innovation are nurtured at all levels.
Take a look at these four open positions 👇
Join a vibrant, interdisciplinary community where collaboration and innovation are nurtured at all levels.
Take a look at these four open positions 👇
August 7, 2025 at 8:28 AM
We’re looking for curious, innovative science leaders at EMBL Heidelberg! 🔬🧬🦠
Join a vibrant, interdisciplinary community where collaboration and innovation are nurtured at all levels.
Take a look at these four open positions 👇
Join a vibrant, interdisciplinary community where collaboration and innovation are nurtured at all levels.
Take a look at these four open positions 👇
🥳 CONGRATS 🍾 Dr. Satyam Srivastav who defended brilliantly his PhD thesis: “Function and Evolution of the PIWI-piRNA
Pathway: Insights from Fish and Flies”. Andy Clark & I are proud of you @kerogens101.bsky.social & can’t wait to see what u discover next as a postdoc with @marymullins.bsky.social!
Pathway: Insights from Fish and Flies”. Andy Clark & I are proud of you @kerogens101.bsky.social & can’t wait to see what u discover next as a postdoc with @marymullins.bsky.social!
August 6, 2025 at 9:17 PM
🥳 CONGRATS 🍾 Dr. Satyam Srivastav who defended brilliantly his PhD thesis: “Function and Evolution of the PIWI-piRNA
Pathway: Insights from Fish and Flies”. Andy Clark & I are proud of you @kerogens101.bsky.social & can’t wait to see what u discover next as a postdoc with @marymullins.bsky.social!
Pathway: Insights from Fish and Flies”. Andy Clark & I are proud of you @kerogens101.bsky.social & can’t wait to see what u discover next as a postdoc with @marymullins.bsky.social!
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
Release from HHS: HHS will wind down its development of the mRNA vaccine development activities under the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).
August 5, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Every reputable expert I know considers mRNA vaccine technology to be one of the most revolutionary advances in medicine in our lifetimes. Its inventors won the Nobel Prize in 2023. Shutting it down now is pointless self-harm to humanity.
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
To have this paper appear the same day that RFK Jr is canceling all mRNA vaccine funding is further indication that irony is not dead, even though we might all be soon.
August 6, 2025 at 12:35 AM
To have this paper appear the same day that RFK Jr is canceling all mRNA vaccine funding is further indication that irony is not dead, even though we might all be soon.
Looking forward to this new installment of the Woods Hole Mobile DNA Meeting! Fantastic program, laid-back atmosphere, and gorgeous setting at the Marine Biological Laboratory ⛵️🪼🐋
Abstract submission closes Aug 7 but registration after that date is possible. www.eventsquid.com/event.cfm?ev...
Abstract submission closes Aug 7 but registration after that date is possible. www.eventsquid.com/event.cfm?ev...
August 5, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Looking forward to this new installment of the Woods Hole Mobile DNA Meeting! Fantastic program, laid-back atmosphere, and gorgeous setting at the Marine Biological Laboratory ⛵️🪼🐋
Abstract submission closes Aug 7 but registration after that date is possible. www.eventsquid.com/event.cfm?ev...
Abstract submission closes Aug 7 but registration after that date is possible. www.eventsquid.com/event.cfm?ev...
Last day of sabbatical in 🇨🇭🥹… What an amazing experience! 💯🙏 to Trono lab & EPFL for welcoming me so warmly & fostering a bounty of stimulating interactions all year long. Feeling immensely privileged, deeply inspired, and eternally grateful! 💫
July 30, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Last day of sabbatical in 🇨🇭🥹… What an amazing experience! 💯🙏 to Trono lab & EPFL for welcoming me so warmly & fostering a bounty of stimulating interactions all year long. Feeling immensely privileged, deeply inspired, and eternally grateful! 💫
Me not wanting to let go of my sabbatical in 🇨🇭🥲
This is an uninterrupted minute of Maruay the rescued tiger with his beloved ball..🥰😇 #bluesky
July 25, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Me not wanting to let go of my sabbatical in 🇨🇭🥲
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
Exactly two weeks left to submit your abstract to the EMBO Mobile Genome Workshop.
☝️this year we will select from abstracts 2 “long” talks to highlight last minute breakthrough from early career scientists. Apply! July 29th
☝️this year we will select from abstracts 2 “long” talks to highlight last minute breakthrough from early career scientists. Apply! July 29th
⏰ Abstract deadline for 'The mobile genome' is 29 July!
👉 https://s.embl.org/mge25-01-bl
Join us 4–7 Nov 2025 at EMBL Heidelberg (or online) to explore the impact of TEs across biology. 🧬🔍
⭐🧑🏼🔬 24 talks + 15 flash talks from posters – don't miss out!
#EMBOMobileGenome
👉 https://s.embl.org/mge25-01-bl
Join us 4–7 Nov 2025 at EMBL Heidelberg (or online) to explore the impact of TEs across biology. 🧬🔍
⭐🧑🏼🔬 24 talks + 15 flash talks from posters – don't miss out!
#EMBOMobileGenome
July 15, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Exactly two weeks left to submit your abstract to the EMBO Mobile Genome Workshop.
☝️this year we will select from abstracts 2 “long” talks to highlight last minute breakthrough from early career scientists. Apply! July 29th
☝️this year we will select from abstracts 2 “long” talks to highlight last minute breakthrough from early career scientists. Apply! July 29th
Reposted by Cedric Feschotte
A little late to share, but still thrilled 🤗!
What started as two independent stories, one in Clermont-Ferrand (@igred.fr) and one in Cambridge (Hannon’s group @cruk-mi.bsky.social ), turned into a joint adventure to decode how Rhino picks its favorite piRNA clusters.
When forces unite…
👇👇👇
What started as two independent stories, one in Clermont-Ferrand (@igred.fr) and one in Cambridge (Hannon’s group @cruk-mi.bsky.social ), turned into a joint adventure to decode how Rhino picks its favorite piRNA clusters.
When forces unite…
👇👇👇
New online: Binding of heterochromatin protein Rhino to a subset of piRNA clusters depends on a combination of two histone marks
Binding of heterochromatin protein Rhino to a subset of piRNA clusters depends on a combination of two histone marks
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 17 June 2025; doi:10.1038/s41594-025-01584-8The authors reveal that, in fruit fly ovaries, the protein Rhino is guided to specific regions of the genome by a combination of two histone modifications, enhancing understanding of how cells protect their DNA from harmful virus-like elements.
go.nature.com
July 2, 2025 at 3:09 PM
A little late to share, but still thrilled 🤗!
What started as two independent stories, one in Clermont-Ferrand (@igred.fr) and one in Cambridge (Hannon’s group @cruk-mi.bsky.social ), turned into a joint adventure to decode how Rhino picks its favorite piRNA clusters.
When forces unite…
👇👇👇
What started as two independent stories, one in Clermont-Ferrand (@igred.fr) and one in Cambridge (Hannon’s group @cruk-mi.bsky.social ), turned into a joint adventure to decode how Rhino picks its favorite piRNA clusters.
When forces unite…
👇👇👇