zack chiang
@zchiang.bsky.social
microscopy x epigenomics | buenrostro lab | harvard/broad
What do you do when grants are cancelled, faculty searches are frozen, and the ability to do the science you believe in is slipping out of reach?
I wrote an essay. On efforts to solve aging with reprogramming, the primacy of the epigenome, and the path to rewriting our future:
I wrote an essay. On efforts to solve aging with reprogramming, the primacy of the epigenome, and the path to rewriting our future:
April 17, 2025 at 1:37 PM
What do you do when grants are cancelled, faculty searches are frozen, and the ability to do the science you believe in is slipping out of reach?
I wrote an essay. On efforts to solve aging with reprogramming, the primacy of the epigenome, and the path to rewriting our future:
I wrote an essay. On efforts to solve aging with reprogramming, the primacy of the epigenome, and the path to rewriting our future:
maybe we just need more positive visions of what the future could look like if we develop mirror life
December 13, 2024 at 8:11 PM
maybe we just need more positive visions of what the future could look like if we develop mirror life
just a pic of my dog maple taking "be one with nature" a little too literally
November 17, 2024 at 6:44 PM
just a pic of my dog maple taking "be one with nature" a little too literally
November 15, 2024 at 7:02 PM
seems like a fun game for all the scientists excited by the move but also mourning having to rebuild their following (it me)
I once made a meme to explain all of the drama surrounding the word "epigenetics" - to my horror, it is now used in at least several PhD classes
I once made a meme to explain all of the drama surrounding the word "epigenetics" - to my horror, it is now used in at least several PhD classes
November 13, 2024 at 1:21 AM
seems like a fun game for all the scientists excited by the move but also mourning having to rebuild their following (it me)
I once made a meme to explain all of the drama surrounding the word "epigenetics" - to my horror, it is now used in at least several PhD classes
I once made a meme to explain all of the drama surrounding the word "epigenetics" - to my horror, it is now used in at least several PhD classes
To show the power of this approach, we applied ExIGS to progeria cells with nuclear lamina abnormalities
By combining expansion and 3D genome sequencing in the same nucleus, we can literally see how the abnormal lamin topology changes the structure of chromosomes
6/
By combining expansion and 3D genome sequencing in the same nucleus, we can literally see how the abnormal lamin topology changes the structure of chromosomes
6/
November 11, 2024 at 7:33 PM
To show the power of this approach, we applied ExIGS to progeria cells with nuclear lamina abnormalities
By combining expansion and 3D genome sequencing in the same nucleus, we can literally see how the abnormal lamin topology changes the structure of chromosomes
6/
By combining expansion and 3D genome sequencing in the same nucleus, we can literally see how the abnormal lamin topology changes the structure of chromosomes
6/
In situ sequencing measures the 3D location and genomic position of each DNA fragment, letting us trace the path of every chromosome in the nucleus
We also do expansion IF imaging to measure which fragments co-localize with protein landmarks
5/
We also do expansion IF imaging to measure which fragments co-localize with protein landmarks
5/
November 11, 2024 at 7:33 PM
In situ sequencing measures the 3D location and genomic position of each DNA fragment, letting us trace the path of every chromosome in the nucleus
We also do expansion IF imaging to measure which fragments co-localize with protein landmarks
5/
We also do expansion IF imaging to measure which fragments co-localize with protein landmarks
5/
Expanding the genome evenly is hard because DNA is a polymer, so here we use the Buenrostro lab's favorite enzyme Tn5 to make fragments beforehand
We then do Illumina sequencing, but instead of on a flowcell, all enzymatics are performed ~inside~ the expanded nucleus
4/
We then do Illumina sequencing, but instead of on a flowcell, all enzymatics are performed ~inside~ the expanded nucleus
4/
November 11, 2024 at 7:33 PM
Expanding the genome evenly is hard because DNA is a polymer, so here we use the Buenrostro lab's favorite enzyme Tn5 to make fragments beforehand
We then do Illumina sequencing, but instead of on a flowcell, all enzymatics are performed ~inside~ the expanded nucleus
4/
We then do Illumina sequencing, but instead of on a flowcell, all enzymatics are performed ~inside~ the expanded nucleus
4/
Fortunately, we had Fei Chen & Ed Boyden, the inventors of expansion microscopy on board!
In ExM, samples are physically enlarged in gels, allowing superresolution imaging without fancy microscopes
3/
In ExM, samples are physically enlarged in gels, allowing superresolution imaging without fancy microscopes
3/
November 11, 2024 at 7:33 PM
Fortunately, we had Fei Chen & Ed Boyden, the inventors of expansion microscopy on board!
In ExM, samples are physically enlarged in gels, allowing superresolution imaging without fancy microscopes
3/
In ExM, samples are physically enlarged in gels, allowing superresolution imaging without fancy microscopes
3/
7 years ago, I met a junior fellow named Jason Buenrostro who blew me away with a vision of futuristic genomic technologies
Today, we (Ajay Labade, Caroline Comenho) are excited to share our first steps into that future: Expansion in situ genome sequencing
1/
Today, we (Ajay Labade, Caroline Comenho) are excited to share our first steps into that future: Expansion in situ genome sequencing
1/
November 11, 2024 at 7:33 PM
7 years ago, I met a junior fellow named Jason Buenrostro who blew me away with a vision of futuristic genomic technologies
Today, we (Ajay Labade, Caroline Comenho) are excited to share our first steps into that future: Expansion in situ genome sequencing
1/
Today, we (Ajay Labade, Caroline Comenho) are excited to share our first steps into that future: Expansion in situ genome sequencing
1/