Ed Hollox (@edhollox) Bsky

Hogben on eugenics in 1931: "home of ancestor-worship, antisemitism, colour prejudice, antifeminism, snobbery, and obstruction to educational progress." Well said, Lance.

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Eugenics and the Genetics Society - Heredity Heredity - Eugenics and the Genetics Society

An excellent paper in @heredityjournal.bsky.social by Alex Aylward and colleagues on the role of the @gensocuk.bsky.social and eugenics. As a current committee member, I am embarrassed by my predecessors wait and see attitude to Nazi antisemitism in 1934. In contrast, Lancelot Hogben's quote...

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Sorry to hear this. Awful.

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PHYLIP and chill...

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Reposting this old thread on the "Pervasive findings of directional selection" from ancient DNA. While the authors extended their results in various ways, I think many of these points still stand.

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Defence minister doesn't have a gun at work.

3 days ago 11 1 0 0

No more the sitting at the back of my youth. I need to see the slides.

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In Dept seminars, I realise I now have a favourite seat front on the left next to a pillar, which allows me to stretch my legs out (I'm 6ft3 with achy legs) and lounge slightly.

I now realise I am now That Professor Who Sits In The Same Place And Asks Questions. Sorry, that stage had to come.

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UK and EU finalise agreement to bring UK into Erasmus+ in 2027 Thousands across the UK set to benefit from re-opening of the historic Erasmus+ programme

The UK rejoining Erasmus is the best science news for a while! #AcademicSky

www.gov.uk/government/n...

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Ancient DNA reveals pervasive directional selection across West Eurasia - Nature Analysis of 15,836 ancient West Eurasian genomes reveals hundreds of instances of directional selection, showing that sustained changes in allele frequency were widespread, rather than being...

Incredibly impressive ancient genome analysis by Akbari et al. in Nature, also looks at selection against psychiatric traits. Amazing science, I personally still struggle with strong selection against smoking in eurasia before Tabaco got to Europe, absolutely amazing data/work though!

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On my list to read too. Those alleles that show a reversal of selection pressure are very interesting especially. What happened?

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Also, he's wearing a gown and y-fronts!

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"One of my proudest moments was tying the hands of the little kid while he was getting punched by the school bully"

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Hugely variable diet would limit power I suspect. Although I would bet that lactase would be a hit.

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Although I think "Tell us more about what’s competitive. It would be great to get a detailed report from funders about decisions made." is a really good idea.

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heavy lifting, and will cement the advantages of being in a large rich university.

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This is interesting, but would work only if less was riding on grants in terms of career etc. Progress has been made on this, but universities have outsourced a lot of weight of those decisions to grant reviewers and panels. The phrase " With proper resourcing and senior support" is doing a lot of

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It does worry me how many "strategic decisions" are, or have been, essentially based at best on short-termism and, at worst, on vibes.

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Destroying the academic dream The powerful and inspiring piece below was posted by the UoN branch of the UCU yesterday. I’m reposting it here so that it’s available to those who are not UCU members. When I was a kid…

muircheartblog.wpcomstaging.com/2026/04/14/d...

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🌻 Next STRiVE seminar: Loren Rieseberg (UBC) explores SVs, adaptation & speciation—from wild sunflowers to 1000+ species!

🗓️ Apr 29 | 9am PDT / 6pm CEST
✉️ Zoom link via mailing list: groupes.renater.fr/sympa/subscr...
ℹ️ Info: structuralvariantsstn.github.io/about/

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"For mine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for and ever and ever. Thank you for your attention to this matter."

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Genetics reveal why people respond differently to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs Genetic variants in GLP1R and GIPR, which encode targets of GLP-1-based medications, offer insights into why responses to these drugs vary and who might face adverse effects.

Why do people respond differently to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs? Genetics has the answer - provided in this genome wide association study led by @adamauton.bsky.social www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧪

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

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The US suggesting teaming up with Iran to extort US allies by charging a toll really takes the biscuit.

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An interesting article, but I am never convinced how often these collective nouns are actually used outside lists of collective nouns. Gaggle of geese, yes, I have heard and read that. Unkindness of ravens??

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Ok this looks clever.

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Senior Postdoctoral Fellow/Postdoctoral Fellow - Somatic Genomics Programme Do you want to help us improve human health and understand life on Earth? Make your mark by shaping the future to enable or deliver life-changing science to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. We are recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow/ Senior Postdoctoral Fellow to join the Rahbari group in the Somatic Genomics Programme for a 2.5 year fixed term contract with the potential for extension. This position offers a unique opportunity to address fundamental questions in human somatic evolution and its consequences for disease and inheritance. The role spans multiple ongoing projects investigating (i) the dynamics of somatic evolution in normal and precancerous tissues, and (ii) the impact of environmental and clinical exposures including chemotherapy on mutational processes across tissues and their potential transmission to the next generation. What you'll be doing: Designing and delivering an original research project aligned with ongoing work on somatic evolution, contributing new ideas and helping shape future research directions. Applying and extending state-of-the-art computational and/or experimental approaches to analyse large-scale sequencing datasets and address complex biological questions. Working at the interface of computational biology, genomics and evolutionary modelling, leveraging large-scale sequencing datasets (including whole-genome and duplex sequencing) to uncover patterns of mutation accumulation, clonal dynamics and selection. Taking advantage of opportunities to develop and apply novel analytical frameworks, integrating multi-omic data (DNA, RNA and epigenomics) to generate new biological insights. Contributing to a collaborative and inclusive research environment through knowledge sharing, teamwork and engagement with the wider scientific community. Participating in the Postdoctoral Fellow Programme, with dedicated support for training, career development and networking About You: You will have a computational or quantitative background and experience contributing to research. You are interested in developing your independence and shaping research directions, while working within a collaborative and supportive team environment. You enjoy working with others, sharing ideas and learning new approaches, and are motivated by contributing to research that improves our understanding of human health and disease. You are keen to continue developing your skills and expertise, with support and mentorship. Essential Skills: PhD in a relevant subject area, including Cancer Genomics, Biological Sciences, Medicine, Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, Statistics, or a related quantitative discipline, or on track to be awarded within 6 months of starting the role. Proven ability to deliver research projects A track record of demonstrating research excellence and expertise in your area of research Ability to analyse and interpret data with strong quantitative/computational skills Experience in programming and data analysis (e.g. Python, R, or similar) Previous work experience in a molecular biology laboratory Experience with core molecular biology techniques, including sample preparation, RT, qPCR and RNA/DNA extraction Proven ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with wide range of backgrounds, experience and expertise Foster an inclusive culture where all can thrive and diversity is celebrated Ability to work with others in a collegiate and collaborative environment Ability to effectively communicate ideas and results and present orally to groups Commitment to personal development and updating of knowledge and skills Ability to prioritise, multi-task and work independently Detail-orientated, strong organisational and problem-solving skills Additional Skills for Senior Postdoctoral Fellow: Proven ability to lead and deliver research projects, including evidence of taking projects from conception through to publication A demonstrable track record of research excellence, demonstrated through high-quality publications, preprints, or equivalent research outputs Expertise in analytical and quantitative skills, with demonstrated ability to analyse, interpret, and integrate complex large-scale datasets Demonstrated experience in computational biology/genomics, including analysis of DNA sequencing data (e.g. whole-genome sequencing); experience with RNA or methylation data is advantageous Proficiency in programming and data analysis (e.g. Python, R, or similar), and experience working in high-performance or large-scale computing environment Excellent influencing skills to engage internal and external stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds Demonstrated mentorship, supervision and leadership abilities Other Information: For further details, please see the role profiles. Salary per annum (dependent upon your skills and experience): £38,570-£49,893 Application Process: Please apply with your CV and a Cover letter outlining how you meet the criteria set out above. Closing Date: 6th May 2026 Hybrid Working at Wellcome Sanger: We recognise that there are many benefits to Hybrid Working; including an improved work-life balance, with more focused time, as well as the ability to organise working time so that collaborative opportunities and team discussions are facilitated on campus. The hybrid working arrangement will vary for different roles and teams. The nature of your role and the type of work you do will determine if a hybrid working arrangement is possible. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We have a supportive culture with the following staff networks, LGBTQ+, Parents and Carers, Disability and Race Equity to bring people together to share experiences, offer specific support and development opportunities and raise awareness. The networks are also a place for allies to provide support to others. We want our people to be whoever they want to be because we believe people who bring their best selves to work, do their best work. That’s why we’re committed to creating a truly inclusive culture at Sanger Institute. We will consider all individuals without discrimination and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, where everyone can thrive. Our Benefits: We are proud to deliver an awarding campus-wide employee wellbeing strategy and programme. The importance of good health and adopting a healthier lifestyle and the commitment to reduce work-related stress is strongly acknowledged and recognised at Sanger Institute. Sanger Institute became a signatory of the International Technician Commitment initiative In March 2018. The Technician Commitment aims to empower and ensure visibility, recognition, career development and sustainability for technicians working in higher education and research, across all disciplines. Life at the Sanger Institute is unique. We are tackling some of the most difficult challenges in genomic research. Our people are shaping the future by delivering life-changing science with the reach, scale, and creativity to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges. We aim to attract, recruit, retain and develop talent from the widest possible talent pool, thereby gaining insight and access to different markets to generate a greater impact on the world. We offer an attractive benefits package at the Wellcome Sanger Institute. We appreciate the importance of achieving work-life balance and support this with a number of family and carer-friendly policies. Plus a flexible working policy for those who may wish to amend their working pattern or arrangement. Each year, the Wellcome Sanger Institute welcomes researchers from around the world to the Genome Campus to collaborate and drive cutting-edge science. Whether you're joining as faculty, a postdoc, or a visitor, our dedicated International Team offers expert guidance and support throughout your journey, promoting the Institute’s global and collaborative ethos.

Fantastic opportunity for computational genomics research in the Sanger Institute, just outside Cambridge:
sanger.wd103.myworkdayjobs.com/en-GB/Wellco...

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A really thoughtful article here, well worth a read. Some nice examples too, ready to annoy students by presenting lots of contradictions...!

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I think the UK government, and other European governments, have just lost it with the US. Even right-wing populist, except Orban, are distancing themselves. Not only Trump, who is finite, but the complicit US establishment indicates long-term unreliability.

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Anyone of any nationality interested in a postdoc working with me on human genomic structural variation and disease? Full details here, let me know if you are interested, let others know, and repost please!!

marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/whats-new/ne...

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In every kick about for months after that everyone wanted to be Van Basten.

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Posts by Ed Hollox