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November 22, 2013

11/22/2013

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This list will have to suffice for two weeks. Enjoy in moderation.

A cool paper on mapping behavioral trait in sticklebacks
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982213009196
Shooling QTLs overlap lateral line QTLs. Validation or bummer?

Antihistamines are used to treat allergies, right?
http://www.pnas.org/content/110/46/E4369.full
One could use this fantastic paper to illustrate the power of genome-based medical discoveries, or to remind of potential side effects of drugs.

Now on to entertainment. Scientists going at each other MMA style #3: genetcists:
http://www.pnas.org/content/110/46/E4277.full
http://www.pnas.org/content/110/46/E4278.full

Dim the lights and read this romantic article about grad school:
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2013_11_11/caredit.a1300248
Bait-and-switch selfie?

The good thing is, grad school is not forever:
http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2013_11_21/caredit.a1300256
An absolute must-read for those of you thinking about grad school.

So there are too many PhDs for the job market. The NIH solution: better mentoring and minority participation.
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6160/798.1.full
Yep.

And now on to classical tragicomedy. Here is a multiple choice question: what should you do when you get a C+?
A. Celebrate
B. Forget about it
C. Feel ashamed
D. Sue the professor
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20131113_Ex-_student_seeks_new_trial_over_grade.html
Associated Press could have mentioned that said student's other grades must have been "less than stellar" if a C+ put her under minimum GPA. But that's not the tragedy. The fact that the person who thought (and still thinks) that way was one B- away from being YOUR genetic counselor is.

Happy Thanksgiving, and remember what happens when you share your turkey with the wrong people :-)

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November 15, 2013

11/15/2013

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This week's list just happens to have a bit of a theme: enhancers.

Artifacts in ChIP experiments? No way?!
http://www.pnas.org/content/110/46/18602.full
A very nice paper. Makes me think of the superenhancers…

Enhancer mutations in pancreas agenesis
http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ng.2826.html
I find that one particular author (among 21 listed) stands out: International Pancreatic Agenesis Consortium.

Don't like your nose or jaw line? Blame it on craniofacial enhancers!
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6157/1241006.abstract

Now some serious entertainment...

Scientists going at each other MMA style #2: developmental biologists.
http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v45/n11/full/ng.2793.html
http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v45/n11/full/ng.2812.html
An extremely didactic pair of mini-articles from very good labs.

… and a few good-night reads, scary and creepy in the tradition of folk tales:

Taking one for the team
http://news.sciencemag.org/health/2013/11/sex-and-single-sand-flea
The questions is: how dedicated are YOU to your research?

How did the Little Red Riding Hood story come about?
http://news.sciencemag.org/evolution/2013/11/evolution-little-red-riding-hood?rss=1

Nope. It's an account of a failed domestication attempt.
http://www.sciencemag.org/content/342/6160/871

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November 9th, 2013

11/9/2013

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Another nice paper demonstrating the importance of gene dosage
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v503/n7474/full/nature12630.html

If you (like me) think that "the zebrafish advantage" is externaly developing embryos, forward genetics and so forth, you are way too conventional.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867413012993

A nice popular science piece on Gibson assembly
http://www.biotechniques.com/news/biotechniquesNews/biotechniques-347917.html?utm_source=BioTechniques+Newsletters+%26+e-Alerts&utm_campaign=31c85957ab-pcr-newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5f518744d7-31c85957ab-87700457#.UnrEp43QH3R

I am so doomed
http://news.sciencemag.org/climate/2013/11/scienceshot-high-temperatures-turn-mammals-dwarves?rss=1

Viktorija: how will you dance heart regeneration in tbx5a mutants?
http://news.sciencemag.org/biology/2013/11/dance-your-ph.d.-finalists-announced?rss=1

With college tuition going through the roof, you'd think faculty must be getting filthy rich...
 http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2013_10_31/caredit.a1300240
The law of conservation of energy ("nothing comes to be or perishes") clearly does not apply to tuition money. Or does it?

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November 1st, 2013

11/1/2013

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Now it turns out that not ALL zebrafish males fail to regenerate pectoral fins
http://dev.biologists.org/content/140/21/4323.full
a very nice paper!

A rare sight: structural biologists going at each other MMA style.
http://www.nature.com/news/rift-widens-over-structure-of-hiv-s-molecular-anchor-1.14071
What did you expect?!

Now we know why Australopithecus never got out of Africa: he was a terrible hitchhiker… http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v502/n7473/full/502597d.html

Is there a shortage of STEM graduates? I sent you a few indications that there isn't, this piece argues that there is.
http://www.theatlantic.com/sponsored/chevron-stem/2013/10/new-national-education-imperative/29/
Read it carefully. Is it more stEm than STEM, or is it just me? And what's up with the sponsor's message?

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    Weekly sciencey bits

    Disclaimer: This started as a "weekend reading list" meant to encourage students in the lab to think about science and their own future in it. Do not take it seriously: I myself may no longer agree with whatever I wrote here last week.
    - Darius

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