De Novo

De Novo explores the intersections of synthetic biology, innovative biotechnological advancements, and their broader implications. It covers breakthrough studies, such as generating eggs from male mice, in vitro oogenesis, and experimental epigenetic inheritance, alongside philosophical discussions on categorization, and reflections on cultural and scientific funding challenges.

Synthetic Biology Biotechnological Advancements Genetic Engineering Epigenetics Science Philosophy Cultural Reflections Scientific Funding Experimental Biology

The hottest Substack posts of De Novo

And their main takeaways

AI-generated Anki cards are not to be trusted

121 implied HN points β€’ 13 Jun 25
🚌 Education Learning Memory Technology AI Biology
  1. AI-generated Anki cards can have mistakes that may lead to learning incorrect information. It's important to double-check AI content, especially on complex topics.
  2. Relying on AI for learning new material may not be wise, as it could lead to errors that are not obvious at first glance.
  3. Even when asking different AI systems to review the same content, they can miss errors or indicate correct information as wrong. Human oversight is crucial.

AdiΓ³s Duolingo, hello Anki

88 implied HN points β€’ 05 Jun 25
🚌 Education Learning Technology AI Languages Methods
  1. Anki is a flashcard app that helps with memorization using spaced repetition. It's great for learning detailed information and can share decks for team learning.
  2. Using AI to make Anki cards can be helpful, but it's important to check for errors. It's best for reinforcing knowledge rather than learning completely new topics.
  3. After years of using Duolingo, switching to Anki seems more effective for real learning. You can create a system to track your progress similar to Duolingo's streaks.

Reproductive Biology for Politicians and Voters, Part 1

176 implied HN points β€’ 11 Nov 24
πŸ₯ Health Politics Reproductive Rights Legislation IVF
  1. Many human embryos do not survive to become babies. More than half of them die naturally, especially depending on the age of the mother's egg.
  2. Embryos can split and create identical twins before a certain stage in development. This means that a single embryo isn't guaranteed to become one unique human.
  3. Understanding stages of pregnancy is important for discussions about IVF and abortion. For example, many abortions happen early, often before many realize they are pregnant.

Sex development, puberty, and transgender identity

132 implied HN points β€’ 10 Dec 24
πŸ₯ Health Politics Transgender Issues Reproductive Health Medical treatments
  1. Transgender identity can stem from a mix of biological and social factors. While genetics may play a role, social acceptance is becoming increasingly important.
  2. Understanding the differences between sex and gender is crucial. Sex is about biological traits, while gender is about how someone identifies themselves.
  3. There's a growing awareness and increase in transgender identities, especially among young adults. This may be linked to changing societal views and more individuals feeling comfortable expressing their identities.

Green Goo (Republished)

110 implied HN points β€’ 12 Dec 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biotechnology Ecology Synthetic Biology Genetics Environmental Science
  1. Synthetic biology can create engineered organisms, which may outcompete natural organisms and harm ecosystems. We need to be careful about the kinds of organisms we create and the possible consequences.
  2. Creating mirror-image organisms could lead to unexpected environmental problems. If these organisms take over, they could cause damage far beyond what we're prepared for.
  3. We should invest in ways to contain engineered organisms and be aware of the risks of releasing them into nature. It's important to proceed cautiously when considering big changes to global ecosystems.
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Eggs and scrambled chromosomes

121 implied HN points β€’ 15 Mar 24
πŸ”¬ Science Biology Genetics Research
  1. Growth of eggs from stem cells is challenging, but a new research approach involving injecting adult cell nucleus into a donor egg may offer an alternative.
  2. Chromosomes' proper segregation during meiosis II seems more efficient in inbred mice compared to hybrid mice, indicating the importance of genetic similarity in the process.
  3. Understanding the mechanism that aids proper segregation in inbred chromosomes could potentially lead to advancements in using the nuclear transfer method for human oocytes, though challenges like aneuploidy and efficiency still need to be addressed.

Alternatives to Zookeeping

121 implied HN points β€’ 03 Oct 23
πŸ”¬ Science Biology Biomedical Proteins Antibodies Research
  1. Synthetic biology can provide alternatives to traditional antibodies in biomedical research to improve progress and reproducibility.
  2. Current production and use of antibodies have intrinsic and extrinsic challenges, such as compatibility issues, cost, and reproducibility concerns.
  3. Moving towards new antibody technologies, like recombinant antibodies and phage display, could lead to better solutions in biomedical research, though adoption may require top-down support from funding agencies.

Of mice and men and eggs

165 implied HN points β€’ 17 Mar 23
πŸ”¬ Science Biology Genetics Research
  1. A study successfully produced eggs from male mice, resulting in baby mice with two biological fathers.
  2. Researchers converted male mouse stem cells to female cells by exploiting chromosomal instability and using a kinase inhibitor.
  3. This breakthrough suggests the possibility of growing eggs not only from women but also from men in the future.

Playing the game vs. finding a cheat code

99 implied HN points β€’ 10 Sep 23
πŸ”¬ Science Biology Development Research Genetics
  1. Playing the game versus using cheat codes can be applied to various situations like growing oocytes and making PokΓ©mon.
  2. Advantages of playing normally: it may take longer but strengthens understanding; button mashing can lead to quicker results but might have unforeseen issues.
  3. In different scenarios, like making natural products or evaluating computer code, deciding between conventional methods or shortcuts is crucial.

Experimental Induction of Epigenetic Inheritance

77 implied HN points β€’ 05 Jul 23
πŸ”¬ Science Research Findings
  1. Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance is weak in mammals due to erasure of epigenetic marks between generations
  2. Experimental induction of strong epigenetic perturbation can lead to transgenerational epigenetic inheritance
  3. Study induced DNA methylation in mouse embryonic stem cells, tracked it through multiple generations, revealing potential for persistent epigenetic changes

Runway Project

66 implied HN points β€’ 27 Jul 23
πŸ•Ή Technology Gaming Aerospace Engineering Art Design
  1. Runway Project is a combat tournament and art show based in Kerbal Space Program
  2. Craft design in Runway Project requires balancing firepower, thrust, maneuverability, resilience, and artistic potential
  3. Important design tips for Runway Project include considering round rules, incorporating art into craft design, testing designs, ensuring craft resilience, and tuning AI

Biological DOOM

2 HN points β€’ 29 Apr 23
πŸ”¬ Science
  1. DOOM, a classic 1993 game, ran on low computing power and simple code, making it hackable to run on unusual devices.
  2. Biological systems like cells can potentially be used for computation, utilizing methods such as nucleic acid hybridization, transcription and translation, and protein phosphorylation.
  3. Running complex games like DOOM on biological systems faces challenges in speed, memory, and system integration, with neurons and protein logic being the most promising options.

Money Money Money

1 HN point β€’ 16 Apr 23
πŸ’° Finance Funding Research Government
  1. Research funding is expensive and costs are continually rising
  2. Private funding can be quicker with higher chances of approval, but can have cons like non-standard terms and potential funding disappearance
  3. University administrators can pose bureaucratic challenges in processing funds and extracting overhead fees