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  1. Jun 2025
    1. Our finding of different expression levels of toxins in different developmental stages and adult tissues strongly suggests that venom composition changes across development and that each arsenal of toxins might have been shaped by selection for different biotic interactions. As Nematostella develops from a non-predatory, swimming larva to an adult sessile predatory polyp that is 150-fold larger than the larva (Figure 1A), its interspecific interactions vastly change across development.

      This makes sense because just as humans change and develop across different stages of life, venom composition would do the same

    2. The results of the experiments showed that Nematostella mothers pass on a toxin to their eggs that makes them unpalatable to predators.

      That is a very interesting finding because being able to pass along this toxin from mothers to their eggs is not something I think I have ever heard of to keep predators away.

    3. Variation in expression patterns of the NEP3 family members and the fact that at least four different types of gland cells at distinct developmental stages and tissues express different toxins (Nv1, Nvlysin1b, NEP6 and NvePTx1) in Nematostella suggests a highly complex venom landscape in this species

      Maybe this variety and diversity potentially keeps prey from getting used to the venom.

    4. The results of the ISH and nCounter experiments indicated that NvePTx1 is maternally deposited at the RNA level.

      It makes sense that the venom isn't made by the larvae with the mother providing this to them so they can hunt right away.

    5. Strikingly, within 10 min from the start of the incubation 3 out of 8 Artemia were paralyzed or dead, and within 90 min 7 of 8 were dead (Video 1), whereas in a control group without planulae all Artemia were alive.

      I find it impressive that such a small larva can kill something bigger. This shows it probably has very strong venom.

    6. change dramatically between developmental stages of this species

      I wonder if this variation in venom could be linked to specific prey types available at each stage.

    7. We find that venom composition and arsenal of toxin-producing cells change dramatically between developmental stages of this species.

      Interesting that venom changes as the animal grows.

    1. Approximately 65% of human disease genes are estimated to have counterparts in D. melanogaster

      This demonstrates the genetic similarity between D. melanogaster and humans, reinforcing its value as a model organism for studying human disease mechanisms.

    2. Few studies of D. melanogaster have been done in the wild, but those that have reveal a different picture of wild flies.

      This highlights the research gap between laboratory and field studies. Understanding wild populations is important to get a complete picture of the species' biology and evolution.

    3. The genes that control these behavioural differences can hold clues to controlling the reproduction of economically and medically important insects, such as testse flies and mosquitoes

      Understanding the genetic basis of reproductive behaviors could inform pest control strategies to reduce disease transmission and crop damage.

    4. Reproductive behavior and biology, while extensively studied in the laboratory, is less well-understood in the wild.

      Laboratory conditions often simplify or alter natural behaviors, so findings may not fully reflect what occurs in nature.

    5. holometabolous,

      Other insects that are considered holometabolous include some common ones such as: house flies, mosquitoes, gnats, monarch butterflies and some moths. Both the larvae and adults occupy the decaying source at different time frames which allows the interactions between the microbes.

    6. D. melanogaster do not live alone. Their decaying host resources are also home to many microbes, as well as to other arthropods, including other Drosophila species, all of which they interact with (see Video 1, 2). Some microbes in the decaying material themselves provide food for D. melanogaster, being selectively consumed by larvae or adults

      The microbes not only live in this environment, but also serve as a food source for the flies. This explains how the D. melanogaster depend on other organisms in their habitat.

    1. taking fully advantage of our algorithm might involve coordination between multiple colleagues in a lab who are constructing plasmids with different expected sequences.

      This is something a local core like GCEC can help with

    2. it could be further reduced by executing time-consuming dynamic programming only for some query-reference pairs that necessitate high levels of accuracy and by introducing parallel computing

      Nice, Any other ideas to reduce RAM use?

    3. theoretical minimum number of reads that is required for the reliable consensus calculation is 30 reads per plasmid

      Does this depend on the plasmid length and the preperation kit before sequencing that determines fragmentation?