#gene expression profiling

[catboybiologist]

“As a biologist, the terms biological woman and man don’t make any sense to me” okay then you’re an idiot and a terrible biologist. I swear to god, morons like you only become biologists just so you can hold it over others, when in reality, if biology deniers like you can become biologists, then being one really doesn’t mean much anyway. But this probably just gave an autogynophile like you a boner to read, anyway.

Oh fun! Haven't gotten one of these in a while. Disregarding the fact that you somehow think the qualification for being a biologist entirely hinges on defining womanhood, I do need to ask some clarification. I know I'm feeding the trolls here, but here we go: does your definition of "biological woman" mean:

Sociological woman? Eh, context dependent, I'm not fully out of the closet, but oftentimes, I am and present femme. So let's call that one 50/50.

Psychological woman? Because I am one.

Neurological woman? Because I am one [1].

Physical woman? My soft tissue redistribution is handling that well.

Hormonal woman? My blood tests are within cis female ranges.

Transcriptional woman? As a signalling molecule, the downstream effects of estrogen have broad transcriptional effects, completely changing the profile of gene expression and functional genomics of my cells. [2]

Genetic woman? I mean, see my above point- as far as my genes that are actually active, I have all of the same transcripts being produced, controlling which genes are expressed.

Karyotypic woman? I actually have a few signs pre-HRT that might point to a non-XY chromosome pair, but I haven't had a karyotype. We'll put that down as unknown. And hell, even if its XY, there's plenty of cis women who are karyotypically XY, with suppressed sry or complete androgen insensitivity. Interestingly enough, a completely androgen insesitive woman can go her whole life without knowing- and functionally, is very similar to a trans woman, actually. Fancy that. [3]

Reproductive woman? I can't produce an egg cell, but neither can significant fractions of cis women. Also, this is all gonna change soon, which is fun. [4]

There's also a lot of understudied aspects to the biology of HRT and even pre-HRT that are emerging, largely demonstrating widespread cellular and genetic remodeling of trans individuals undergoing hormone therapy. The field is a bit behind due to constant political pressure to revoke funding, but a lot of the results are extremely exciting in both testosterone and estrogen hormone therapies. I'm sure that, as a self professed biology As someone who presumably has a lot of expertise in biology, I'm assuming that you're aware of all of this cutting edge research, and are keeping up with modern papers, including but not limited to these cool findings:

Trans men on HRT exhibit significant genetic and transcriptional changes that make them biochemically male. [5][6]. It's a good hypothesis that the same happens with estrogen treatment, but those studies don't exist yet- I'm sure you're reserving judgment until more publications exist, of course.

Trans men on HRT develop male cell types and tissues. [7]

Trans women experience muscular and blood cell changes that align with cis women moreso than cis men [8]

And many, many more! This is an exciting, underserved, and groundbreaking field of research, and I'm sure you're keeping up with the latest in scientific journals about it.

I'm sure, of course, that you understand that it becomes impossible to draw a distinct line anywhere in here, and that words like "woman" are shorthand for the myriad of traits that invisibly synthesize in our mind and in society to represent a concept? I'm sure you understand that science is fundamentally descriptive, not prescriptive? I'm sure that you understand that these findings, while really cool and interesting, actually don't mean jack shit about what the word "woman" means or not?

As someone who is the ultimate decider in what a biologist is, I'm sure you know that bioessentiallism is a childish mindset that completely ignores and disregards the constantly changing, dynamic nature of biological systems, something that extends well beyond biological sex and its relation to gender.

I'm sure that also, that you understand that beyond just this, that the role of science in society is to advise how to achieve our moral principles, not create moral principles in themselves. And I'm sure that understanding means you know that trans affirming healthcare and supportive societal treatment leads to reduced mortality and increased happiness for everyone, right?

So great to talk to someone who is surely a scientist on this. You are a biologist, if you're talking like this, I assume? I assume you're not going to spit complete misreadings of scientific language from the background sections of these papers that only reveal you've never read a scientific paper in your life if you're thinking this way? I assume you have experience interpreting data like this?

Also, imagining my genitalia while writing this? Ew. Please stop projecting your fetishes into my inbox.

Works cited:

Kurth F, Gaser C, Sánchez FJ, Luders E. Brain Sex in Transgender Women Is Shifted towards Gender Identity. J Clin Med. 2022 Mar 13;11(6):1582. doi: 10.3390/jcm11061582. PMID: 35329908; PMCID: PMC8955456.

Fuentes N, Silveyra P. Estrogen receptor signaling mechanisms. Adv Protein Chem Struct Biol. 2019;116:135-170. doi: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2019.01.001. Epub 2019 Feb 4. PMID: 31036290; PMCID: PMC6533072.

Gottlieb B, Trifiro MA. Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome. 1999 Mar 24 [Updated 2017 May 11]. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, et al., editors. GeneReviews® [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2024. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1429/

Murakami, K., Hamazaki, N., Hamada, N. et al. Generation of functional oocytes from male mice in vitro. Nature 615, 900–906 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05834-x

Pallotti F, Senofonte G, Konstantinidou F, Di Chiano S, Faja F, Rizzo F, Cargnelutti F, Krausz C, Paoli D, Lenzi A, Stuppia L, Gatta V, Lombardo F. Epigenetic Effects of Gender-Affirming Hormone Treatment: A Pilot Study of the ESR2 Promoter's Methylation in AFAB People. Biomedicines. 2022 Feb 16;10(2):459. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10020459. PMID: 35203670; PMCID: PMC8962414.

Florian Raths, Mehran Karimzadeh, Nathan Ing, Andrew Martinez, Yoona Yang, Ying Qu, Tian-Yu Lee, Brianna Mulligan, Suzanne Devkota, Wayne T. Tilley, Theresa E. Hickey, Bo Wang, Armando E. Giuliano, Shikha Bose, Hani Goodarzi, Edward C. Ray, Xiaojiang Cui, Simon R.V. Knott, The molecular consequences of androgen activity in the human breast, Cell Genomics, Volume 3, Issue 3, 2023, 100272, ISSN 2666-979X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xgen.2023.100272. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666979X23000320)

Xu R, Diamond DA, Borer JG, Estrada C, Yu R, Anderson WJ, Vargas SO. Prostatic metaplasia of the vagina in transmasculine individuals. World J Urol. 2022 Mar;40(3):849-855. doi: 10.1007/s00345-021-03907-y. Epub 2022 Jan 16. PMID: 35034167.

Harper J, O'Donnell E, Sorouri Khorashad B, McDermott H, Witcomb GL. How does hormone transition in transgender women change body composition, muscle strength and haemoglobin? Systematic review with a focus on the implications for sport participation. Br J Sports Med. 2021 Aug;55(15):865-872. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-103106. Epub 2021 Mar 1. PMID: 33648944; PMCID: PMC8311086.

[autoauthor]

More gossip!Anbu commander! Izuna proto-fanfiction for those who care.

Summary: Izuna gets it into his head that he has a duty to get Tobirama hitched.

Let me start from the beginning.

Tobirama and Izuna are getting along. Tobirama listens to Izuna's gossip and has started allowing light physical intimacy. Izuna enjoys his silence and his witticism when he actually chooses to weigh in on a situation. They spar several times a week and are constantly seen around the village together.

One evening, while the two of them are simply chatting, Tobirama confesses to having a selfish desire he wants to express. Izuna, who has never held himself from saying what he wants, tells Tobirama to just get it out.

Tobirama has, at this point realized his feelings for Izuna, but doesn't want to do anything to endanger their friendship and, y'know peace or w/e. Still Izuna prods at him until he gets him to admit that desire is, "love".

Cue Izuna's laughter - which is quickly explained by him thinking that that is the least selfish desire someone could have. Affirmations that Tobirama is loved by his family, the village, his comrades, etc. And that of course someone would be lucky to have his affections.

Still, Izuna thinks about it and it'd be a shame if Tobirama didn't pass on his genes to future Konoha shinobi. Plus it'd be good optics for both the village and Tobirama himself if he settled down with someone. He decides that it is his duty as a friend to match Tobirama up.

First he uses his profile of Tobirama to construct base traits and characteristics of someone he might find appealing. He boils it down to two approaches.

Tobirama enjoys doing things for others. One ideal is someone cute who he can spoil but who will appreciate his care.

Tobirama enjoys being challenged mentally and/or physically. The other option is a strong and smart but unambitious shinobi. Unambitious, because Tobirama being the jonin commander and thus their superior may cause unneeded tension.

What completely flies over Izuna's head is that there was someone in the village who actually fits both. Someone who's used to being spoiled and cared for. Someone who is Tobirama's perfect match in battle and in the war-room.

Someone who's his equal in status as the leader of Konoha's special forces.

Yeah... it's Izuna himself.

But he's not going to realize it before he's set Tobirama up on several blind would-be "meet-cutes" and been made to examine why, exactly, the thought of his bestie showing a side of himself Izuna's never seen to someone else enrages him so.

[softguarnere]

Hi! I really love your writing. I was wondering if you could write something fluffy with Eugene x reader? He’s my favorite.

Avec Les Étoiles Dans Les Yeux

Eugene Roe x reader

A/N: Hello Anon! You're in luck, because I have been on a Eugene kick after listening to Shane Taylor's podcast episode 🥺 His status as one of the fandom's favorite characters is well deserved, imo (As always, this is written for the fictional depictions from the show - no disrespect to the real life veterans!) Thank you for the request, and I hope you enjoy this 💕🕊️ Warnings: mentions of alcohol, mentions of war

The night has been loud and full of excitement. All around Berchtesgaden, parties are carrying on into the wee hours of the morning. It would seem that rules do not apply anymore, as alcohol flows freely and the loot is collected openly. And, more importantly for you, love does not seem like such a thing that needs hiding anymore.

Love tugs on your heartstrings as you walk through the night, hand and hand with Eugene. It gathers in the back of your throat, too, threatening to spill out in sobs of happiness if you open your mouth to express it. The most you can settle for is squeezing his hand and glancing at his handsome profile, watching him as he stares up at the stars, his dark eyes full of them. Avec les étoiles dans les yeux. He squeezes back.

Throughout the war, you’ve had to hide this – all the love that has grown between you and Eugene. But now, with the German surrender and rules going unenforced, who really cares about fraternization? And who, if they saw you walking together, would dare to make an assumption about where you might be going together?

When you make it back to the house that you, Gene, and a few other medics have chosen to quarter in, you both freeze in the living room. The room Eugene chose on the first night is off to the left, and yours is to the right. Now you stand at a crossroads.

He lets out a little laugh as he turns to you. “You want to . . . ? Or I could come stay with you – but only if you want to, that is.” He adds the last part quickly, a gentle blush coloring his cheeks.

“Of course.”

You follow him, slowly, into his room. The house is dark, but Gene’s warm smile lights the way. This is the Eugene that so many of the people who know him miss seeing. Most of Easy Company only sees Doc Roe, the shy but resourceful and caring medic. But you’ve come to know – to fall in love with – Eugene, the man. A man who is funny and kind and romantic. Part of you wishes that everyone else could see him like this so that they could better understand him, but sometimes you’re glad that you have him all to yourself. Like now.

Still with a bit of the party in you, you spring onto the bed, laughing as the fluffy mattress absorbs the shock. Such a different sleeping arrangement from what you had back in Bastogne, Holland, or even Toccoa, for that matter.

Gene laughs, his smile carrying to his eyes as he follows you, although he takes a seat on the edge of the bed, calmly.

“You’re beautiful, you know that?” He asks.

Now it’s your turn to blush. You don’t try to hide it, though. You haven’t in a while. Eugene does something to you, and he deserves to see it. After all, he lets you see a side of him that most others rarely experience.

“Merci beaucoup,” you say, trying to remember the little bits of French that you’ve picked up from him during the war.

He nods in approval. “Tres bien.”

In the quiet of the house, you arrange yourselves so that you’re pressed into each other on top of the bed, leaning into the peace that exists there.

“You’re good at it,” Gene says quietly. “The French, I mean.”

“Well, I figure that I need to be, so that I can come visit you in Louisiana after we get sent home.” After the words have escaped your lips, you immediately regret them. Visiting Gene is something that you’ve thought about – perhaps fantasized about might be a more accurate way to put it – a few times. Although it would be nice to think that maybe he has also been dreaming of seeing each other after the war, you can’t be sure. Especially not when you feel him freeze beside you. You bite your lip to keep yourself from admitting to anything else, any more feelings that you assume that you share. Ice water fills your stomach at the thought that maybe this is only a wartime fling.

“Actually, I’ve been thinkin’ –“ His words send panic thrumming through your veins. Who knows where he might be going with this? “ – Would you want to visit me? All the way in Louisiana?”

“Yes,” you answer immediately.

“Because I was . . .” He clears his throat, like he can unstick the words he’s trying to say. Pressed up against him, it’s impossible to miss the warmth that floods his skin as he continues, “I was wonderin’ if maybe you might want to do more than visit Louisiana. Stay a while, I mean. Or . . . maybe just – you don’t have to if you don’t want to, obviously – come home with me after they send us back.”

Is he asking you to come live with him in Louisiana? Sitting so close, he would have to be deaf to miss the way that your heart is tripping over itself in your chest. This is more than you’ve dared to imagine in your wildest daydreams.

You shift to look at him. He’s already looking at you, his expression so open and honest and timid as he waits. You could kiss him, right then and there. That would be your answer.

“Gene,” you breathe instead, all the happiness from back in the street threatening to flood over again. “Of course. I would love to come to Louisiana with you.”

He breathes a sigh of relief. “’Cause if you don’t want to, we could always go to your hometown. Or someplace else entirely.”

Once again you take his hand and squeeze it. “Louisiana sounds perfect,” you muse. And you mean it. On cold nights sitting in foxholes, he used to describe the sights and sounds of the South to you, describing it all with such love and care that you could swear his words warmed you right up. There’s nowhere else you would rather go.

“I guess I’ll have to perfect my French between now and then.”

“We can have a lesson now,” Gene says, a mysterious tone you’ve never heard before creeping into his voice. “Je t’aime.”

This time you can’t hold yourself back from kissing him. You press your lips to his cheek, smiling into the kiss.

“Easy,” you whisper. “I love you.”

A bubbly laugh, so unlike the Gene that everyone else thinks they know, escapes from his throat. “Darling, you’ve already got all the French that you need.”

[cbirt]

Understanding cell dynamics, regulation, and characteristics has been revolutionized by profiling tests at a previously unheard-of resolution. Nevertheless, the destructive nature of these techniques makes it difficult to monitor the temporal dynamics of living cells. Although it lacks genetic and molecular interpretability, Raman microscopy offers a unique way to report vibrational energy levels at subcellular spatial resolution. The researchers created Raman2RNA (R2R), an experimental and computational framework that uses multi-modal data integration, domain translation, and label-free hyperspectral Raman microscopy images to infer single-cell expression patterns in living cells. 

Raman images were used to link scRNA-seq profiles to paired spatial hyperspectral Raman images, and machine learning models were trained to infer expression profiles from Raman spectra at the single-cell level. In reprogramming mouse fibroblasts into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), R2R accurately inferred the expression patterns of numerous cell stages and fates, including MET cells, iPSCs, stromal cells, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells. This demonstrates how crucial spectroscopic content is to Raman microscopy.

The dynamic balance of extrinsic and internal programs determines the states and functions of cells. Numerous genes work together to coordinate the expression and function of these activities, which include cell proliferation, stress responses, differentiation, and reprogramming. These genes also interact with other cells and the environment to influence these processes.

Continue Reading

[laxmiree]

[CN] MLQC Lucien’s Rumors & Secrets – Season 2: Threshold (阈值)

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!! ⚠️

This post contains a detailed spoiler for an R&S that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~

Lucien followed the doctor's pointing finger to a line on the report— a small amount of abnormal PTEN gene sequence in the cells.

“Although the abnormal PTEN is only a small amount, irreversible cancer development may occur if your deterioration continues."

"The speed of deterioration is closely related to the frequency of Evol use, so it is recommended to reduce the usage of Evol as much as possible in the future.”

Lucien nodded occasionally, his heart not experiencing significant fluctuations. This day had been expected, and it had arrived as scheduled.

[T/N] It’s advised to read S2 chapter 45 first because this R&S sets between S2 chapter 45 and chapter 51 timeline-wise. I usually translated the main story first but translating this first makes more sense chronologically AND will provide extra pain for S2 chapter 51~

ALSO, after reading the R&S please head up to S2 Chapter 51, the pain is more complete with the main story~

[Chapter 1]

“Professor Lucien, the latest clinical trial report results are out, and they are still not very promising.”

This not-so-good news didn't come as a surprise to Lucien. He nodded and said, “Ah He, you've worked hard these past few days. Take a good rest over the weekend, and next week, we'll come back to discuss improvement strategies.”

“But we've already improved almost every aspect,” Ah He swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and glanced at Lucien's composed profile. “In addition, two new deteriorating patients have signed the drug trial observation agreement. Here are the records.”

Lucien took the file and opened it, quickly scanning the text inside.

“The first patient is forty-two years old, an Evolver with superhuman vision. Diagnosed with glaucoma seven years ago, their vision started deteriorating significantly six months ago. After genetic screening, it was confirmed that the condition was caused by deterioration.”

As he turned to the next page, Lucien's gaze froze.

....The second patient is a Water-type Evolver, but the symptoms of deterioration are widespread malignant lymphoma.

“Based on previous cases, the direction of Evolver deterioration should be closely related to their own Evol attribute,” Ah He showed a puzzled expression, “and this patient's symptoms were an exception, with a more unstable rate of deterioration than ordinary patients. Perhaps this could be a discovery in the study of deterioration illness.”

Lucien glanced at the photos of the young man again. Although his impression wasn't deep, he quickly found this person in his memory – he had appeared in one of BS's Evol modification experiments many years ago.

“The individual cases don't have high reference value. We need to expand the sample group and continue to watch for similar cases of deterioration.”

“Understood, Professor.”

Back in his office, Lucien spread out the two reports in front of him. The deterioration index line graph in the first report steadily increased over time like most of the patient data he had seen. However, the line graph in the second report suddenly spiked at a certain point in time after a long period of stability.

Lucien unlocked his computer screen, and a medical report appeared on the screen. The diagnosis result, highlighted in red and bolded was glaring and prominent – “Gene Deterioration Detected.”

The deterioration level line graph in the report progressed steadily, almost identical to the first half of the line graph of the second patient on the desktop.

As the report page slowly scrolled upward, a profile picture gradually appeared in the upper right corner.

He glanced indifferently at his own face in the photo, closed the document, and leaned back in his office chair, closing his eyes to rest.

The heart within his chest cavity beat steadily, just like every other day, strong and composed. No changes appeared to have occurred, yet hidden beneath the surface, there seemed to be an undercurrent that was difficult to detect, waiting for an opportunity to stir things up.

His brief reverie was interrupted by the ringing of his phone.

“Hello, Mr. Lucien. Your latest lab test report is ready. Please come to the laboratory during business hours to collect it.”

[If you remember- In S2 chapter chapter 31-1 Lucien mentioned that his situation regarding blood disease is unique. From this R&S I guess what he means by unique situation is that his deterioration wasn't REALLY bad until he started to overuse evol, mainly for the sake of protecting MC. This evol overuse will get worse in S2 chapter 51 :D]

-

[Chapter 2]

“Have you experienced any discomfort in your body recently? Have you used Evol?”

“Everything has been normal. I've used Evol a few times, but not excessively,” Lucien quickly counted the number of times he had used Evol in his mind over the past month.

It was around seven or eight times, within a manageable range.

The doctor pushed the report in front of Lucien with a serious expression. “Your deterioration had been well-controlled previously, but this time, there are changes in various indicators. Platelet count has decreased, and there might be a slight impact on your clotting function. Additionally—”

Lucien followed the doctor's pointing finger to a line on the report— a small amount of abnormal PTEN gene sequence in the cells.*

“Although the abnormal PTEN is only a small amount, irreversible cancer development may occur if your deterioration continues. The speed of deterioration is closely related to the frequency of Evol use, so it is recommended to reduce the usage of Evol as much as possible in the future.”

Lucien nodded occasionally, his heart not experiencing significant fluctuations. This day had been expected, and it had arrived as scheduled.

(T/N: PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene that plays a critical role in regulating cell growth and preventing the formation of tumors. And since his platelet count is decreasing, it'll be HARD to stop his bleeding)

The hospital wasn't far from the bioresearch institute, and he reached his office right on time for work. As usual, he opened his computer and pulled up the latest clinical reports on anti-deterioration medications that he had just received in his email.

Among the patients participating in the clinical trials, 42% showed some level of deterioration control after taking the medication, with 8% experiencing particularly positive results. However, for nearly 58% of the remaining patients,...

The research on the medication had been ongoing for nearly a year, yet it still couldn't achieve the expected efficacy. Lucien carefully examined the data on the screen, tapping his fingertips lightly on the desk.

Incomplete Evol genes could lead to abnormalities in the human body, but why would the highly praised “evolutionary” Evol genes lead to such destructive deterioration?

Could it be that Evol eliminates those who cannot withstand its power? Or is the deterioration of Evolvers, to some extent, a part of the world's evolutionary process?

Some vague thoughts raced through his mind, and Lucien allowed them to linger, making a mental note as he continued to focus on the report in front of him.

As the sunlight gradually intensified, shifting towards the other side of the skyline, Lucien took a deep breath, preparing to take a short break.

Just as he closed his eyes, his ears picked up three quick knocks on the door. The third knock was slightly heavier, a habit unique to Pete.

“Come in.”

The door swung open, and Pete briskly walked up to the desk, handing over a stack of research reports.

“Professor, there have been new developments in the experiment data regarding the neuronal position for maintaining neuron function. Detailed results and data are all written in the report. We can start the next phase of experiments tomorrow.”

Lucien quickly glanced at the data and results on the report, and he smiled.

“The results are even better and faster than I had imagined. After work, you can take everyone out to celebrate. Consider it a team-building event, and the institute will reimburse it.”

“You should join us too; the rapid progress of the experiment owes much to the insights you've given us. Everyone wants to thank you.”

Lucien paused for a moment, then continued nonchalantly, “Make a reservation for one more seat, and thank you for your hard work.”

“Sure thing! I'll go inform the others right away.”

After Pete left the office, Lucien shifted his gaze to the dormant screen. He saw his own blurry silhouette, and the lingering smile on his lips confirmed his fleeting good mood.

Maybe... He agreed a bit too quickly just now.

Lucien shook his mouse, and a dense data set appeared on the screen again. It was an observation report from NW on unusual energy fluctuations within Loveland City, as well as the strange phenomena they had generated. This report piqued his interest, and according to the original plan, he should have worked late to finish this research tonight.

However, occasionally participating in such activities could be beneficial for teamwork. Lucien hesitated for only three seconds before saving the document and shutting down the computer.

-

[Chapter 3]

“Swoosh-”

The clear water rinsed away the remnants of liquid in the test tube, and a momentary daydream washed over his relaxed mind. The scene from this morning when he left home reappeared before his eyes.

As Lucien opened his door, the opposite door also swung open, and a girl rushed out with a box of milk in hand. Her hair was slightly disheveled, clearly a result of rushing and not having time to tidy up for work.

He smiled faintly, but strangely, she seemed completely unaware of his presence and focused on her phone, anxiously waiting for the elevator.

In the next moment, the girl's figure seemed to “disappear,” but the elevator remained on the top floor, not descending.

He was briefly taken aback but quickly realized that this was likely the phenomenon caused by the energy fluctuations he had recently seen in the NW observation report on Loveland City. The unknown energy disturbance in the vicinity had created a “rift” in spacetime, and the girl was merely a projected illusion.

The sound of glass clinking brought Lucien back to reality, and he noticed that the test tube in his hand had bumped into the beaker.

“Professor, are you feeling a bit tired? Maybe I should take care of this for you,”

Lucien smiled in response to Pete's concern and began placing the lab equipment into the washing machine. “No need, nothing is pressing right now. I'll consider organizing equipment as a form of rest.”

Although the work on hand was never-ending, under her supervision, he had already learned to carve out some breathing space for himself.

During moments of complete relaxation, unexpected thoughts often diverged in his mind, which brought him happiness. However, lately, whenever he tried to clear his mind, the girl's image and voice would involuntarily “visit” him.

Seeing the slight, involuntary upward curve of his lips, Pete gave him a knowing look and half-jokingly asked, “Professor, are you going on a date later?”

“She's been quite busy lately.” Lucien subtly concealed the thoughts he had inadvertently revealed just now and continued, “Pete, have you chosen a topic for your thesis?”

“It's almost ready. This time, I plan to research 'Using Evol Energy to Stimulate Brain Cells for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment.' I'll put together a formal document for you to review.”

“I remember you were interested in brain memory restoration and extraction before, and you had many intriguing ideas. Are you not planning to explore that area this time?”

“Afterward, I reconsidered. There's more literature available on Alzheimer's disease, and the current market demand is higher. It seems like a more prudent choice.”

Lucien's gaze shifted slightly, not missing the hint of regret that flashed in Pete's eyes.

“I actually think that if it's a topic that interests you, you should give it a try,” Lucien blurted out his most direct thought, receiving a surprised look from Pete.

“What everyone else is doing may be the safer choice, but it's not necessarily the best choice.”

“Uncharted territory doesn't always equate to a dead end; it's just that, in many cases, people tend to instinctively seek the safer path.”

“But in research, the most valuable quality is the persistence to explore and seek knowledge.”

On the way back home, Lucien continued to contemplate the events of the afternoon.

In the realm of scientific research, aiming for safety was not necessarily a mistake; it often led to higher success rates. So, when he made that suggestion, it wasn't solely from an objective standpoint but also a personal desire that the researchers he had mentored could challenge more difficult domains.

Suddenly, a faintly familiar sweet fragrance wafted to his nostrils. He followed the scent and turned to see her favorite cream puff shop.

“Maybe I should buy one and give it a try.”

A few minutes later, Lucien sat on a park bench holding a freshly baked cream puff. He wasn't particularly fond of cream puffs, but the idea that had occurred to him a moment ago had struck without warning. Before he could contemplate the reason behind this thought, his body had already acted on it.

The cream puff, still warm inside its paper bag, emitted a subtle fragrance. He took a gentle bite, the crispy outer shell giving way to the creamy filling, creating a delicate taste on his tongue.

This cream puff wasn't overly sweet and the sweetness that could be detected was minimal.

This subtle sweetness triggered dopamine, and an inexplicable sensation gradually spread from his chest to his limbs. It seemed like his brain had received this pleasurable signal, making him feel considerably more relaxed.

So, this was what she meant by the happiness brought by sweets.

He slowly savored each bite of the cream puff.

Lucien knew that an irreversible change had occurred within himself.

[This behavior of trying new things and impulsively doing something feels like 'my time in this world won't be too long anyway' :""]

-

[Chapter 4]

Inside the research lab, the mechanical hum of instruments droned on rhythmically, and the stark white lights cast a cold silver gleam on the metal plaques with “NW” written on them.

“Blood pressure stable, sinus rhythm normal, no adverse reactions.”

“According to the drug's suggestions, he will act according to our instructions after leaving this lab.”

Lucien glanced through the glass at the person lying on the observation room bed.

“Conduct thorough post-experiment observations, don't overlook any minor irregularities.”

“Alright. Also, Professor Lucien, your ETL-147* drug trial application has been approved, and you need to sign the liability waiver.” The lab technician handed the paperwork to Lucien, looking somewhat hesitant.

“Are you sure you want to personally participate in the drug trial? Although we've conducted preliminary human trials, we haven't done large-scale clinical trials yet, and there are certain risks involved.”

Lucien quickly signed his name. “Trying it myself is the only way to discover areas that may need improvement.”

[I was right about Lucien experimenting on himself with that drug :"D. Anyway, ETL-147 is the same drug from S2 chapter 45]

“Once you've decided, you'll need to receive the injection within the confines of NW with someone present, as per the regulations.”

“Then let's do it now.”

Declining the researcher's offer to assist, Lucien skillfully rolled up his sleeve and disinfected the area. As he watched the liquid in the syringe decrease, he blinked slightly, concealing some contemplation.

“You can go ahead, I'll observe here for half an hour. If there are any issues, I'll reach out to you.”

He watched the researcher leave and then lowered his gaze to his arm, which had a tourniquet in place. Testing the drug on himself wasn't solely for drug research. He could increasingly feel that something was changing within him, hiding and flowing in the gaps of his nerves, elusive and slipping out of his control.

That's why he needed insurance.

He didn't wait for half an hour and left the observation room. The solemn and cold corridor echoed only with the light sound of his footsteps. Each corner had a circular surveillance device with a flashing red indicator light, watching his unhurried steps. He paid little attention to them as he arrived at Archive Room 8.

“Authentication personnel, Lucien. Authorization Level: Three.”

With a beep of an electronic tone, the door to the archive opened for him.

Rows of gray filing cabinets stood in order. He walked deeper into the room, stopping at the second-to-last row. From one of the shelves, he pulled out a file box.

“Blood Disorders and Deterioration Case Files.”

He opened the lid and browsed through the materials inside. During his involvement in the research of anti-blood disorder drugs at NW, Lucien had seen most of these files. As he turned a page, his slender fingers paused.

“Code **, deterioration level reached as high as 95%, reversed deterioration after ** experiment, and after a period of observation, full recovery of human functions, deterioration level reduced to 7%. Detailed information requires special-level clearance to access.”

Looking at the encrypted data, Lucien's lips curved upward without a hint of a smile. He returned the file box to its original place.

It seemed there were quite a few deals he could make here.

-

[Chapter 5]

“To see a world in a grain of sand, and a heaven in a wild flower. Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour. A truth that’s told with bad intent, beats all the lies you can invent...”

(T/N: From the poem Auguries of Innocence written by William Blake. For Blake there's such thing as white lies. Because 'A truth that's told with bad intent' is worse than any lie, because some lies can be well-intentioned)

Under the camphor tree swayed by the autumn breeze, he softly recited verses from the book. Sensing the girl in his arms gradually breathing deeper, he closed the book and gently brushed a strand of hair from the corner of her eye.

In the warm breeze, Lucien slowly opened his eyes, gazing at the familiar cold white ceiling of his office, feeling a slight sense of déjà vu.

This was the fourth time in these seven days that he had dreamt of her.

Since the deterioration, he had hardly experienced any physical discomfort. However, the frequency of thinking about her had increased significantly. He didn't resist this feeling; in fact, every time he thought of her unintentionally, the neurons in his brain transmitted a sense of pleasure to every cell.

He ran his fingers over his knuckles; the wounds from his struggle with GR had scabbed over, but she still applied bandages to them cautiously. Lucien pressed his temple to clear his mind a bit, then returned to his desk, opened a document, and entered the latest date.

“Dreamt of her in a dream, vivid memory of dream content, but ruled out as a recollection.”

After recording this, he opened his email.

This was the latest data on energy fluctuations within Loveland City. On the vast map of Loveland City, there were numerous unusual energy fluctuations. After comparing the fluctuation charts for each period, he noticed the locations where fluctuations were concentrated at different times.

Approximately 36 days ago at around 18:39, Central Park. He and the girl had gone to the night market in the park after work, and they had dinner at a street food stall.

Approximately 27 days ago at around 12:25, the Life Sciences Institute. She came to bring him lunch and, in passing, asked him about the topic for the next program.

15 days ago at 23:48, his apartment. To celebrate the upcoming weekend, they stayed up late watching a movie and didn't return home until very late. She stood at his doorstep and bid him goodnight.

Nine days ago...

The light from the screen reflected a coldness in his pupils as he stared at the map with red markers blinking in different locations.

The center of the fluctuations, once again, was that source of power that had captivated countless people—CORE.

The more beautifully the flower bloomed, the more it attracted annoying flies.

A sudden sense of irritation welled up within him.

What would it take to keep those ill-intentioned insects away from this deeply-rooted flower?

“Snap.”

The light sound shattered the silence as the pen fell to the ground and rolled twice before coming to a stop by his feet.

That sudden absurd idea had torn away all pretense, revealing the raw instinct in its entirety.

— If she had her own path, she shouldn't be trapped by him.

— Don't restrain yourself with rationality, look at your true heart.

Perhaps that dream had already given him a hint. The scales in his heart had gradually tilted away from reason, moving in an unexpected direction.

— She withstood all the wind and rain that came her way, growing resiliently into someone he found truly remarkable. He couldn't encase her within his protective glass cover.

— Are you really don't expect it? Really don't want to possess her? Humans are inherently greedy. Indulgence is human nature.

Lucien felt as though there was a consciousness from a deeper layer detaching from his body, standing at a higher vantage point, watching with keen interest as the two voices in his mind continued their ongoing debate.

Perhaps his own deterioration graph had already started its inexorable ascent towards an unpreventable height, progressing towards the final moment that could arrive at any time.

He suddenly realized that he wasn't as averse to facing that moment as he thought. All the changes in his body were intriguing, both evolution and destruction.

Cells and genes evolved over countless years to adapt to their environment, giving birth to more complete species. However, the incompleteness of the Evol gene led to human deterioration, going in the opposite direction of evolution.

Perhaps Evol held a meaning deeper than “evolution” and “power,” a meaning that no one, including him, had yet to comprehend.

His phone vibrated suddenly, bringing the storm in his mind to an abrupt halt. The girl's name accompanied a text message that appeared before him.

“Do you have time tonight? I found a new barbecue place on Huapu Street.”

“Of course, I'll pick you up after work.”

Perhaps he shouldn't see her now; if he did, this imbalance might intensify rapidly.

But why not indulge in something that brought him happiness?

Lucien closed his eyes.

This self-observation finally introduced more significant variables.

-

NEXT STOP-> [S2 Chapter 51]

[artfoold00k]

FR raffle > ENDED.

I came across an old bog sketch in my files. Now it's finished but has no personality, doesn't belong, not yet alive. Is just a random scry

Let's make this one yours only, a custom artwork for your precious sneak-drake.

Bogsneak draggo. FR game. Raffle for custom artwork. < ENDED

WINNERS are > LINK

Terms and details are below. Easy to participate!

Terms of this raffle: 🔸 COMMENT on this post with the ID number of your Bogsneak dragon (select only one). 🔸 Clothes, skin/accent, and genes are allowed. 🔸 I'll consider those dragons who are not too complex. 🔸 You may include a note in your comment along with the number if something needs explanation. 🔸 Any gender but not an exalted dragon. 🔸 Tumblr account is required. 🔸 You don't have to follow my account in order to participate, only if you want to. I'd appreciate it if you reblog this post but it's not necessary as well. Reblog and/or follow, however, will grant you 1 extra entry.

Clarifications: 🔸 Raffle will start only with a minimum of 10 comments containing a participant dragon ID 🔸 Only ONE winner will be selected per 10 comments bunch. More comments = more winners. 10 = 1, 20 = 2, etc. 🔸 Raffle will be finalized when no new comments are received for 4 consecutive days. And once finalized, no new comments will be taken into account. 🔸 When the status of this raffle changes, it'll be displayed accordingly in the title of this post. 🔸 Numbers of dragons selected will be gathered by me, shuffled, and run through a randomizer. Additional entries = extra number repetition in the list. 🔸 I'll contact the winner (if possible) informing about the win. 🔸 I'll adjust and refine my draw to picture the winner dragon to the best of my capability. This means I'll add clothes, accessories, and whatever else is necessary. The pose and expression stay as they are currently on the draw. 🔸 My ID will be present in the final pic but less obstructive. 🔸 When the draw is ready, I'll post it on my Tumblr with the related user @ ping/mention.

🔴⚠ The final picture will be provided for PERSONAL use only and restricted to Flight Rising and Tumblr platforms. Web quality, medium size to fit into dragon's profile page.

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Hi everyone,

I found a fascinating article talking about the link between the gut micro biome and autism. Here are some excerpts from the article:

“A new paper, authored by no less than 43 scientists of various disciplines, has found the strongest link yet between gut microbes, host immunity, genetic expression in the nervous system, and dietary patterns.”

“Today, scientists know that people with autism are more likely to experience gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation, diarrhea, bloating, and vomiting.

What's more, in recent years, researchers have begun to find links between the makeup of microbes that call our guts home and neurodevelopmental disorders, like ASD.

Nevertheless, this connection isn't always consistent, and some experts have argued it isn't gut bacteria that trigger ASD, necessarily; it could be that kids with autism are more likely to restrict their diets because of 'picky' eating, which in turn influences the kinds of bacteria that persist in the digestive tract.

The new study incorporates 10 existing datasets on autism and the microbiome, plus 15 other datasets regarding dietary patterns, metabolism, immune cell profiles, and gene expression profiles of the human brain.”

The full article will be below in case anyone would like to read more.

Autism

[rewritingcanon]

Sorry, this might be a long rant but those anons and replies you were getting got me going. TERFs always say how trans women are “cosplaying” or “performing” what they think a woman is. But, and I say this as a cis woman, don’t cis women do that too? I’d argue that it’s not even performing womanhood, it’s performing femininity, and isn’t femininity a performance at the end of the day? Cis women wear makeup, jewelry, dresses, etc. usually to express their femininity, but it’s not inherent to being a woman. Being born a woman doesn’t automatically come with a gene that makes you interested in traditionally feminine things or ways of expression, it’s all socialization. People associate gender affirmation only with trans people, but cis men and woman do it too? Men will go to the gym to build muscle or get hair transplants to feel more masculine, and women will do things that make them feel more feminine. It’s all a performance that we put on for society. Cis women get cosmetic surgery to adhere to female beauty standards all the time (even JKR, allegedly) but suddenly it’s a problem when trans women do it?

It sucks because I do consider myself a radical feminist but TERFs make it hard to exist in that space. I think TERFs and I would agree that women getting plastic surgery is actually not an empowering or feminist choice and only further feeds an industry that profits off of making women (especially women of color) feel insecure. However, I don’t blame women for getting work done, because they’re essentially the victim in the scenario. Why would I blame someone who is groomed by a society that tells them certain parts of them are bad and need to be changed? It’s pointless and self righteous, and it only further puts the burden of being the “perfect victim” on women. I feel the same for trans women (and men). I don’t like that we live in a society that pressures people into undergoing sometimes very serious procedures to be more palatable. But that’s hardly their fault, is it? Can I really blame anyone for being worn down and making a decision to try and make their life in a toxic world easier? Specifically for trans women, it also involves their safety because they (specifically trans women of color) are the most at risk members of society, especially when it comes to violence. The more they ‘pass’, they are keeping themselves safe.

It’s just so crazy to me how TERFs can acknowledge that the patriarchy is toxic to women in ways that affect their daily lives and how they present themselves, but can’t seem to understand that it also affects other groups of people in those ways as well. Trans women aren’t our enemy, they’re just trying to survive, just like we are. How can I fault anyone for that?

Again, so sorry for the long rant but I got heated lmao

no dont apologise babe i completely agree LOL. its so sad because when i first came across radical feminism it was about their takes on sex work and the porn industry in general and i really agreed with a lot they had to say so i kept deep diving and THEN i came across the terfism. and to this day idk whether that is intrinsic to radfem ideology or if terfs are just saying it is. either way, its sad because i feel like radfems are sort of overshadowed by terfs in their spaces and get a bad rep to their name because of how many bigots use that space to promote their hateful rhetoric instead of promoting their good takes on patriarchy.

that original post about jkr got a lot of terfs/self proclaimed radfems in the shits too and i would scroll through their profiles and read what they had to say about the oppression of ciswomen and actually agree with them. and then they would turn around and argue the exact opposite about trans women which was absolutely mind-boggling to me. you tell me these people can discuss so many nuances about cis-womanhood but refuse to acknowledge similar nuances in transpeople? crazy. and very disappointing.

your point on plastic surgery and gender affirming surgery is interesting. ive never thought about it that way before or thought to compare the two. i agree with what you say about cis women getting plastic surgery btw, i also dont think it’s empowering women at all but i wont blame them. i think the difference between that and gender affirming surgery is that there are more grey areas like gender dysmorphia (although not everyone who gets this surgery has to have dysmorphia) and also what you said about safety in passing! im cis too so i dont pretend to know how gender dysmorphia feels like (i know dysmorphia is also not a trans-only thing either though). maybe the experience of that is because of socialisation and the knowledge that one’s physicality is preventing them from being socialised ‘correctly,’ and maybe that would disappear if strict ideas of gender (and what ‘man/woman’ “look” like) disappeared as well, but i don’t pretend to know lol. i dont want to make it out to be some big illusion of patriarchy or anything.

either way, you’re right. we are oppressed by patriarchy in similar ways, ways that are exacerbated for trans women (and more so for non-white trans women). even trans men are oppressed too, but im not so sure how they fit into terf rhetoric. i think they may just groups trans men in with cis women? although ive never seen a terf come on here and speak up for the oppression of trans men either so. lol.

sorry for taking so long to answer this i was pondering it for a long time 😭👍

[covid-safer-hotties]

Deterioration of neuroimmune homeostasis in Alzheimer’s Disease patients who survive a COVID-19 infection - Published Aug 17, 2024

Abstract Growing evidence has implicated systemic infection as a significant risk factor for the development and advancement of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). With the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) and the resultant pandemic, many individuals from the same aging population vulnerable to AD suffered a severe systemic infection with potentially unidentified long-term consequences for survivors. To study the impact of COVID-19 survival on the brain’s intrinsic immune system in a population also suffering from AD, we profiled post-mortem brain tissue from patients in the UF Neuromedicine Human Brain and Tissue Bank with a diagnosis of AD who survived a COVID-19 infection (COVID-AD) and contrasted our findings with AD patients who did not experience a COVID-19 infection, including a group of brain donors who passed away before arrival of SARS-CoV-2 in the United States. We assessed disease-relevant protein pathology and microglial and astrocytic markers by quantitative immunohistochemistry and supplemented these data with whole tissue gene expression analysis performed on the NanoString nCounter® platform. COVID-AD patients showed slightly elevated Aβ burden in the entorhinal, fusiform, and inferior temporal cortices compared to non-COVID-AD patients, while tau pathology burden did not differ between groups. Analysis of microglia revealed a significant loss of microglial homeostasis as well as exacerbated microgliosis in COVID-AD patients compared to non-COVID-AD patients in a brain region-dependent manner. Furthermore, COVID-AD patients showed reduced cortical astrocyte numbers, independent of functional subtype. Transcriptomic analysis supported these histological findings and, in addition, identified a dysregulation of oligodendrocyte and myelination pathways in the hippocampus of COVID-AD patients. In summary, our data demonstrate a profound impact of COVID-19 infection on neuroimmune and glial pathways in AD patients persisting for months post-infection, highlighting the importance of peripheral to central neuroimmune crosstalk in neurodegenerative diseases.

[bpod-bpod]

All Together Now

Profiling single cells within tissues according to the activity of multiple genes using methods called Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization of Cellular HeterogeneIty and gene expression Programs (FISHnCHIPs) enables mapping of cell types within a tissue while preserving its architecture. Different cell types in a mouse whole brain section are shown in the image individually and as a composite

Read the published research article here

Adapted image from work by Xinrui Zhou and Wan Yi Seow, and colleagues

Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore

Image originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Published in Nature Communications, March 2024

You can also follow BPoD on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

[greenpeople]

Nature‘s OZEMPIC

Berberine exerts its effects through various mechanisms within the body, making it a versatile and powerful natural compound. Here’s a closer look at how berberine works:

Mechanism of Action at a Cellular Level

Berberine impacts several cellular processes, including:

AMPK Activation: Berberine activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a key enzyme involved in regulating cellular energy metabolism. AMPK activation helps enhance glucose uptake, improve insulin sensitivity, and promote energy production.

Gene Expression Regulation: Berberine can influence gene expression, particularly those related to lipid metabolism and inflammation. This regulation plays a role in its therapeutic effects on metabolic disorders and inflammatory conditions.

Key Biochemical Pathways Affected by Berberine

Berberine interacts with several biochemical pathways, including:

Insulin Signaling: By enhancing insulin sensitivity and reducing insulin resistance, berberine helps regulate blood sugar levels, which is beneficial for individuals with diabetes or metabolic syndrome.

Lipid Metabolism: Berberine can lower lipid levels, including cholesterol and triglycerides, by inhibiting enzymes involved in cholesterol synthesis and promoting bile acid excretion.

Scientific Research Supporting Its Efficacy

Numerous studies have demonstrated berberine's effectiveness in:

Managing Blood Sugar Levels: Berberine has shown comparable efficacy to conventional diabetes medications in controlling blood glucose levels.

Improving Lipid Profiles: It can reduce total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (often referred to as "bad" cholesterol), and triglycerides, contributing to cardiovascular health.

Benefits of Berberine

Berberine offers a wide range of health benefits, supported by scientific research. Here are some of the key benefits:

Metabolic Support

Blood Sugar Regulation: Berberine helps regulate glucose metabolism by enhancing insulin sensitivity and reducing insulin resistance, making it beneficial for managing diabetes and prediabetes.

Weight Management: It may aid in weight loss by influencing metabolic pathways and promoting fat breakdown.

2. Cardiovascular Health

Cholesterol Reduction: Berberine can lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (the "bad" cholesterol), and triglyceride levels, which are important factors in reducing cardiovascular risk.

Blood Pressure Regulation: Studies suggest berberine may help lower blood pressure, supporting heart health.

3. Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects

Berberine exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce inflammation in the body and support joint health.

It also acts as an antioxidant, scavenging free radicals and protecting cells from oxidative stress.

4. Gastrointestinal Support

Berberine has been used traditionally to support digestive health, including relief from diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues.

Its antimicrobial properties may help combat harmful bacteria in the gut.

5. Cognitive Support

Emerging research indicates that berberine may have neuroprotective effects, potentially benefiting cognitive function and brain health.

[botanyone]

Antarctic moss proves cold weather isnt just for penguins

Antarctic moss proves cold weather isn’t just for penguins https://ift.tt/LciIb3E Mosses, which often go unnoticed in gardens and forests, have demonstrated an outstanding ability to adapt to extreme environments. Among them, Antarctic mosses are particularly interesting due to their resilience in one of the most challenging climates on Earth. Despite the freezing temperatures, prolonged drought, and intense ultraviolet radiation, these plants not only survive but also exhibit active growth during a brief summer season. Now, new research published in AoB PLANTS, shows that some Antarctic mosses adapt to these conditions by increasing the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism and the accumulation of unsaturated fatty acids. In this new study, the research team from Niigata University in Japan, focused on Bryum pseudotriquetrum, one of the more common mosses found in Antarctica. By employing transcriptome analyses, they explored how this species adapts to its challenging surroundings, particularly in comparison to controlled artificial conditions at 15°C. The research generated 88,205 contigs through de novo assembly, which represent the diverse array of genes expressed by this moss species. The analysis unveiled that under natural Antarctic field conditions 1,377 genes were upregulated, while 435 were downregulated when compared to those grown in more temperate, artificially controlled settings. But what does this mean for the moss’s survival? The upregulated genes included several related to lipid metabolism and the formation of oil bodies, two critical components that play a vital role in plants’ ability to cope with stress. Lipid metabolism is crucial for plants, especially in extreme environments where maintaining cellular integrity is essential. The study found that the expression levels of these lipid-related genes increased significantly in response to various artificial stress treatments, including low temperatures, salt exposure, and osmotic stress. This suggests that Bryum pseudotriquetrum has evolved mechanisms to change its lipid profiles in response to environmental challenges. Interestingly, the researchers observed that mosses grown in Antarctic conditions contained elevated levels of fatty acids, particularly α-linolenic acid, linolenic acid, and arachidonic acid and a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids. These fatty acids play a key role in maintaining membrane fluidity, and thus support cellular function in cold environments where membranes might otherwise become rigid. In the present study, RNA-seq analysis was carried out in the common moss Bryum pseudotriquetrum and genes related to lipid metabolism and oil body formation were found to be highly expressed in field samples. In plant cells, lipid accumulation and changes in fatty acid composition are important mechanisms for acquiring environmental stress tolerance. Thus, these genes may be involved in multiple stress tolerance in Bryum pseudotriquetrum growing in Antarctica. This study marks a significant advance in our understanding of how some plants respond to the extreme conditions of their native habitats. By providing the first gene expression profiles for mosses grown directly under Antarctic field conditions, it highlights the role of lipid metabolism and fatty acid composition in stress tolerance. The results also highlight the importance of in situ studies for understanding the mechanisms of plant resilience in stressed environments. READ THE ARTICLE Otani N., Kitamura H., Kudoh S., Imura S. and Nakano M. (2024) “Transcriptome analysis of the common moss Bryum pseudotriquetrum grown under Antarctic field condition” AoB PLANTS. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/aobpla/plae043 Cover image by HermannSchachner – Own work, CC0, Link The post Antarctic moss proves cold weather isn’t just for penguins appeared first on Botany One. via Botany One https://botany.one/ October 23, 2024 at 03:30PM

[springstarfangirl]

The Bizarre Genetics of the Todoroki Family

Following a discussion with @greenmoons in which she was about to get mad about MHA blood types, I decided to bring my research here as well. This is gonna be a long one, so continuation under the cut.

Let's start out with the basics. Blood types! There shouldn't be something too controversial here, right? WRONG.

Shoto Todoroki, as listed on his character profile, has type O blood. His father, Enji Todoroki, has type AB. According to fifth grade biology class and the Punnet squares we used to learn about dominant and recessive genes (not that those are the only types by a long shot, there are also codominant and incomplete dominant genes), this should be impossible.

See, here's the thing. Fifth grade biology is incredibly simplified, and you never know what's possible if you don't go looking for it. Not only is it possible for an AB parent to have an O child, there are actually two ways it can happen.

First off, the cis-AB gene.

Everyone remembers how ABO blood types work, right? O is recessive, and if you have the genes for both A and B, you have type AB blood.

Turns out it's not that simple. In East Asia, found most frequently in Koreans (3 in 100,000 people) and Japanese (1 in 100,000 people), there is a gene variant called cis-AB, which codes for both A and B at once. If you have this gene variant, you will have type AB blood no matter what the other gene codes for.

This means that if someone with AB blood has this gene, they could carry any other gene along with it and it could be expressed in the next generation.

Back to Enji and Shoto.

If Enji has type AB blood due to the cis-AB gene, it means he could be a carrier for the type O gene, which he could pass on to his son.

The second option is what's called the Bombay blood type.

ABO genes can code for two proteins, right? A and B.

So it turns out that's not entirely correct. Those genes actually code how to turn another protein, H, into A and B.

The Bombay blood type is caused by a mutation in the gene that produces the H protein, causing it to not work and creating a phenotype of type O blood. This means that no matter what your genes code for, whether you're actually type O or type A or B or even AB, you will wind up presenting with type O blood.

The biggest problem with Bombay type blood is that because the problem is with the H protein, the bloodstream carries antigens not only for the A and B proteins like regular type O blood, it also carries an antigen for the H protein. This means that Bombay type blood, while it can donate to the entire ABO blood spectrum, can only receive from other Bombay types. And Bombay type blood is incredibly rare, at a 4 per million occurrence rate in most places in the world.

Note that I said most places, though. The Bombay blood type is named for the city of Mumbai, India, where the occurrence of the blood type can be up to 1 in 10,000.

In this case, both Enji and Rei would need to carry the recessive gene for this blood type. It apparently appears more frequently in inbred families, which we know the Himuras are, so that answers one or two questions. Shoto, having received two copies of the recessive gene, would present with Bombay type O blood.

Funnily enough, even the Wikipedia page for the cis-AB gene calls this out as a possibility.

Now that the blood types are explained, I'm gonna go on a side tangent about genetic chimerism because I can.

I believe that Shoto Todoroki is a twin chimera, resulting from the fusion of a pair of fraternal twins in the womb.

Quirks don't always make sense. Neither do the hair colors in MHA, for that matter. How did Denki and Kyoka get their hair streaks in the shapes of a lightning bolt and the pulse of a heartbeat? But it's anime, so I'll roll with it.

Shoto, on the other hand, is a different story. It's not just a streak of another color like his classmates or even multiple streaks like Fuyumi. It's not even Marie Antoinette syndrome (looking at you, Touya.) No, his hair is split right down the middle. And his eyes too- he has complete heterochromia iridium, one turquoise eye like Enji and one brown/gray (depends on the image) eye like Rei.

Genetic heterochromia iridium can be caused by simple genetic inheritance, but that clearly isn't the case here, as it is caused by an autosomal dominant gene, which means that either Rei or Enji would have heterochromia as well. And they don't. The other option is mosaicism, which is when the two eyes have different genetics.

Now, why is he a twin chimera and not just a mosaic? That comes back to the hair. The eye colors align with the hair colors such that they match the parents. Shoto is split entirely down the middle. Mosaicism doesn't do that, and the possibility of absorbing just a few cells making it possible to combine such powerful quirks as Hellflame and Frost doesn't make sense.

Now, if there were twins, one with Enji's red hair and turquoise eyes and one with Rei's gray eyes and white hair, and they merged in the womb... The body would have adjusted to being able to utilize both fire and ice, and it would create the possibility of the split hair colors like Shoto has going on.

Yeah, genetics are weird, and the Todoroki family? Even weirder than most.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

International consortium with NASA reveals hidden impact of spaceflight on gut health

Scientists have uncovered how spaceflight profoundly alters the gut microbiome, revealing previously unknown effects on host physiology that could shape the future of long-duration space missions.

Led by University College Dublin (UCD) and McGill University, Canada, in collaboration with NASA and an international consortium, the research offers the most detailed profile to date of how space travel impacts the gut microbes we carry into space.

Published in npj Biofilms and Microbiomes, the study used advanced genetic technologies to examine changes in the gut microbiome, colons, and livers of mice aboard the International Space Station (ISS) over three months. The findings reveal significant shifts in specific bacteria and corresponding changes in host gene expression associated to immune and metabolic dysfunction commonly observed in space, offering new insights into how these changes may affect astronaut physiology during extended missions.

Dr Emmanuel Gonzalez, McGill University, and first author of the study, said: "Spaceflight extensively alters astronaut physiology, yet many underlying factors remain a mystery. By integrating new genomic methods, we can simultaneously explore gut bacteria and host genetics in extraordinary detail and are beginning to see patterns that could explain spaceflight pathology. It’s clear we’re not just sending humans and animals to space, but entire ecosystems, the understanding of which is crucial to help us develop safeguards for future space exploration." 

The international collaboration, spearheaded by UCD with NASA GeneLab’s Analysis Working Groups, is part of the recent Nature Portfolio package: The Second Space Age: Omics, Platforms and Medicine across Space Orbits - the largest coordinated release of space biology discoveries in history. These findings highlight Ireland's growing role in microbiome and space life sciences research and demonstrate how understanding biological adaptations to spaceflight can not only advance aerospace medicine but also have significant implications for health on Earth.

Professor Nicholas Brereton, UCD School of Biology and Environmental Science, and senior author of the study, said: "These discoveries highlight the intricate dialogue between specific gut bacteria and their mouse hosts, critically involved in bile acid, cholesterol, and energy metabolism. They shed new light on the importance of microbiome symbiosis to health and how these Earth-evolved relationships may be vulnerable to the stresses of space. We hope this research exemplifies how cooperative Open Science can drive discoveries with clear medical benefits on Earth, while also supporting the upcoming Artemis missions, the deployment of the Gateway deep space station, and a crewed mission to Mars."

Ames Space Biology Portfolio Scientist, NASA Ames Research Center, Jonathan Galazka said: "These discoveries are an important piece in our understanding of how spaceflight impacts astronauts and will aid the design of safe and effective missions to Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars. Moreover, the collaborative nature of this project is a blueprint for how Open Science can accelerate the pace of discovery.”

[linagram]

mrs sanada and mrs yoshioka reveal!! wow!!

i don't think i'll show everyone's family members, friends, etc, unless they're very important to their backstories and overall plot, but these two definitely play a huge role here. i haven't written full profiles for them, but you can still read some info about them under the cut.

Mrs. Sanada's name, Miori, is written like this: 美居 and it means "beautiful, pretty" and "to stay, to be in the present". Fun fact: she shares a kanji (美) with Aimi and Naomi.

Mrs. Yoshioka's name, Chihaya, is written like this: 知早 and means "knowledge, understanding" and "early, fast".

Both women were pretty young when they gave birth to their oldest children, Miori was 25 years old when Kei was born and Chihaya was 22 years old (Mahiru, I am so sorry.) when she gave birth to Eiko.

Funnily enough (in kind of a messed up way), Kei is also 25 years old right now (26 if we're going with the T2 timeline) and when he was asked what he thinks about children in his interrogation, he said that he wouldn't be surprised to find out that he already has a kid because of his "lifestyle". Oh, just to add to that, Kei wasn't a planned pregnancy. Same goes for Eiji. There's nothing sad or scary about it though, since Miori really was okay with having kids.

I probably should've revealed this sooner, but I wasn't sure how to bring it up. Miori and her husband actually have a quite open relationship, meaning that they're married, sure, but they're free to date anybody they like. Honestly, if I had to describe their relationship, it has both platonic and sexual elements, but they don't have any romantic feelings for each other. They're just friends who find each other very attractive and wanted to live together and that's it. They're so chill about it that it's honestly kinda sweet. (And now you can also see that one of the reasons why Kei doesn't really understand how romantic love works is because his own parents don't like each other in that way) So, where am I going with this? Well, uh. Yeah, there's a possibility that Eiji and Kei are actually half-brothers, it's just that both of them got all the genes from their mother. Their parents couldn't care less about that though and even if it did turn out that Kei and Eiji's biological fathers are different, Miori's husband would still love Eiji the same way. (A very subtle difference between Eiji and Kei's designs is that Eiji doesn't have any noticeable beauty marks and he's more pale than Kei and Miori)

"Then why did Chihaya have Eiko when she was even younger?" Sadly, she had to grow up too fast 😔 Yes, that's why her name meaning is like that. And that's also why her relationship with Eiko isn't really a relationship that you would expect a mother and a daughter to have, for example, Eiko calls her "the head of the family" and says that she "respects" her, but doesn't really "love" her. Chihaya basically had no choice but to have a child at some point in her life and Eiko is a walking reminder of that, so sometimes she prefers not to even look at her own daughter.

Eiko's little brother, however, was born because Chihaya genuinely wanted to have a child that she could love, but.. In the end, she still felt nothing for him. She should've expected it, really. She doesn't even love her own husband after all.

Just like Kei said, Miori really is a toymaker and she really does love to see children's face expressions when their parents buy them the toys they wanted. Her toys, however, are popular mostly with "weird" kids and teenagers because her toys can be cute, but they have this creepy vibe that scares other children, especially very young ones, and their parents. And honestly, good for them, because literally all Sanada family members are criminals in some way. Miori's toys are totally not dangerous in any way, trust me <3 (Some of her toys have tiny hidden cameras and yes, that means she's responsible for many cases of child kidnapping. Why did she have to kidnap them? For her husband's movies, of course!)

Hm? You want to know what Eiko's parents do?.. Well, for certain reasons I still can't tell you much about it, but what I can say is that they got a new job recently. And no, they still were criminals even before that. If you want a hint.. Pretty much all main characters and side characters have never seen or heard of each other (not counting the established dynamics like Akio and Arata, Kei and Ruka, etc) since they come from different towns, cities, etc, but these two actually knew Takame when she was in her twenties and even spent some time working together.

Just a fun design note: Kei and Eiji look a lot like their mother, however, Eiko and Chihaya don't look that similar. Only when you take a closer look, you can notice that both of them have some shade of purple as their eye color and also Chihaya has a hair gradient as well, it's just that hers is a "reverse" version of Eiko's. And Sanada brothers have a very close relationship with their mother even if Eiji hates her, meanwhile Chihaya and Eiko honestly act more like coworkers.

Some information about their husbands: Kei and Eiji's father has been mentioned to be half-American and he really doesn't look that much like them. He's also younger than Miori. Meanwhile Eiko's father is older than Chihaya, has a hair color that's similar to his daughter's (though he lacks the gradient and it's a bit darker/more "dirty") and wears glasses.

Eiko's younger brother's hair color is very similar to Chihaya's, but just like his father, he doesn't have a gradient and he also got his eye color from his father.

The reason why Miori is.. like this is because YAY, HER FAMILY ALSO WAS DYSFUNCTIONAL! She had a lot of generational trauma to deal with (and is now inflicting it on her sons) and she grew up not knowing how to be a child, but also not knowing how to be an adult. She also got the "pain=love" belief from her own parents as well, except she really does love her sons and doesn't know how to show it in a more healthy way.

Eiji had to protect Kei from her because he didn't want Kei to grow up and become like her, since the older boy was already showing signs of it and Eiji wanted to show that it's wrong and begged Miori to leave his brother alone. Except Kei got jealous because he started to think Miori loves Eiji more and he still grew up to be exactly like her.

She still had some oddly cute moments with her kids. For example, she made some toys for them (no, they were completely safe) when they were little and they slept with them too (Eiji still has one hidden under his bed. Yes, he finds his mother terrifying. Yes, he still loves her). When something really bad happened to Kei in school, she took him to his favorite cafe and talked to him about it. And when Eiji got his heart broken because the girl he liked turned out to be dating someone else, she suggested that they make her the star of his dad's new movie- Ah, that one is probably more scary, but still, she cares.