Fyodor Urnov
@urnov.bsky.social
Clinic-minded genome + epigenome editor. Professor of Molecular Therapeutics, UC Berkeley. Director for Technology and Translation, Innovative Genomics Institute, ibid.
Beatles fan.
Art work credit: Fyodor Vasiliev "A Meadow in the Rain" (1872).
Beatles fan.
Art work credit: Fyodor Vasiliev "A Meadow in the Rain" (1872).
PSA:
if you're not a mouse person you may enjoy knowing that mouse Sca1 (the hematopoiesis marker) is not encoded by Sca1 (spinocerebellar ataxia 1) but rather Ly6a.
I mean, OF COURSE it is. What else could it be?
I'm an hg38 person and below is a self-portrait while I was figuring this out.
if you're not a mouse person you may enjoy knowing that mouse Sca1 (the hematopoiesis marker) is not encoded by Sca1 (spinocerebellar ataxia 1) but rather Ly6a.
I mean, OF COURSE it is. What else could it be?
I'm an hg38 person and below is a self-portrait while I was figuring this out.
August 22, 2025 at 12:13 PM
PSA:
if you're not a mouse person you may enjoy knowing that mouse Sca1 (the hematopoiesis marker) is not encoded by Sca1 (spinocerebellar ataxia 1) but rather Ly6a.
I mean, OF COURSE it is. What else could it be?
I'm an hg38 person and below is a self-portrait while I was figuring this out.
if you're not a mouse person you may enjoy knowing that mouse Sca1 (the hematopoiesis marker) is not encoded by Sca1 (spinocerebellar ataxia 1) but rather Ly6a.
I mean, OF COURSE it is. What else could it be?
I'm an hg38 person and below is a self-portrait while I was figuring this out.
At Vijay's suggestion I looked at your paper (Hansen et al).
So would you say Cas2 is the poster child for cohesin-mediated loop essentiality in gene control? B/c clearly for Sox2 it's not true. What other genes like Car2 are this well-characterized wrt this dependency?
So would you say Cas2 is the poster child for cohesin-mediated loop essentiality in gene control? B/c clearly for Sox2 it's not true. What other genes like Car2 are this well-characterized wrt this dependency?
June 9, 2025 at 12:33 PM
At Vijay's suggestion I looked at your paper (Hansen et al).
So would you say Cas2 is the poster child for cohesin-mediated loop essentiality in gene control? B/c clearly for Sox2 it's not true. What other genes like Car2 are this well-characterized wrt this dependency?
So would you say Cas2 is the poster child for cohesin-mediated loop essentiality in gene control? B/c clearly for Sox2 it's not true. What other genes like Car2 are this well-characterized wrt this dependency?
Here: Baby KJ at home with his mom Nicole.
This really happened, folks. Hundreds of people from 8 organizations (led by Rebecca Ahrens-nicklas and Kiran Musunuru) came together to make a bespoke gene editor for this kiddo. He was once in the 7th percentile of body weight. Look at him now! ❤️
This really happened, folks. Hundreds of people from 8 organizations (led by Rebecca Ahrens-nicklas and Kiran Musunuru) came together to make a bespoke gene editor for this kiddo. He was once in the 7th percentile of body weight. Look at him now! ❤️
June 4, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Here: Baby KJ at home with his mom Nicole.
This really happened, folks. Hundreds of people from 8 organizations (led by Rebecca Ahrens-nicklas and Kiran Musunuru) came together to make a bespoke gene editor for this kiddo. He was once in the 7th percentile of body weight. Look at him now! ❤️
This really happened, folks. Hundreds of people from 8 organizations (led by Rebecca Ahrens-nicklas and Kiran Musunuru) came together to make a bespoke gene editor for this kiddo. He was once in the 7th percentile of body weight. Look at him now! ❤️
I watch my original field - chromatin and gene control - from a distance.
The literature showing that so-called higher-order chromatin organization appears to have no substantial effect on gene expression grows and grows.
Which is not stalling the scholars of that organization. :-) :-) :-)
The literature showing that so-called higher-order chromatin organization appears to have no substantial effect on gene expression grows and grows.
Which is not stalling the scholars of that organization. :-) :-) :-)
June 2, 2025 at 9:55 PM
I watch my original field - chromatin and gene control - from a distance.
The literature showing that so-called higher-order chromatin organization appears to have no substantial effect on gene expression grows and grows.
Which is not stalling the scholars of that organization. :-) :-) :-)
The literature showing that so-called higher-order chromatin organization appears to have no substantial effect on gene expression grows and grows.
Which is not stalling the scholars of that organization. :-) :-) :-)
This conclusion had been reached in 1991 - 34 years ago - when yours truly started on his PhD in metazoan DNA replication.
For Gregor’s sakes, PR folks - get your origin stories right.
For Gregor’s sakes, PR folks - get your origin stories right.
May 23, 2025 at 12:43 PM
This conclusion had been reached in 1991 - 34 years ago - when yours truly started on his PhD in metazoan DNA replication.
For Gregor’s sakes, PR folks - get your origin stories right.
For Gregor’s sakes, PR folks - get your origin stories right.
Wendy, profs like us
Baby we were born to read
(This book)
Baby we were born to read
(This book)
May 22, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Wendy, profs like us
Baby we were born to read
(This book)
Baby we were born to read
(This book)
Here's great-grandma Marie and her DNA in mine. ❤️🥲 I actually use this to teach haplotypes as a concept.
Also, I worked with Aaron Klug - who was Dr Franklin's last graduate student.
Anyway, this is not a well-structured post, I'm just really affected there will be a movie about Rosalind Franklin.
Also, I worked with Aaron Klug - who was Dr Franklin's last graduate student.
Anyway, this is not a well-structured post, I'm just really affected there will be a movie about Rosalind Franklin.
May 9, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Here's great-grandma Marie and her DNA in mine. ❤️🥲 I actually use this to teach haplotypes as a concept.
Also, I worked with Aaron Klug - who was Dr Franklin's last graduate student.
Anyway, this is not a well-structured post, I'm just really affected there will be a movie about Rosalind Franklin.
Also, I worked with Aaron Klug - who was Dr Franklin's last graduate student.
Anyway, this is not a well-structured post, I'm just really affected there will be a movie about Rosalind Franklin.
Along with every geneticist I am a total Mendel groupie and this new figure (www.nature.com/articles/s41...) that shows the chromosome location and underlying basis of his allelic pairs moves me to near-tears. Oh, to fly back in time and show this to him ...
April 26, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Along with every geneticist I am a total Mendel groupie and this new figure (www.nature.com/articles/s41...) that shows the chromosome location and underlying basis of his allelic pairs moves me to near-tears. Oh, to fly back in time and show this to him ...
The dire story of the non-resurrected wolf gets worse with every colossal public inanity by the scientific team. It can at least be used to teach Bio1A students what the terms "species" and "phenotype" actually mean. Source: www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
April 13, 2025 at 4:34 PM
The dire story of the non-resurrected wolf gets worse with every colossal public inanity by the scientific team. It can at least be used to teach Bio1A students what the terms "species" and "phenotype" actually mean. Source: www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Yours truly and my inbox.
[I will let myself out]
[I will let myself out]
April 10, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Yours truly and my inbox.
[I will let myself out]
[I will let myself out]
April 9, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Professor Beth Shapiro - an HHMI investigator at UCSC (and CSO of Colossal) - is here making a statement that would get a Bio1A student at UC Berkeley (or UCSC) an F.
What an embarrassment, what a painful scene of public shame for someone of such academic distinction...
What an embarrassment, what a painful scene of public shame for someone of such academic distinction...
April 8, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Professor Beth Shapiro - an HHMI investigator at UCSC (and CSO of Colossal) - is here making a statement that would get a Bio1A student at UC Berkeley (or UCSC) an F.
What an embarrassment, what a painful scene of public shame for someone of such academic distinction...
What an embarrassment, what a painful scene of public shame for someone of such academic distinction...
One other Bio1a-grade fact: this "new species" of - if released into the wild - will it be reproductively isolated from Canis lupus? If not, are the 12 SNPs on one haplotype that is in full LD? Was Time Magazine told about Mendel's 2nd law regarding 12 unlinked SNPs in meiosis?
April 8, 2025 at 10:50 PM
One other Bio1a-grade fact: this "new species" of - if released into the wild - will it be reproductively isolated from Canis lupus? If not, are the 12 SNPs on one haplotype that is in full LD? Was Time Magazine told about Mendel's 2nd law regarding 12 unlinked SNPs in meiosis?
Any undergrad in Bio1a would tell them that introgressing 12 SNPs by editing into an existing species and calling that a new species - is, well, salesmanship. They will make money on this and the media will give them all the coverage they need from that. [2/3]
April 8, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Any undergrad in Bio1a would tell them that introgressing 12 SNPs by editing into an existing species and calling that a new species - is, well, salesmanship. They will make money on this and the media will give them all the coverage they need from that. [2/3]
Professional gene editor and professor of Genetics here.
The world does not need more negativity. It does not need more nonscientific hype, either. I will be data-based negative and say to Colossal: give me a double-strand break!! [1/3]
The world does not need more negativity. It does not need more nonscientific hype, either. I will be data-based negative and say to Colossal: give me a double-strand break!! [1/3]
April 8, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Professional gene editor and professor of Genetics here.
The world does not need more negativity. It does not need more nonscientific hype, either. I will be data-based negative and say to Colossal: give me a double-strand break!! [1/3]
The world does not need more negativity. It does not need more nonscientific hype, either. I will be data-based negative and say to Colossal: give me a double-strand break!! [1/3]
President Obama is on this platform now (perhaps he's been here for a while - I just learned about this) - @barackobama.bsky.social
This moment forever will be a highlight of my 35 years' in this country - both as a first-generation immigrant and a naturalized US citizen.
This moment forever will be a highlight of my 35 years' in this country - both as a first-generation immigrant and a naturalized US citizen.
March 24, 2025 at 2:28 AM
President Obama is on this platform now (perhaps he's been here for a while - I just learned about this) - @barackobama.bsky.social
This moment forever will be a highlight of my 35 years' in this country - both as a first-generation immigrant and a naturalized US citizen.
This moment forever will be a highlight of my 35 years' in this country - both as a first-generation immigrant and a naturalized US citizen.
Today and every day in the field of genome editing is International Women's Day.
Drs. Maria Jasin and Jennifer Doudna are not merely award-winning parents of gene editing - they continue as its leaders.
Drs. Maria Jasin and Jennifer Doudna are not merely award-winning parents of gene editing - they continue as its leaders.
March 8, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Today and every day in the field of genome editing is International Women's Day.
Drs. Maria Jasin and Jennifer Doudna are not merely award-winning parents of gene editing - they continue as its leaders.
Drs. Maria Jasin and Jennifer Doudna are not merely award-winning parents of gene editing - they continue as its leaders.
Folks, Pubmed is not down - what is down/slow is the DNS that resolves the URL into an IP address (34.107.134.59).
On the Mac you need to edit your hosts file to look like this.
1. In Term type: sudo vi /etc/hosts
2. Add the line below
3. Exit vi (see post 2 below)
H/t @jstammi.bsky.social
On the Mac you need to edit your hosts file to look like this.
1. In Term type: sudo vi /etc/hosts
2. Add the line below
3. Exit vi (see post 2 below)
H/t @jstammi.bsky.social
March 2, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Folks, Pubmed is not down - what is down/slow is the DNS that resolves the URL into an IP address (34.107.134.59).
On the Mac you need to edit your hosts file to look like this.
1. In Term type: sudo vi /etc/hosts
2. Add the line below
3. Exit vi (see post 2 below)
H/t @jstammi.bsky.social
On the Mac you need to edit your hosts file to look like this.
1. In Term type: sudo vi /etc/hosts
2. Add the line below
3. Exit vi (see post 2 below)
H/t @jstammi.bsky.social
"Controlling the double helix"
Gary Felsenfeld, Mark Groudine
Nature 2003
Gary Felsenfeld, Mark Groudine
Nature 2003
February 20, 2025 at 11:15 PM
"Controlling the double helix"
Gary Felsenfeld, Mark Groudine
Nature 2003
Gary Felsenfeld, Mark Groudine
Nature 2003
"Lacking in experience with severe consequences of living in a propaganda-based totalitarian state" is what I'd say.
I suspect many of my fellow Americans think all this is innocuous - and I get PTSD ("THE PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNIST PARTY ARE ONE!" - the exact opposite was true).
I suspect many of my fellow Americans think all this is innocuous - and I get PTSD ("THE PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNIST PARTY ARE ONE!" - the exact opposite was true).
February 16, 2025 at 5:55 PM
"Lacking in experience with severe consequences of living in a propaganda-based totalitarian state" is what I'd say.
I suspect many of my fellow Americans think all this is innocuous - and I get PTSD ("THE PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNIST PARTY ARE ONE!" - the exact opposite was true).
I suspect many of my fellow Americans think all this is innocuous - and I get PTSD ("THE PEOPLE AND THE COMMUNIST PARTY ARE ONE!" - the exact opposite was true).
For the first time in 35 years' living in this country, my country, I find this precedent from 1650 relevant.
February 15, 2025 at 10:54 PM
For the first time in 35 years' living in this country, my country, I find this precedent from 1650 relevant.
For all professional genome editors (or anyone just using CRISPR in their research) EVERY day is International Day of Women & Girls in Science:
Maria Jasin, Jennifer Doudna, and Emmanuelle Charpentier are the co-parents of the entire field! #WomenInSTEM
Maria Jasin, Jennifer Doudna, and Emmanuelle Charpentier are the co-parents of the entire field! #WomenInSTEM
February 11, 2025 at 1:07 PM
For all professional genome editors (or anyone just using CRISPR in their research) EVERY day is International Day of Women & Girls in Science:
Maria Jasin, Jennifer Doudna, and Emmanuelle Charpentier are the co-parents of the entire field! #WomenInSTEM
Maria Jasin, Jennifer Doudna, and Emmanuelle Charpentier are the co-parents of the entire field! #WomenInSTEM
NIH-supported research saves lives: here are two "poster" human beings to prove it.
Emily Whitehead: cured of her leukemia by CAR-T developed at Penn.
Victoria Gray: major symptoms of her sickle cell disease resolved following CRISPR gene editing - path paved at Boston Childrens, UW, UC Berkeley.
Emily Whitehead: cured of her leukemia by CAR-T developed at Penn.
Victoria Gray: major symptoms of her sickle cell disease resolved following CRISPR gene editing - path paved at Boston Childrens, UW, UC Berkeley.
February 10, 2025 at 4:51 PM
NIH-supported research saves lives: here are two "poster" human beings to prove it.
Emily Whitehead: cured of her leukemia by CAR-T developed at Penn.
Victoria Gray: major symptoms of her sickle cell disease resolved following CRISPR gene editing - path paved at Boston Childrens, UW, UC Berkeley.
Emily Whitehead: cured of her leukemia by CAR-T developed at Penn.
Victoria Gray: major symptoms of her sickle cell disease resolved following CRISPR gene editing - path paved at Boston Childrens, UW, UC Berkeley.