Kirsty Wan
@micromotility.bsky.social
Cilia and cell motility enthusiast, basal cognition, weird organisms esp protists and larvae, how do living systems compute?
Professor of Cellular & Biophysical Dynamics, Living Systems Institute, Exeter (past: DAMTP, Cambridge)
www.micromotility.com
Professor of Cellular & Biophysical Dynamics, Living Systems Institute, Exeter (past: DAMTP, Cambridge)
www.micromotility.com
Pinned
Kirsty Wan
@micromotility.bsky.social
· Jul 14
Multi-million project to ‘crack the code’ of cilia – tiny structures with big impact on human health
An international team of researchers, led by the University of Exeter, have been awarded a Wellcome Discovery Award grant of almost £5 million to investigate one of the body’s most fascinating microsc...
news.exeter.ac.uk
Excited to share that we have received significant funding from the @wellcometrust.bsky.social for a new interdisciplinary consortium project on #cilia coordination and function across scales and organisms! 🎉🥂@lsiexeter.bsky.social
news.exeter.ac.uk/living-syste...
news.exeter.ac.uk/living-syste...
Congrats again Alexander! (Not on bluesky) You can read about some of his work here in our preprint doi.org/10.1101/2025... , with more to come! 🎉😏 #protistsonsky
November 25, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Congrats again Alexander! (Not on bluesky) You can read about some of his work here in our preprint doi.org/10.1101/2025... , with more to come! 🎉😏 #protistsonsky
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
📢 Paper alert 📢
Chirality is known to be important for the movement of microorganisms and active matter. In our new paper out today in @natphys.nature.com, we show that chirality is used by malaria parasites to control their motion patterns:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Here comes a 🧵 ... (1/9)
Chirality is known to be important for the movement of microorganisms and active matter. In our new paper out today in @natphys.nature.com, we show that chirality is used by malaria parasites to control their motion patterns:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Here comes a 🧵 ... (1/9)
November 24, 2025 at 5:50 PM
📢 Paper alert 📢
Chirality is known to be important for the movement of microorganisms and active matter. In our new paper out today in @natphys.nature.com, we show that chirality is used by malaria parasites to control their motion patterns:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Here comes a 🧵 ... (1/9)
Chirality is known to be important for the movement of microorganisms and active matter. In our new paper out today in @natphys.nature.com, we show that chirality is used by malaria parasites to control their motion patterns:
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Here comes a 🧵 ... (1/9)
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
So happy to announce our new preprint, “A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes.” We cultured a novel amoeba from Lassen Volcanic NP (CA, USA) that divides at 63°C (145°F) 🔥 - a new record for euk growth!
#protistsonsky 🧵
#protistsonsky 🧵
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
So happy to announce our new preprint, “A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes.” We cultured a novel amoeba from Lassen Volcanic NP (CA, USA) that divides at 63°C (145°F) 🔥 - a new record for euk growth!
#protistsonsky 🧵
#protistsonsky 🧵
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
In a new study, @yale.edu's Shane Elliott, Paul Ready, and the
@davidbreslowlab.bsky.social identified 2 genes🧬that control how cells assemble & dismantle cilia—pointing to new strategies for treating diseases linked to ciliary breakdown!
Read More Here👇
news.yale.edu/2025/10/29/n...
@davidbreslowlab.bsky.social identified 2 genes🧬that control how cells assemble & dismantle cilia—pointing to new strategies for treating diseases linked to ciliary breakdown!
Read More Here👇
news.yale.edu/2025/10/29/n...
New insight into how cilia on cell surfaces break down
In a new study, Yale researchers identified a pathway that allows cells to “disassemble” their cilia before division — and found a possible connection to a neurological disorder.
news.yale.edu
November 17, 2025 at 5:48 PM
In a new study, @yale.edu's Shane Elliott, Paul Ready, and the
@davidbreslowlab.bsky.social identified 2 genes🧬that control how cells assemble & dismantle cilia—pointing to new strategies for treating diseases linked to ciliary breakdown!
Read More Here👇
news.yale.edu/2025/10/29/n...
@davidbreslowlab.bsky.social identified 2 genes🧬that control how cells assemble & dismantle cilia—pointing to new strategies for treating diseases linked to ciliary breakdown!
Read More Here👇
news.yale.edu/2025/10/29/n...
now i've seen everything... 😱
don't care what anybody says but #protists are cognitive
don't care what anybody says but #protists are cognitive
Cellular structure self-organizes through an interplay between internal mechanisms and external cues. The single-celled suctorian P. collini builds a trap structure to capture large prey using microtubule feeding tentacles, creating feedback between cell morphology and prey availability.
November 19, 2025 at 1:46 PM
now i've seen everything... 😱
don't care what anybody says but #protists are cognitive
don't care what anybody says but #protists are cognitive
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
SWBio PhD studentships available- join my lab to investigate phage structure with @btemperton.bsky.social tinyurl.com/ytdft9bj
tinyurl.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:58 AM
SWBio PhD studentships available- join my lab to investigate phage structure with @btemperton.bsky.social tinyurl.com/ytdft9bj
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
An Asgard archaeon with internal membrane compartments
Brilliant study led by @fmacleod.bsky.social and Andriko von Kügelgen. Tight collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and lab. Congrats to all authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Brilliant study led by @fmacleod.bsky.social and Andriko von Kügelgen. Tight collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and lab. Congrats to all authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 7, 2025 at 10:44 AM
An Asgard archaeon with internal membrane compartments
Brilliant study led by @fmacleod.bsky.social and Andriko von Kügelgen. Tight collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and lab. Congrats to all authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Brilliant study led by @fmacleod.bsky.social and Andriko von Kügelgen. Tight collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and lab. Congrats to all authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
Very excited to share this one! Our comprehensive structure, genetics and biophysics dissection of which flagellar dyneins and other proteins are needed for flagella to beat and drive cells swimming behaviours: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 8, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Very excited to share this one! Our comprehensive structure, genetics and biophysics dissection of which flagellar dyneins and other proteins are needed for flagella to beat and drive cells swimming behaviours: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
interested in mechanobiology and physics of living systems? this is the conference for you! Join us 9-12 June in Heidelberg! with @nicolettapetridou.bsky.social @xaviertrepat.bsky.social Enrique Rojas & Alba Diz-Munoz
Registration OPEN
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
Registration OPEN
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
November 6, 2025 at 11:50 AM
interested in mechanobiology and physics of living systems? this is the conference for you! Join us 9-12 June in Heidelberg! with @nicolettapetridou.bsky.social @xaviertrepat.bsky.social Enrique Rojas & Alba Diz-Munoz
Registration OPEN
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
Registration OPEN
www.embl.org/about/info/c...
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
Our special issue on ‘Cilia and Flagella’ is now out! Huge thanks to all (authors + reviewers) who contributed, and to our wonderful Guest Editors (@cilialab.bsky.social + @lottepedersen.bsky.social) for pulling it together.
Happy reading!
#cilia #flagella
journals.biologists.com/jcs/issue/13...
Happy reading!
#cilia #flagella
journals.biologists.com/jcs/issue/13...
Volume 138 Issue 20 | Journal of Cell Science | The Company of Biologists
Journal of Cell Science publishes cutting-edge science encompassing all aspects of cell biology. It is published by The Company of Biologists, a not-for-profit organisation.
journals.biologists.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Our special issue on ‘Cilia and Flagella’ is now out! Huge thanks to all (authors + reviewers) who contributed, and to our wonderful Guest Editors (@cilialab.bsky.social + @lottepedersen.bsky.social) for pulling it together.
Happy reading!
#cilia #flagella
journals.biologists.com/jcs/issue/13...
Happy reading!
#cilia #flagella
journals.biologists.com/jcs/issue/13...
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
In May 2024 we had a great workshop on chemotaxis in the MPI PKS in Dresden! The social impressions are in the picture below, and the scientific discussions are summarised in Angewandte Chemie lnkd.in/d6ymRhGK
What a nice way to remember!
What a nice way to remember!
October 29, 2025 at 11:24 AM
In May 2024 we had a great workshop on chemotaxis in the MPI PKS in Dresden! The social impressions are in the picture below, and the scientific discussions are summarised in Angewandte Chemie lnkd.in/d6ymRhGK
What a nice way to remember!
What a nice way to remember!
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
First neurons didn’t appear overnight. We trace their roots to ancient secretory cells - showing how lifestyle & behavior shaped the evolution of first synapses.🧠🌊 #Evolution #Neuroscience
Our latest in @natrevneuro.nature.com
Link: rdcu.be/eMX3E
@jeffcolgren.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social
Our latest in @natrevneuro.nature.com
Link: rdcu.be/eMX3E
@jeffcolgren.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social
The evolutionary origins of synaptic proteins and their changing roles in different organisms across evolution
Nature Reviews Neuroscience - Recent studies have shed further light on the evolutionary origins of chemical synapses, In this Review, Colgren and Burkhardt explore how ancient proteins were...
rdcu.be
October 27, 2025 at 6:48 PM
First neurons didn’t appear overnight. We trace their roots to ancient secretory cells - showing how lifestyle & behavior shaped the evolution of first synapses.🧠🌊 #Evolution #Neuroscience
Our latest in @natrevneuro.nature.com
Link: rdcu.be/eMX3E
@jeffcolgren.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social
Our latest in @natrevneuro.nature.com
Link: rdcu.be/eMX3E
@jeffcolgren.bsky.social @msarscentre.bsky.social
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
Are you looking for a PhD starting in September 2026/27? Then do not miss the fantastic opportunity to be part of the LSI PhD Community. New positions for the LSI PhD Programme are out now. www.exeter.ac.uk/research/ins... Deadline: 26.11.2025
October 28, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Are you looking for a PhD starting in September 2026/27? Then do not miss the fantastic opportunity to be part of the LSI PhD Community. New positions for the LSI PhD Programme are out now. www.exeter.ac.uk/research/ins... Deadline: 26.11.2025
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
Outstanding work by the entire team - congratulations to all authors involved!
It’s great to see the precision and performance of the
@rappopto.bsky.social Caliburn ablation laser in action — the level of detail in those cuts is genuinely impressive.
Outstanding work by the entire team - congratulations to all authors involved!
It’s great to see the precision and performance of the
@rappopto.bsky.social Caliburn ablation laser in action — the level of detail in those cuts is genuinely impressive.
Final version of our paper on ciliary metachronal waves out now in Science Advances! doi.org/10.1126/scia...
This is the main thesis work of my PhD student Rebecca Poon, who caught many #platnereis larvae and tirelessly ablated them with a laser. THREAD
This is the main thesis work of my PhD student Rebecca Poon, who caught many #platnereis larvae and tirelessly ablated them with a laser. THREAD
October 20, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Outstanding work by the entire team - congratulations to all authors involved!
It’s great to see the precision and performance of the
@rappopto.bsky.social Caliburn ablation laser in action — the level of detail in those cuts is genuinely impressive.
Outstanding work by the entire team - congratulations to all authors involved!
It’s great to see the precision and performance of the
@rappopto.bsky.social Caliburn ablation laser in action — the level of detail in those cuts is genuinely impressive.
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
🎆 Join us for an unmissable finale to 2025! 🎆 We're thrilled to bring our #cilia & #centrosome community together 25/11/2025 15:00-17:45 GMT! Our 53rd @bscb-official.bsky.social @gensocuk.bsky.social @ukcilianetwork.bsky.social e-symposium schedule is live: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bscb-genso... /1
October 21, 2025 at 6:11 PM
🎆 Join us for an unmissable finale to 2025! 🎆 We're thrilled to bring our #cilia & #centrosome community together 25/11/2025 15:00-17:45 GMT! Our 53rd @bscb-official.bsky.social @gensocuk.bsky.social @ukcilianetwork.bsky.social e-symposium schedule is live: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bscb-genso... /1
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
Many thanks to all participants to the CFC2025 meeting last week for having made it such a vibrant experience! So much exciting research on #cilia
October 21, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Many thanks to all participants to the CFC2025 meeting last week for having made it such a vibrant experience! So much exciting research on #cilia
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
The flagellar pocket collar (FPC) is a cytoskeletal structure essential for nutrient uptake & immune evasion in #Trypanosome. @mbonhivers.bsky.social &co use U-ExM to provide novel insights into FPC biogenesis, and reveal 2 unknown cytoskeletal structures @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4n3bWi6
October 10, 2025 at 4:14 PM
The flagellar pocket collar (FPC) is a cytoskeletal structure essential for nutrient uptake & immune evasion in #Trypanosome. @mbonhivers.bsky.social &co use U-ExM to provide novel insights into FPC biogenesis, and reveal 2 unknown cytoskeletal structures @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4n3bWi6
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
This week has been special for us, marking 100 years of supporting biologists and inspiring biology. We celebrated our achievements at @zoologymuseum.bsky.social last night. We want to thank all our staff, whose continual inspiration and daily support for one another make our work possible.
October 17, 2025 at 1:11 PM
This week has been special for us, marking 100 years of supporting biologists and inspiring biology. We celebrated our achievements at @zoologymuseum.bsky.social last night. We want to thank all our staff, whose continual inspiration and daily support for one another make our work possible.
something strange about this list perhaps 🤨
October 18, 2025 at 4:46 PM
something strange about this list perhaps 🤨
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
New research has unravelled the mystery of how microscopic cilia choreograph their “Mexican wave”, enabling marine creatures to swim.
Cilia are tiny, hair-like protrusions found in many organisms. Yet despite decades of research, the mechanisms of cilia coordination remained disputed.
Cilia are tiny, hair-like protrusions found in many organisms. Yet despite decades of research, the mechanisms of cilia coordination remained disputed.
October 16, 2025 at 10:19 AM
New research has unravelled the mystery of how microscopic cilia choreograph their “Mexican wave”, enabling marine creatures to swim.
Cilia are tiny, hair-like protrusions found in many organisms. Yet despite decades of research, the mechanisms of cilia coordination remained disputed.
Cilia are tiny, hair-like protrusions found in many organisms. Yet despite decades of research, the mechanisms of cilia coordination remained disputed.
Final version of our paper on ciliary metachronal waves out now in Science Advances! doi.org/10.1126/scia...
This is the main thesis work of my PhD student Rebecca Poon, who caught many #platnereis larvae and tirelessly ablated them with a laser. THREAD
This is the main thesis work of my PhD student Rebecca Poon, who caught many #platnereis larvae and tirelessly ablated them with a laser. THREAD
October 15, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Final version of our paper on ciliary metachronal waves out now in Science Advances! doi.org/10.1126/scia...
This is the main thesis work of my PhD student Rebecca Poon, who caught many #platnereis larvae and tirelessly ablated them with a laser. THREAD
This is the main thesis work of my PhD student Rebecca Poon, who caught many #platnereis larvae and tirelessly ablated them with a laser. THREAD
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
We have PhD and Postdoc positions open in our group. Join us in Lausanne to explore how cells pull off extreme shape changes and how cilia drive biological flows.
You can find more details on the projects available and how to apply in our website:
www.epfl.ch/labs/lpl/joi...
You can find more details on the projects available and how to apply in our website:
www.epfl.ch/labs/lpl/joi...
Join us !
We are looking for creative and motivated scientists at to join the group. We are recruiting candidates from various scientific backgrounds including, but not limited to: biophysics, physics, biochemi...
www.epfl.ch
October 15, 2025 at 11:20 AM
We have PhD and Postdoc positions open in our group. Join us in Lausanne to explore how cells pull off extreme shape changes and how cilia drive biological flows.
You can find more details on the projects available and how to apply in our website:
www.epfl.ch/labs/lpl/joi...
You can find more details on the projects available and how to apply in our website:
www.epfl.ch/labs/lpl/joi...
Thank you @bastinlab.bsky.social and Sylvie Friant for organising this amazing #cilia meeting! 🙏 So many interesting discussions, and not enough time! Just look at this beautiful venue... 🤩
October 15, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Thank you @bastinlab.bsky.social and Sylvie Friant for organising this amazing #cilia meeting! 🙏 So many interesting discussions, and not enough time! Just look at this beautiful venue... 🤩
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
Still puzzled by the debate on organismal agency? Our edited collection brings historians, philosophers, and scientists into dialogue—offering a wide array of perspectives. An affordable paperback edition will be out at the end of the month! www.routledge.com/The-Riddle-o... #HPS #evobio #philsky
October 7, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Still puzzled by the debate on organismal agency? Our edited collection brings historians, philosophers, and scientists into dialogue—offering a wide array of perspectives. An affordable paperback edition will be out at the end of the month! www.routledge.com/The-Riddle-o... #HPS #evobio #philsky
Reposted by Kirsty Wan
Biology is much more complicated than most non-biologists can imagine. And AI is not going to change this anytime soon.
blog.genesmindsmachines.com/p/we-still-c...
blog.genesmindsmachines.com/p/we-still-c...
We still can’t predict much of anything in biology
Biology is hard. Yes, even for AI.
blog.genesmindsmachines.com
October 7, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Biology is much more complicated than most non-biologists can imagine. And AI is not going to change this anytime soon.
blog.genesmindsmachines.com/p/we-still-c...
blog.genesmindsmachines.com/p/we-still-c...