Alex Palazzo
@ribonucleicacids.bsky.social
Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Toronto. Studies mRNA processing, mRNA nuclear export, mRNA translation, genomic evolution, junk DNA, junk RNA.
https://www.palazzolab.com/
https://www.palazzolab.com/
We show that they are impacted by many of the same non-adaptive forces!
November 29, 2025 at 6:28 PM
We show that they are impacted by many of the same non-adaptive forces!
For a more in depth discussion on this topic (including the interpretation of "function") see: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25674102/
Non-coding RNA: what is functional and what is junk? - PubMed
The genomes of large multicellular eukaryotes are mostly comprised of non-protein coding DNA. Although there has been much agreement that a small fraction of these genomes has important biological functions, there has been much debate as to whether the rest contributes to development and/or homeosta …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 28, 2025 at 4:44 PM
For a more in depth discussion on this topic (including the interpretation of "function") see: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25674102/
They are not de facto genes. A gene needs be functional. If a loci produces a product (RNA, protein, etc.) where its functionality is in question, then it should be provisionally be labelled as non-genic, and once functionality has been established, then it can be considered a gene.
November 28, 2025 at 4:43 PM
They are not de facto genes. A gene needs be functional. If a loci produces a product (RNA, protein, etc.) where its functionality is in question, then it should be provisionally be labelled as non-genic, and once functionality has been established, then it can be considered a gene.
And while I'm at it, just because a genomic loci is transcribed, it does not follow that it is a gene! (yes, I'm looking at you lncRNA people!)
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
November 28, 2025 at 3:08 PM
And while I'm at it, just because a genomic loci is transcribed, it does not follow that it is a gene! (yes, I'm looking at you lncRNA people!)
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
And while we are at it, stop using "writers", "readers" and "erasers" for m6A-related proteins. This nomenclature biases researchers to think that m6A is some additional hidden code. It might be, BUT it might not.
STOP USING LANGUAGE THAT BIASES YOUR THINKING!
THANK YOU.
STOP USING LANGUAGE THAT BIASES YOUR THINKING!
THANK YOU.
November 28, 2025 at 3:06 PM
And while we are at it, stop using "writers", "readers" and "erasers" for m6A-related proteins. This nomenclature biases researchers to think that m6A is some additional hidden code. It might be, BUT it might not.
STOP USING LANGUAGE THAT BIASES YOUR THINKING!
THANK YOU.
STOP USING LANGUAGE THAT BIASES YOUR THINKING!
THANK YOU.
Reposted by Alex Palazzo
"In particular, we show that, if it is true that some degree of talent is necessary to be successful in life, almost never the most talented people reach the highest peaks of success, being overtaken by mediocre but sensibly luckier individuals"
arxiv.org/abs/1802.07068
arxiv.org/abs/1802.07068
Talent vs Luck: the role of randomness in success and failure
The largely dominant meritocratic paradigm of highly competitive Western cultures is rooted on the belief that success is due mainly, if not exclusively, to personal qualities such as talent, intellig...
arxiv.org
November 23, 2025 at 3:13 PM
"In particular, we show that, if it is true that some degree of talent is necessary to be successful in life, almost never the most talented people reach the highest peaks of success, being overtaken by mediocre but sensibly luckier individuals"
arxiv.org/abs/1802.07068
arxiv.org/abs/1802.07068
The list of speakers is now up!
November 18, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The list of speakers is now up!
Reposted by Alex Palazzo
We are only beginning to understand how these patterns evolve. Relevant info: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
mRNA nuclear export: how mRNA identity features distinguish functional RNAs from junk transcripts
The division of the cellular space into nucleoplasm and cytoplasm promotes quality control mechanisms that prevent misprocessed mRNAs and junk RNAs from gaining access to the translational machiner...
www.tandfonline.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:37 PM
We are only beginning to understand how these patterns evolve. Relevant info: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
I had them up, but the other organizers wanted to wait, so I took them down.
November 7, 2025 at 10:54 PM
I had them up, but the other organizers wanted to wait, so I took them down.
The list of speakers has been updated.
November 6, 2025 at 10:46 PM
The list of speakers has been updated.