James Lloyd 🧬
@jamespblloyd.bsky.social
Synthetic AstroBotatnist. Engineer of synthetic gene circuits in plants. 🇬🇧🇪🇺 now in 🇦🇺. He/They.
Google Scholar: http://shorturl.at/dnHVZ
Compbio blog: badgrammargoodsyntax.com
Google Scholar: http://shorturl.at/dnHVZ
Compbio blog: badgrammargoodsyntax.com
Pinned
CREation of an expanded plant memory gene circuit toolkit
Genetic circuits rely on modular, well-characterized genetic parts to achieve predictable cellular behaviour. Despite their widespread adoption, biological parts are complex and when used in a new mol...
www.biorxiv.org
I am delighted to share our latest work on memory gene circuits for plants. This work was led by the phenomenal PhD student @patrickgong.bsky.social
A lot of debugging & highlights how even simple components in synthetic biology can have unexpected properties.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A lot of debugging & highlights how even simple components in synthetic biology can have unexpected properties.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
TEs aren’t just genomic parasites, they’re also engines of genomic novelty.
Our new study with ~2,000 Z. tritici genomes shows repeated TE mobilization waves during global expansion.
With @danielcroll.bsky.social & @guidopuccetti.bsky.social
🧬 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#TEworldwide
Our new study with ~2,000 Z. tritici genomes shows repeated TE mobilization waves during global expansion.
With @danielcroll.bsky.social & @guidopuccetti.bsky.social
🧬 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#TEworldwide
Historic transposon mobilisation waves create distinct pools of adaptive variants in a major crop pathogen - Nature Communications
In this study, the authors analysed a large genomic dataset to trace how jumping genes shaped the global spread of a major wheat pathogen and reveal bursts of activity over decades that drove adaptati...
www.nature.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:17 PM
TEs aren’t just genomic parasites, they’re also engines of genomic novelty.
Our new study with ~2,000 Z. tritici genomes shows repeated TE mobilization waves during global expansion.
With @danielcroll.bsky.social & @guidopuccetti.bsky.social
🧬 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#TEworldwide
Our new study with ~2,000 Z. tritici genomes shows repeated TE mobilization waves during global expansion.
With @danielcroll.bsky.social & @guidopuccetti.bsky.social
🧬 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#TEworldwide
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
Gene expression divergence following gene and genome duplications in spatially resolved plant transcriptomes (Fabricio Almeida-Silva, Yves Van de Peer) doi.org/10.1093/plce... #PlantScience @aspbofficial
Gene expression divergence following gene and genome duplications in spatially resolved plant transcriptomes
After gene and genome duplications, expression divergence across cell types is not random, and it can be explained by a combination of gene age, gene funct
doi.org
November 12, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Gene expression divergence following gene and genome duplications in spatially resolved plant transcriptomes (Fabricio Almeida-Silva, Yves Van de Peer) doi.org/10.1093/plce... #PlantScience @aspbofficial
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
I am delighted to share our latest work on memory gene circuits for plants. This work was led by the phenomenal PhD student @patrickgong.bsky.social
A lot of debugging & highlights how even simple components in synthetic biology can have unexpected properties.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A lot of debugging & highlights how even simple components in synthetic biology can have unexpected properties.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
CREation of an expanded plant memory gene circuit toolkit
Genetic circuits rely on modular, well-characterized genetic parts to achieve predictable cellular behaviour. Despite their widespread adoption, biological parts are complex and when used in a new mol...
www.biorxiv.org
October 31, 2025 at 9:24 AM
I am delighted to share our latest work on memory gene circuits for plants. This work was led by the phenomenal PhD student @patrickgong.bsky.social
A lot of debugging & highlights how even simple components in synthetic biology can have unexpected properties.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A lot of debugging & highlights how even simple components in synthetic biology can have unexpected properties.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Such a cool pre-print on making sentinel plants - so much potential!
Bioluminescent sentinel plants enable autonomous diagnostics of viral infections
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Bioluminescent sentinel plants enable autonomous diagnostics of viral infections
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Bioluminescent sentinel plants enable autonomous diagnostics of viral infections
Plants engineered with synthetic genetic programs can transform how we monitor and manage the extension of crop pests and diseases. Here, we establish a bioluminescent platform in Nicotiana benthamian...
www.biorxiv.org
November 12, 2025 at 3:55 AM
Such a cool pre-print on making sentinel plants - so much potential!
Bioluminescent sentinel plants enable autonomous diagnostics of viral infections
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Bioluminescent sentinel plants enable autonomous diagnostics of viral infections
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
Powerful read processing with matchbox https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.09.685711v1
November 11, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Powerful read processing with matchbox https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.09.685711v1
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
Strigolactone perception and nutrient responses
#TansleyInsight by Hu et al.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#plantscience
#TansleyInsight by Hu et al.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#plantscience
November 11, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Strigolactone perception and nutrient responses
#TansleyInsight by Hu et al.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#plantscience
#TansleyInsight by Hu et al.
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#plantscience
The podcast version of my Raising the Bar talk is now online. If you are interested in "Cosmic Crops" or my work on genetic engineering of plants, please give it a listen (I have not listened to it, I hate listening to myself, so hopefully it is good, but no promises).
soundcloud.com/raising-the-...
soundcloud.com/raising-the-...
November 10, 2025 at 5:31 AM
The podcast version of my Raising the Bar talk is now online. If you are interested in "Cosmic Crops" or my work on genetic engineering of plants, please give it a listen (I have not listened to it, I hate listening to myself, so hopefully it is good, but no promises).
soundcloud.com/raising-the-...
soundcloud.com/raising-the-...
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
🌿🍄🟫🌱🍄We’re recruiting!!🌿🍄🟫🌱🍄
I’m looking for two postdocs and a technician to join my group @sheffielduni.bsky.social @sheffieldpps.bsky.social to work with me on my exciting @royalsociety.org Faraday Discovery Fellowship project, details for each post as follows:
I’m looking for two postdocs and a technician to join my group @sheffielduni.bsky.social @sheffieldpps.bsky.social to work with me on my exciting @royalsociety.org Faraday Discovery Fellowship project, details for each post as follows:
November 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM
🌿🍄🟫🌱🍄We’re recruiting!!🌿🍄🟫🌱🍄
I’m looking for two postdocs and a technician to join my group @sheffielduni.bsky.social @sheffieldpps.bsky.social to work with me on my exciting @royalsociety.org Faraday Discovery Fellowship project, details for each post as follows:
I’m looking for two postdocs and a technician to join my group @sheffielduni.bsky.social @sheffieldpps.bsky.social to work with me on my exciting @royalsociety.org Faraday Discovery Fellowship project, details for each post as follows:
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
A new method for the precise insertion of large DNA sequences into the genome using engineered recombinases that don’t require DNA cutting or rely on the cell’s repair machinery.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Site-specific DNA insertion into the human genome with engineered recombinases - Nature Biotechnology
Engineered DNA recombinases efficiently and specifically insert genetic cargos without the use of landing pads.
www.nature.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:30 PM
A new method for the precise insertion of large DNA sequences into the genome using engineered recombinases that don’t require DNA cutting or rely on the cell’s repair machinery.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
Fusing transcription factors (TFs) to intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), to drive the formation of transcriptional condensates that concentrate TFs at their target promoters.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Phase separation to buffer growth-mediated dilution in synthetic circuits
Fluctuations in host cell growth pose a critical challenge for maintaining reliable function in synthetic gene circuits. Growth-mediated dilution caus…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Fusing transcription factors (TFs) to intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), to drive the formation of transcriptional condensates that concentrate TFs at their target promoters.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
PhD opportunity in plant developmental biology for UK based students of Black heritage!
How do they know when to grow up? Join us at the University of Bristol to find out.
Application deadline Jan 6th
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
#PlantSciencePhDs @blackinplantsci.bsky.social
How do they know when to grow up? Join us at the University of Bristol to find out.
Application deadline Jan 6th
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
#PlantSciencePhDs @blackinplantsci.bsky.social
November 7, 2025 at 10:37 AM
PhD opportunity in plant developmental biology for UK based students of Black heritage!
How do they know when to grow up? Join us at the University of Bristol to find out.
Application deadline Jan 6th
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
#PlantSciencePhDs @blackinplantsci.bsky.social
How do they know when to grow up? Join us at the University of Bristol to find out.
Application deadline Jan 6th
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
#PlantSciencePhDs @blackinplantsci.bsky.social
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
Rewiring protein function through genetically encoded oxidative chemistry https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.06.686050v1
November 7, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Rewiring protein function through genetically encoded oxidative chemistry https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.06.686050v1
Big update: My the first Lloyd Lab conceived and conducted study has been accepted and published:
Start Right to End Right: Authentic Open Reading Frame Selection Matters for Nonsense-Mediated Decay Target Identification
www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16...
Now larger and better than the pre-print
Start Right to End Right: Authentic Open Reading Frame Selection Matters for Nonsense-Mediated Decay Target Identification
www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16...
Now larger and better than the pre-print
www.mdpi.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Big update: My the first Lloyd Lab conceived and conducted study has been accepted and published:
Start Right to End Right: Authentic Open Reading Frame Selection Matters for Nonsense-Mediated Decay Target Identification
www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16...
Now larger and better than the pre-print
Start Right to End Right: Authentic Open Reading Frame Selection Matters for Nonsense-Mediated Decay Target Identification
www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/16...
Now larger and better than the pre-print
I am delighted to share our latest work on memory gene circuits for plants. This work was led by the phenomenal PhD student @patrickgong.bsky.social
A lot of debugging & highlights how even simple components in synthetic biology can have unexpected properties.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A lot of debugging & highlights how even simple components in synthetic biology can have unexpected properties.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
CREation of an expanded plant memory gene circuit toolkit
Genetic circuits rely on modular, well-characterized genetic parts to achieve predictable cellular behaviour. Despite their widespread adoption, biological parts are complex and when used in a new mol...
www.biorxiv.org
October 31, 2025 at 9:24 AM
I am delighted to share our latest work on memory gene circuits for plants. This work was led by the phenomenal PhD student @patrickgong.bsky.social
A lot of debugging & highlights how even simple components in synthetic biology can have unexpected properties.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
A lot of debugging & highlights how even simple components in synthetic biology can have unexpected properties.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
Really cool work by the @dodonova-sveta.bsky.social lab @embl.org www.cell.com/molecular-ce... #archea #evochromo
Cryo-EM reveals open and closed Asgard chromatin assemblies
Ranawat et al. show the cryo-EM structures of Asgard archaeal chromatin assemblies,
revealing that the histone HHoB assembles into both compact closed and extended open
hypernucleosomes. The closed co...
www.cell.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Really cool work by the @dodonova-sveta.bsky.social lab @embl.org www.cell.com/molecular-ce... #archea #evochromo
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
Python was awarded a funding grant, funding grant asked Python foundation to remove all diversity and inclusion initiatives they have.
Python foundation said no and rejected the grant.
If you use Python, send a few dollars to the charity to keep it going. I’m pushing a dono on behalf of ScamGuard.
Python foundation said no and rejected the grant.
If you use Python, send a few dollars to the charity to keep it going. I’m pushing a dono on behalf of ScamGuard.
Please read our statement, share it with your networks, and support us if you can. www.python.org/sponsors/app... psfmember.org/civicrm/cont...
October 27, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Python was awarded a funding grant, funding grant asked Python foundation to remove all diversity and inclusion initiatives they have.
Python foundation said no and rejected the grant.
If you use Python, send a few dollars to the charity to keep it going. I’m pushing a dono on behalf of ScamGuard.
Python foundation said no and rejected the grant.
If you use Python, send a few dollars to the charity to keep it going. I’m pushing a dono on behalf of ScamGuard.
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
Any good quality genomes (long reads, chromosome scale) in the Crassula genus? #PlantScience
October 25, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Any good quality genomes (long reads, chromosome scale) in the Crassula genus? #PlantScience
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
Finally read the paper and it's worth the buzz.
mRNA vaccines saved 20 million lives in a global pandemic and the technology is opening up new avenues for the treatment of deadly cancers. This is really one of the most impactful scientific developments of our time.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
mRNA vaccines saved 20 million lives in a global pandemic and the technology is opening up new avenues for the treatment of deadly cancers. This is really one of the most impactful scientific developments of our time.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint blockade - Nature
mRNA vaccines targeting SARS-CoV-2 also sensitize tumours to immune checkpoint inhibitors.
www.nature.com
October 25, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Finally read the paper and it's worth the buzz.
mRNA vaccines saved 20 million lives in a global pandemic and the technology is opening up new avenues for the treatment of deadly cancers. This is really one of the most impactful scientific developments of our time.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
mRNA vaccines saved 20 million lives in a global pandemic and the technology is opening up new avenues for the treatment of deadly cancers. This is really one of the most impactful scientific developments of our time.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
Thrilled to share our work on transcription initiation and termination being spatially coordinated out today in Science! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
mRNA initiation and termination are spatially coordinated
Transcriptional initiation and termination decisions drive messenger RNA (mRNA) isoform diversity but the relationship between them remains poorly understood. By systematically profiling joint usage o...
www.science.org
October 10, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Thrilled to share our work on transcription initiation and termination being spatially coordinated out today in Science! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
On Wednesday the student got to whole genome sequence their isolates on the exploratory laboratory course (studies.helsinki.fi/courses/cour...).
Next weeks we will analyse the data and try to assemble as many complete genomes as possible. Thanks @nanoporetech.com for the support.
Next weeks we will analyse the data and try to assemble as many complete genomes as possible. Thanks @nanoporetech.com for the support.
October 24, 2025 at 7:16 AM
On Wednesday the student got to whole genome sequence their isolates on the exploratory laboratory course (studies.helsinki.fi/courses/cour...).
Next weeks we will analyse the data and try to assemble as many complete genomes as possible. Thanks @nanoporetech.com for the support.
Next weeks we will analyse the data and try to assemble as many complete genomes as possible. Thanks @nanoporetech.com for the support.
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
Beautiful! Here's some winter PNW moss. #blueskymossfotos
October 24, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Beautiful! Here's some winter PNW moss. #blueskymossfotos
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
#PhD Position: Interested in the evolutionary and ecological impacts of whole genome duplication?
Join Dr. Tia-Lynn Ashman @drtialynn.bsky.social
and I at the U. of Pittsburgh, to test what drives the competitive outcomes between diploids and #polyploids
Details: shorturl.at/nQ8UW
Join Dr. Tia-Lynn Ashman @drtialynn.bsky.social
and I at the U. of Pittsburgh, to test what drives the competitive outcomes between diploids and #polyploids
Details: shorturl.at/nQ8UW
October 20, 2025 at 4:17 PM
#PhD Position: Interested in the evolutionary and ecological impacts of whole genome duplication?
Join Dr. Tia-Lynn Ashman @drtialynn.bsky.social
and I at the U. of Pittsburgh, to test what drives the competitive outcomes between diploids and #polyploids
Details: shorturl.at/nQ8UW
Join Dr. Tia-Lynn Ashman @drtialynn.bsky.social
and I at the U. of Pittsburgh, to test what drives the competitive outcomes between diploids and #polyploids
Details: shorturl.at/nQ8UW
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
Here's the details for Elisabeth Bik's talk in Auckland www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/dr-elisabe... [sign-up required, but it's free]
Monday Nov 3 on the Grafton campus (505-007). A workshop follows the talk
Monday Nov 3 on the Grafton campus (505-007). A workshop follows the talk
October 22, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Here's the details for Elisabeth Bik's talk in Auckland www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/dr-elisabe... [sign-up required, but it's free]
Monday Nov 3 on the Grafton campus (505-007). A workshop follows the talk
Monday Nov 3 on the Grafton campus (505-007). A workshop follows the talk
Reposted by James Lloyd 🧬
Phylogenetic and biochemical analyses show a diversity of components of the DNA replication machinery in different Asgard archaea that contributed to eukaryotic DNA replication machinery. 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Serial innovations by Asgard archaea shaped the DNA replication machinery of the early eukaryotic ancestor - Nature Ecology & Evolution
Phylogenetic and biochemical analyses show a diversity of components of the DNA replication machinery in different Asgard archaea that contributed to the eukaryotic DNA replication machinery.
www.nature.com
October 22, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Phylogenetic and biochemical analyses show a diversity of components of the DNA replication machinery in different Asgard archaea that contributed to eukaryotic DNA replication machinery. 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...