A couple of very cool papers in the current issue of Development:

On dual nature of transcriptional enhancers...
http://dev.biologists.org/content/141/9/1906.full

...and a technique paper describing multi-color labeling of the retina
http://dev.biologists.org/content/141/9/1971.full

And onto "not directly scientific but kinda important" stuff.

An excellent “prospects” diagram for those considering getting a PhD in life sciences.
http://www.ascb.org/ascbpost/index.php/compass-points/item/285-where-will-a-biology-phd-take-you
The conclusion? Don’t do it. Unless you can’t imagine yourself doing anything else. And here is your catch-22: imagination may be important for a PhD-level career...

A bit on the dream job of teaching in academia:
http://www.philly.com/philly/jobs/Adjunct_professors_see_selves_as_colleges_temp_workers.html
Teaching K-12 is way better...

After reading the above, being a postdoc doesn’t sound so bad, does it?
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2002_08_30/nodoi.4149859741665864757
Every research-active faculty member will gladly tell you that postdoc was the best time of their career. Because they were lucky enough and good enough to land a decent faculty position after their postdocs.

Not to say some that the process is entirely anguish-free:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v508/n7497/full/nj7497-555a.html

Of course if you wish to be positive, you could counter that libreal arts grad students have it worse:
http://news.temple.edu/news/2014-04-15/public-history-partnership-leads-full-time-work-temple-graduate?utm_source=templetoday&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Print_Center_Internship
I gather a one-year job offer is a big deal in that field.

I will try find some more positive news next time.

Here is a massive (and outstanding) piece of work on promoters:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v507/n7493/full/nature13182.html
Too many authors to list…

And as if identifying transcription start sites was not enough, they used presence of bidirectional unspliced transcripts to identify a few enhancers:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v507/n7493/full/nature12787.html
Well, “only" 43,011 of them.

Now onto the easy stuff:

Is your dad a neanderthal?
http://www.nature.com/news/human-evolution-the-neanderthal-in-the-family-1.14932
Seriously, the picture enforces every damn stereotype about men. Pure sexism. I guess I should be upset.

More on online lab notebooks
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v507/n7493/full/nj7493-523a.html
I did consider making all lab notebooks electronic back in 2007, but perhaps now is the time. Fully searcheable etc.

We absolutely do need a pipeline of talented students going into biomedical careers:
http://news.sciencemag.org/education/2014/03/panel-launches-study-precollege-role-nih?rss=1
Of course most of them will be going nowhere with their careers in the current/foreseable funding environment, but who cares?

And here is why grad students must get some teaching experience:
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2014_03_24/caredit.a1400076
Contrast it with the article/experience cited within.

Have a great weekend.