iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Kacy Gordon @kacylynn.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

JOB ALERT: UNC Bio is hiring 2 tenure track assistant profs doing molecular, cell, and dev bio. The search is intentionally broad, so please share widely and spread the word! Find more information and apply here: unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/325... Application review begins Nov 1.

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Beautiful cool(ish) morning after a weekend of rain so decided to tife longer route (9.3 mi) including the beautiful streets of Carrboro.

Side street in Carrboro with a blanket of pink crepe myrtle flower petals

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Today’s Connections has Drosophila genes and they included Mad! I’m guessing it’ll be the yellow category.

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 03/06/2026

Carolyn started this as a whole-genome revisit of the classic 1996 papers on spontaneous nondisjunction from Hawley (Dros X) and Sherman (human 21) labs. She looked at a metacentric (Dros 2) and found that the rules are different - no obvious relationship between ndj and crossovers. Shape matters!

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Love coming in and seeing the lastest fly cross schemes (or sometimes cloning strategies) on the gigantic (11.5 ft x 4.5 ft; 3.5 m x 1.4 m) whiteboard outside the lab.

Arcane Drosophila genetics cross scheme.

Another arcane Drosophila genetics cross scheme.

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 11/05/2026

Triple-triple: 3rd consecutive year of three students graduating with Honors in Biology from their research in the lab! We had a celebratory dinner on Thursday, then the Biology graduation ceremony Sunday. Congrats to Gamil, Dasha, and Rawda, and to their mentors, Priscila and Mohamed!

Photo of the lab having dinner at Talulla's in Chapel Hill to celebrate graduate of three undergraduates.

Photo of three Honors students (Gamil Algharzi, Dasha Sudhir, Rawda Alhassan, with Jeff Sekelsky at UNC Biology graduation ceremony.

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Phew! This is most important for the people in my lab - particularly my lab manager of 27 years and my current students, including an unlabbed student I just took in. Still, my joy is tempered by the knowledge that so many others that should get funded will not.

Screenshot of NIH Notice of Award for my grant renewal.

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

So glad I renewed my passport a couple months ago!

Image of Trump to be featured inside new passports.

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

Just paid off my car loan. Drove >12k miles in only 5 yrs (counting the 6 months I was not allowed to drive), so ~50 gallons gas/yr. Mileage commuting by bike in that time is comparable.

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Greg Copenhaver @copenhaverlab.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Our (@jeffsekelsky.bsky.social, Corbin Jones & me) #Meiosis, Recombination & Evo of Sex class @uncchapelhill.bsky.social loved talking w/ Jennifer Gerton from @stowersinstitute.bsky.social about her super cool @nature.com paper on #Robertsonian chromosomes + unpublished work! doi.org/10.1038/s415...

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Lena Kutscher @lenakutscher.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

New preprint alert! I'm excited to share our latest preprint where we investigate the underlying developmental causes of the male bias in the pediatric brain tumor Group 3/4 medulloblastoma. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

graphical abstract for "Developmental determinants of male bias in medulloblastoma" preprint. We propose that boys are more likely to develop Group 3/4 medulloblastoma more vulnerable cells-of-origin are available for transformation. Specifically, GC_UBC progenitors in the developing cerebellum are more abundant in male murine embryos, as a result of testosterone exposure and the XY genotype.

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Greg Copenhaver @copenhaverlab.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Our (@jeffsekelsky.bsky.social, Corbin Jones, & me) #Meiosis, Recombination & Evo of Sex class @uncchapelhill.bsky.social had a great talk w/ @katiebillmyre.bsky.social from @universityofga.bsky.social about her 2019 PNAS paper on SC and recombination + cool unpublished work doi.org/10.1073/pnas...

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Lena Kutscher @lenakutscher.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

interested in working on sex differences during development and in tumor initiation! come join our lab via the MSCA MasterClass

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Its that time of year…that’s the pine pollen in the air lit up by my bike light this am. Weather is beautiful for working outside but you can watch the pollen accumulate on surfaces (e.g, laptops) in real time.

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Greg Copenhaver @copenhaverlab.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

Our (@jeffsekelsky.bsky.social, Corbin Jones & me) #Meiosis, Recombination & Evolution of Sex class @uncchapelhill.bsky.social geeked out about #BChromosomes w/ Patrick Ferree from @scrippscollege.bsky.social about his @plosbiology.org paper on female meiotic drag in Nasonia: doi.org/10.1371/jour...

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Greg Copenhaver @copenhaverlab.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Our (@jeffsekelsky.bsky.social , Corbin Jones & me) #Meiosis, Recombination & Evolution of Sex class @uncchapelhill.bsky.social loved talking to Jeremy Searle from Cornell about his review on #Robertsonian translocations doi.org/10.1159/0005... & exciting unpublished work! Amazing cytogenetics.

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Lena Kutscher @lenakutscher.bsky.social · 08/02/2026

Some friends and I wrote a review with @biologists.bsky.social !! Together with Esther Becker and Simone Mayer, we explore the state of the cerebellum organoid field and offer practical guidance on getting this model system started in your own lab. journals.biologists.com/dmm/article/...

journals.biologists.com

Generating cerebellar organoids from pluripotent stem cells

Summary: This Special Article provides a comprehensive overview of the methods, applications and considerations for the generation of cerebellar organoids.

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Greg Copenhaver @copenhaverlab.bsky.social · 06/02/2026

Our (@jeffsekelsky.bsky.social, Corbin Jones & me) #Meiosis, Recombination & Evolution of Sex class @uncchapelhill.bsky.social had a great chat w/ Kent Golic @uofubiology.bsky.social about his lab's #GENETICS paper on #Drosophila ring chromosomes: doi.org/10.1093/gene...

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Carolyn Turcotte, who defended her PhD yesterday! Her most recent amazing accomplishment was getting four over-scheduled committee members (e.g., 2 dept chairs) to be able to meet a day after getting iced out of her originally schedule time.

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Greg Copenhaver @copenhaverlab.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Our @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social, Corbin Jones, & me) #Meiosis, Recombination & Evolution of Sex class @uncchapelhill.bsky.social had a great talk w/ Steve Perlman from U of Victoria @uvic.ca about his lab’s @pnas.org paper on male and female X chromosome drive in D. testacea doi.org/10.1073/pnas...

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

In personal good news, my new brain surgeon says the gliosis (white area on right) from my surgery in 2006 looks the same as it did on my last MRI in 2013. He'll keep me on the anti-seizure med I started in May (the one that made me mean 20 yrs ago) but reduce the daytime dosage.

MRI of brain showing gliosis where tissue was removed from the right temporal lobe.

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 10/07/2025

In the category of good news amidst a sea of bad, the T32 that supports UNC's Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology was renewed! July 1 started our 51st year of continuous support from NIGMS that has funded students & driven changes that improve training & outcomes.

med.unc.edu

Genetics and Molecular Biology Curriculum

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 12/05/2025

Dr. Nila Pazhayam, PhD! Nila authored a review and 2 research papers, was on T32, had an F31, mentored undergrads, and more. Fun fact: Since Nila did a straight-to-MS degree (no BS) before her PhD, if she were to apply for a job in India that requires a BS she would be deemed unqualified.

Dr. Nila Pazhayam in her doctoral gown and hood, accompanied by her advisor Jeff Sekelsky

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Congratulations to Nina Wozniak, Ilan Socolovsky_Hull, and Josh Ponder, who all earned Honors in Biology for research they did in the Sekelsky lab! (Also to Sasha Sagar; her degree is Neuroscience so a different venue.)

Photo of Sekelsky lab Biology majors graduating with Honors in 2025.

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Greg Copenhaver @copenhaverlab.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

@jeffsekelsky.bsky.social Corbin Jones, & I give huge thanks to Frank McNally, Christoph Haag, Andy Kern, Bengt Hansson, @takashiakeralab.bsky.social & @scienceleah.bsky.social for being guests in our #Meiosis, Recombination, & Evolution of Sex class at UNC. A pic from our final session w/ students

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Jeremy Berg @jeremymberg.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

ACTION ITEM-----ACTION ITEM Implementation of Schedule F This is what a lot of us have been worried about. This allows for many civil service positions to replaced with political appointees. This could include NIH institute directors and even POs. BUT THERE IS A COMMENT PERIOD... 1/n

media.tenor.com

the word alert is in a purple circle

ALT: the word alert is in a purple circle

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Congratulations T$ - well-deserved and long overdue!

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Greg Copenhaver @copenhaverlab.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

Our (@jeffsekelsky.bsky.social Corbin Jones, & me) #Meiosis, Recombination & Evolution of Sex class @uncchapelhill.bsky.social loved talking w/ @scienceleah.bsky.social about her lab's @plos.org Genetics paper on a unique chromosome segregation mechanism in holocentric moths. doi.org/10.1371/jour...

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Greg Copenhaver @copenhaverlab.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Our (@jeffsekelsky.bsky.social, Corbin Jones, & me) #Meiosis, Recombination & Evolution of Sex class @uncchapelhill.bsky.social loved talking w/ @takashiakeralab.bsky.social about his lab's @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social on meiotic cohesin errors & sterility in hybrid mice. doi.org/10.1101/2025...

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Congratulations to Nila Pazhayam for a successful defense of her PhD dissertation! Her research provided important insights into how crossovers are kept away from the centromere. doi.org/10.1093/gene... doi.org/10.1093/gene...

Photo of Nila Pazhayam next to screen showing her slide of the summary of the results of her research.

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Greg Copenhaver @copenhaverlab.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Our (@jeffsekelsky.bsky.social, Corbin Jones, & me) #Meiosis, Recombination & Evolution of Sex class @uncchapelhill.bsky.social loved talking w/ Bengt Hansson from @lund-university.bsky.social about his lab's #G3journal paper on bird male-biased CO patterning + new work: doi.org/10.1093/g3jo...

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Greg Copenhaver @copenhaverlab.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Our (@jeffsekelsky.bsky.social , Corbin Jones, & me) #Meiosis, Recombination & Evolution of Sex class @uncchapelhill.bsky.social loved talking with Any Kern @uoregon.bsky.social about his lab’s @currentbiology.bsky.social paper on octopus ZZ, ZO sex chromosome system: www.cell.com/current-biol...

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

It's happening on March 7: Nila's PhD defense! (We know this conflicts with #standupforscience2025, but this was scheduled months ago.)

Poster for defense seminar of Nila Pazhayam, March 7, 10 am EST, on campus and by zoom.

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Greg Copenhaver @copenhaverlab.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

The Biology Dept @uncchapelhill.bsky.social is searching for a Teaching Assistant Professor or Teaching Associate Professor. We're a vibrant community with fantastic colleagues and students. Apply and tell all your friends too! Here's the job posting link: unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/297...

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Greg Copenhaver @copenhaverlab.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

Our (@jeffsekelsky.bsky.social,Corbin Jones, & me) #Meiosis, Recombination & Evolution of Sex class at UNC loved talking w/ Christoph Haag @cnrs.bsky.social about his lab’s @journal-evo.bsky.social paper on recombination and asexuality in #Daphnia plus some unpublished work: doi.org/10.1093/evol...

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

Soni Lacefield @lacefieldlab.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Feeling very lost today with the news of the passing of my undergrad advisor Scott Hawley. He had a huge impact on the field and on me personally. He was the first person to see me as a scientist and gave me the confidence to apply to grad school. I am so grateful to be a part of his legacy.

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Greg Copenhaver @copenhaverlab.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

Our (@mei_newt, Corbin Jones, & me) #Meiosis, Recombination & Evolution of Sex class at UNC had a great talk w/ Frank McNally from UC Davis on his lab’s #GENETICS paper showing C. elegans can correct trisomy and triploidy during female meiosis using spindle asymmetry: doi.org/10.1534/gene...

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Reposted by Jeff Sekelsky

HunterLab.bsky.social @hunterlab.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

📢The 2025 MAYosis webinar series will be held on consecutive Wednesdays, May 7-28, at 4 pm CET (7 am PST; 12 am JST) meiosis.cornell.edu/mayoss2025/ Apply to give a talk (deadline is March 8, trainees and junior faculty only): tinyurl.com/47k3cjpn Registration is free: tinyurl.com/39rs53yv

meiosis.cornell.edu

MAYosis 2025

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

What's the biggest Drosophila gene? Priscila Santa Rosa, co-mentored by Bob Duronio and me, is studying fragility within Myo81. In FlyBase, Myo81F is at least 1.966 Mb, but Pri has this exciting Nanopore sequencing that adds at least 24 kb to that.

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Now that there are people here, I want to post about the highlight of the summer for me: My lab's 25th anniversary reunion, organized by several former members. They made a wonderful website that I looked at frequently. I made a timeline poster of everyone that's been in the lab. 1/5

Screenshot of Sekelsky Lab 25th Reunion website

Timeline of everyone that has been in the Sekelsky lab

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 11/05/2024

Congratulations to our three undergraduate researchers that graduated with Honor in Biology. Emerson & Reese are off to graduate school, while Gray goes into the real world.

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Jeff Sekelsky @jeffsekelsky.bsky.social · 15/12/2023

I’m here. Did I miss anything?

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