The cost of omics

Next generation DNA sequencing is ubiquitously integrated in modern biomedical research while mass-spectrometry proteomics remains less ubiquitous. In fact, mass-spectrometry proteomics is conspicuously missing from projects that desperately need it. Why is DNA sequencing better integrated with biomedical research? This question comes up often in my conversations with colleagues. A commonly suggested answer is the … Continue reading The cost of omics

Direct causal mechanisms

Understanding biological systems: In search of direct causal mechanisms The advent of DNA-microarrays spurred a vigorous effort to reverse engineer biological networks. Recently, these efforts have been reinvigorated by the availability of RNA-seq data from perturbed and unperturbed single cells. In the talk below, I discuss the opportunities and limitations of using such data for … Continue reading Direct causal mechanisms

Evaluating preprints

I am hugely enthusiastic for communicating research by preprints. So naturally, I am happy to see when the president and strategic advisers of one of the most elite funding institutes embraces preprints: https://twitter.com/slavovLab/status/1095734247384641541 For centuries, publishing a scientific article was just about sharing the results. More recently, publishing research articles in a journal has served … Continue reading Evaluating preprints

Single-cell analysis

The success of imaging technologies The molecular and functional differences among the cells making our bodies have been appreciated for many decades. Yet, the tools to study them were very limited. In the last couple of decades, we have began developing increasingly powerful technologies for molecular single-cell measurements. Currently, the most widely used high-throughput methods … Continue reading Single-cell analysis