#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.”

[covid-safer-hotties]

Reference saved in our archive (Daily updates!)

Covid has not and *does* not magically evolve to be more mild: It evolves to survive and reproduce. Mask up. Stay safe.

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) have been associated with increased viral transmission and disease severity. We investigated the mechanisms of pathogenesis caused by variants using a host blood transcriptome profiling approach. We analysed transcriptional signatures of COVID-19 patients comparing those infected with wildtype (wt), alpha, delta or omicron strains seeking insights into infection in Asymptomatic cases.

Comparison of transcriptional profiles of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic COVID-19 cases showed increased differentially regulated gene (DEGs) of inflammatory, apoptosis and blood coagulation pathways, with decreased T cell and Interferon stimulated genes (ISG) activation. Between SARS-CoV-2 strains, an increasing number of DEGs occurred in comparisons between wt and alpha (196), delta (1425) or, omicron (2313) infections. COVID-19 cases with alpha or, delta variants demonstrated suppression transcripts of innate immune pathways. EGR1 and CXCL8 were highly upregulated in those infected with VOC; heme biosynthetic pathway genes (ALAS2, HBB, HBG1, HBD9) and ISGs were downregulated. Delta and omicron infections upregulated ribosomal pathways, reflecting increased viral RNA translation. Asymptomatic COVID-19 cases infected with delta infections showed increased cytokines and ISGs expression. Overall, increased inflammation, with reduced host heme synthesis was associated with infections caused by VOC infections, with raised type I interferon in cases with less severe disease.

[bodyalive]

First off, what is inherited trauma? It’s the emotional, psychological, and biological imprint of your family’s unresolved trauma—passed down through generations. You might feel it as: - Chronic anxiety - Fears you can’t explain - Unexplained health issues - Obsessive thoughts and habits But let's see what science says ↓

Scientists have discovered that trauma changes your genes. When your ancestors experienced trauma (war, poverty, abuse), their bodies adapted to survive. These changes—called epigenetic tags—alter how genes are expressed. Translation? You inherit more than their hair color. You inherit their survival responses.

Trauma doesn’t just shape your emotions—it rewires your biology. Studies prove it. - Offspring of Holocaust survivors exhibited altered stress hormone profiles, predisposing them to anxiety disorders and PTSD. - A study of Ukrainian families affected by the Holodomor famine revealed transgenerational impacts such as anxiety, shame, food hoarding, and authoritarian parenting styles. These biological adaptations were once survival mechanisms but now they are inherited...

How do you know if you’re carrying inherited trauma? Here are common signs: - Recurring family patterns (addiction, conflict, failure). - Fears or beliefs that feel irrational. - Chronic stress or illness with no clear cause. These patterns will persist until they’re consciously addressed.

But here’s the good news: You can break the cycle. Healing inherited trauma doesn’t just change your life—it transforms future generations. Epigenetics changes are not permanent— they can be changed through therapeutic works at any time. As a holistic therapist, here’s what I’ve seen work best:

Step 1: Explore your family Genogram. What unspoken events shaped your family? - Loss, war, migration, abuse, or betrayal? - Secrets, silences, or "taboo" topics? Understanding these root events is essential to healing.

Step 2: Recognize inherited language. Listen for repeating family phrases: - "We never get ahead." - "It’s hard to trust people." - "Love always ends in pain." - "Money doesn't grow on trees" These beliefs often reflect unhealed trauma passed down to you generationally...

Step 3: Rewire your nervous system Inherited trauma isn’t just emotional—it’s stored in your body and nervous system. In my experience as a therapist, neuroscience-based tools are the most effective at directly healing trauma in the mind-body system. Talk therapy often falls short at this. Here’s what works instead ↓

Proven Neuroscience tools for healing: • Somatic therapies: TRE (Tension Release Exercises). • Breathwork: Polyvagal breathing to calm the nervous system. • Meditation and mindfulness: Rewire emotional responses. These tools directly reset your body’s stress response, creating lasting change...

Step 4: Rewrite the narrative. Trauma may have shaped your family story, but it doesn’t define you. Use Narrative Therapy (CBT) to shift limiting beliefs: - “I’m safe to succeed.” - “Love doesn’t have to hurt.” - “I’m free to create a new path.”

You’re not broken. Inherited trauma isn’t a life sentence—it’s a calling to heal what others couldn’t. When you do the work, you don’t just free yourself. You free your family’s past and future.

[Brian Maierhofer]

[brightlotusmoon]

"I’ve written about innate traits of autism and adhd in separate posts, so I wanted to write about similarities and differences between these closely related neurotypes.

Innate traits of Autism are neural hyper-connection, monotropism, and bottom up processing. Innate traits of ADHD are neural hyperconnection, monotropism and holotropism, and flexible processing styles (both bottom up and top down).

Distress symptoms of each of these neurotypes are listed in the DSM as diagnostic criteria, which leads to great confusion about these neurotypes.

Some Autistic and/or ADHD people go their entire lives without any recognition of their neurodivergence - this is true for many people in our parents and grandparents generation.

Many Autistic and ADHD people are never formally diagnosed but seek out ways to affirm and support their neurotype without diagnosis.

In a fully supportive environment, an Autistic or ADHD person may not display enough distress symptoms to fit the diagnostic criteria. It’s been a joy to personally witness Autistic and ADHD children being raised by parents who understand their kids neurological needs. These parents struggle to get accommodations for their children because they aren’t displaying enough distress behaviors.

Autistic and ADHD people who mask or fawn a lot are frequently not diagnosed because masking internalizes their distress symptoms. High-masking neurodivergent people often experience a burnout episode which leads them to display a lot of distress responses which leads them to a recognition of their Autism or ADHD.

Autism and ADHD are genetically closely related. There are about 200 total genes which code for Autism & ADHD and people only need a handful of these genes to express Autistic/ADHD phenotypes. Autistic parents typically have Autistic kids and ADHD parents typically have ADHD kids but Autistic parents can also have ADHD kids and ADHD parents can have Autistic kids.

I think someday people might consider Autism, AuDHD, and ADHD to be different profiles of the same neurotype. I’m AuDHD myself so I have a difficult time making a clear distinction between what Autism is and what ADHD is.

I see validity in seeing them as parts of the same thing and also in seeing them as distinct from each other. I’m not invested in looking at it one way or the other.

To clarify what I mean by parts of the same thing I am NOT suggesting that adhd = autism or autism = adhd. I am also not suggesting that autisic and adhd people have the same support needs.

The idea that they are parts of the same thing is like saying a foot and an ear are both part of an elephant. Obviously a foot is not an ear and an ear is not a foot and the foot and ear have different needs, but both are part of the elephant.

IF Autism and ADHD are distinct parts of the same genetic neurotype, that neurotype has not yet been named.

PDA and several other types of neurodivergence could also be distinct profiles of the same overarching genetic type."

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18eUHWJYBH/

[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 😭👍

[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

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

rain cells remain healthy after a month on the International Space Station, but mature faster than brain cells on Earth

Microgravity is known to alter the muscles, bones, the immune system and cogni­tion, but little is known about its specific impact on the brain. To discover how brain cells respond to microgravity, Scripps Research scientists, in collaboration with the New York Stem Cell Foundation, sent tiny clumps of stem-cell derived brain cells called “organoids” to the International Space Station (ISS).

Surprisingly, the organoids were still healthy when they returned from orbit a month later, but the cells had matured faster compared to identical organoids grown on Earth—they were closer to becoming adult neurons and were beginning to show signs of specialization. The results, which could shed light on potential neurological effects of space travel, were published on October 23, 2024, in Stem Cells Translational Medicine.

“The fact that these cells survived in space was a big surprise,” says co-senior author Jeanne Loring, PhD, professor emeritus in the Department of Molecular Medicine and founding director of the Center for Regenerative Medicine at Scripps Research. “This lays the groundwork for future experiments in space, in which we can include other parts of the brain that are affected by neurodegenerative disease.”

On Earth, the team used stem cells to create organoids consisting of either cortical or dopaminergic neurons, which are the neuronal populations impacted in multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease—diseases that Loring has studied for decades. Some organoids also included microglia, a type of immune cell that is resident within the brain, to examine the impact of microgravity on inflammation.

Organoids are usually grown in a nutrient-rich liquid medium that must be changed regularly to ensure that the cells have adequate nutrition, and to remove waste products. To avoid the need for lab work on the ISS, the team pioneered a method for growing smaller-than-usual organoids in cryovials—small, airtight vials that were originally designed for deep freezing.

The organoids were prepared in labs at the Kennedy Space Station and traveled to the ISS in a miniature incubator. After a month in orbit, they returned to Earth, where the team showed that they were healthy and intact.

To examine how the space environment impacts cellular functions, the team compared the cells’ RNA expression patterns—a measure of gene activity—to identical “ground control” organoids that had remained on Earth. Surprisingly, they found that the organoids grown in microgravity had higher levels of genes associated with maturity and lower levels of genes associated with proliferation compared to the ground controls, meaning that the cells exposed to microgravity developed faster and replicated less than those on Earth.

“We discovered that in both types of organoids, the gene expression profile was characteristic of an older stage of development than the ones that were on ground,” says Loring. “In microgravity, they developed faster, but it’s really important to know these were not adult neurons, so this doesn’t tell us anything about aging.”

The team also noted that, contrary to their hypothesis, there was less inflammation and lower expression of stress-related genes in organoids grown in microgravity, but more research is needed to determine why.

Loring speculates that microgravity conditions may more closely mirror the conditions experienced by cells within the brain compared to organoids grown under conventional lab conditions and in the presence of gravity.

“The characteristics of microgravity are probably also at work in people's brains, because there's no convection in microgravity—in other words, things don't move,” says Loring. “I think that in space, these organoids are more like the brain because they're not getting flushed with a whole bunch of culture medium or oxygen. They're very independent; they form something like a brainlet, a microcosm of the brain.”

The paper describes the team’s first space mission, but since then, they have sent four more missions to the ISS. With each one, they’ve replicated the conditions from the first mission and added additional experiments.

 “The next thing we plan to do is to study the part of the brain that's most affected by Alzheimer's disease,” says Loring. “We also want to know whether there are differences in the way neurons connect with each other in space. With these kinds of studies, you can't rely on earlier work to predict what the result would be because there is no earlier work. We're on the ground floor, so to speak; in the sky, but on the ground floor.”

IMAGE: Brain organoids were healthy and continued to grow after spending a month on the International Space Station. Credit Jeanne Loring

[reignforestmagicnugalmanac]

Impact of Cannabis on Genetic Activity

Recent studies have unveiled a surprising link between cannabis consumption and alterations in genetic activity. While the use of cannabis has been a topic of discussion for its therapeutic benefits and potential risks, its influence on our genetic makeup adds a new dimension to the ongoing debate. Researchers are delving into how cannabis can modify gene expression, impacting various body functions and health outcomes. These findings are crucial for both medical professionals and users, emphasizing the importance of understanding long-term effects. This article explores the science behind this relationship and its implications for societal perspectives on cannabis use.

Cannabis, a substance derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, has gained widespread popularity for both recreational and medicinal purposes. Despite its popularity, the biological effects of cannabis, particularly its impact on our genes, remain a developing field of study. Genetic activity refers to how active or inactive certain genes are in response to environmental factors, including substances we consume. Cannabis compounds, notably THC and CBD, interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which controls various physiological processes. Recent studies suggest that this interaction may lead to changes in the expression of specific genes. These changes could, in turn, influence a person’s susceptibility to diseases or conditions, thereby altering their overall health profile.

The research into cannabis’s role in genetic modulation sheds light on diverse health implications. Preliminary findings suggest that long-term cannabis use may affect genes related to neurological functions and immune system responses. For instance, chronic users may experience altered gene expression that modifies brain pathways, potentially impacting cognitive abilities and mental health. Simultaneously, these genetic shifts could either enhance or suppress the immune system’s functionality, affecting how the body responds to infections. Understanding these genetic interactions is crucial as it could help in personalizing medical treatments and predicting health trajectories for cannabis users.

Despite the promising data, there is still much to be researched regarding cannabis and its genetic effects. Scientists are focusing efforts on determining the precise changes in gene expression and how these changes translate to tangible health outcomes. This knowledge is especially significant for healthcare professionals prescribing cannabis for medicinal use and policymakers involved in regulation. Furthermore, understanding the genetic implications can aid in developing guidelines for safer consumption and recommending appropriate doses. With cannabis legalization expanding, it becomes increasingly important to continue this research to support informed decisions both at the individual and community levels.

The revelation that cannabis can influence genetic activity provides a new perspective on its holistic impact on humans. While cannabis continues to offer therapeutic benefits, especially in pain management and symptom relief for various conditions, these genetic considerations suggest that caution is warranted. The potential for cannabis to alter gene expression calls for a balanced approach to its consumption, taking into account personal health risks and benefits. As research progresses, it becomes vital for scientists, medical practitioners, and users to stay informed about the genetic dimension of cannabis use. Sustainable consumption practices, guided by scientific understanding, can provide a safe pathway forward. This newfound insight reiterates the importance of personalized healthcare, acknowledging that the impact of cannabis may vary greatly among individuals based on their unique genetic makeup. The future of cannabis use and regulation undoubtedly lies in a nuanced comprehension of its genetic effects, fueling more targeted and effective clinical applications while ensuring public health safety.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Reference added to our archive (Daily updates!)

This could help explain why there is currently no functional treatment for persistent cough following covid.

Abstract Monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages drive lung injury and fibrosis in murine models and are associated with pulmonary fibrosis in humans. Monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages have been suggested to develop a phenotype that promotes lung repair as injury resolves. We compared single-cell and cytokine profiling of the alveolar space in a cohort of 35 patients with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 who had persistent respiratory symptoms and abnormalities on a computed tomography scan of the chest that subsequently improved or progressed. The abundance of monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages, their gene expression programs, and the level of the monocyte chemokine CCL2 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid positively associated with the severity of radiographic fibrosis. Monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages from patients with resolving or progressive fibrosis expressed the same set of profibrotic genes. Our findings argue against a distinct reparative phenotype in monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages, highlighting their utility as a biomarker of failed lung repair and a potential target for therapy.