@bpucker
Prof. @unibonn.bsky.social. Plant Biotechnology & Bioinformatics (@puckerlab.bsky.social). #Genomics #Bioinformatics #Evolution #SpecializedMetabolism #MolecularBiology #Pigmentation #Flavonoids. Website: https://www.pbb.uni-bonn.de. Views are my own.
Petunia hybrida has been bred into an incredible diversity of colors and patterns.
Most arise from mutations in the anthocyanin pathway or post-transcriptional gene silencing that turns pigment genes on and off 🧬🎨
We are inviting applications for a joint appointment:
Director at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry
Full Professor (W3) at MLU
Apply by April, 24 via: berufungsportal.uni-halle.de
Join us in advancing innovative research at the interface of chemistry and bioactive natural products.
Zoë
We are excited to welcome Zoë to our group. Her work with molecular biology methods will contribute to our ongoing research on functional plant genomics. We are looking forward to the ideas and energy she brings to the lab.
www.izmb.uni-bonn.de/en/pbb/team
#MolecularBiology #PlantGenomics
Begonia manicata plant with red, soft outgrowths emerging from the leaf and stems. Photo credit: Jakob Maximilian Horz. Source: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.02.26.708300
🌿 New preprint: Genome sequence of Begonia manicata and genes responsible for striking red color of its leaf/stem outgrowths. Pigmentation appears linked to anthocyanin biosynthesis genes that are strongly expressed in the red tissues
📄 doi.org/10.64898/202...
#PlantGenomics @puckerlab.bsky.social
Koushik
Meet Koushik, our newest bioinformatics team member! 💻
He is a master's student who is passionate about RNA-seq data analysis using machine learning and working with @shakunthalan.bsky.social .
www.izmb.uni-bonn.de/en/pbb/team
#Bioinformatics #RNAseq #AI #MachineLearning #BigData #DataScience
Lara
Our new group member Lara focuses on cloning arGSTs from plants! 🧬✨ Thanks to Najnin for excellent support in the lab.
www.izmb.uni-bonn.de/en/pbb/team
#PlantSciences #Puckerlab #UniBonn #PlantBiotechnology #MolecularBiology #Anthocyanins #Evolution
Summary of our "Plant Bioinformatics" course content. Generated with ChatGPT. Details: https://github.com/bpucker/PlantBioinformatics
This week in our "Plant Bioinformatics" course: students practice critically evaluating scientific papers. We check: data availability, reproducibility, and whether claims are supported by evidence. Teaching reproducible science 🌱
github.com/bpucker/Plan...
#RNAseq #Bioinformatics #OpenScience
Summary of our "Plant Bioinformatics" course content. Generated with ChatGPT. Details: https://github.com/bpucker/PlantBioinformatics
This week in our "Plant Bioinformatics" course: students practice critically evaluating scientific papers. We check: data availability, reproducibility, and whether claims are supported by evidence. Teaching reproducible science 🌱
github.com/bpucker/Plan...
#RNAseq #Bioinformatics #OpenScience
The first version of FigTree was released nearly 20 years ago and it is still widely used (including by me). But there are currently 85 issues on the GitHub repo (github.com/rambaut/figt...) and some of them I don’t really like the look of.
Sequencing output per P2 flow cell. Details: https://www.izmb.uni-bonn.de/en/pbb/news#P2OS
We (Julie) are still very active in the long-read sequencing business. Please see an updated figure regarding the output per P2 flow cell below. Reach out if you would like to collaborate!
Details: www.izmb.uni-bonn.de/en/pbb/news#...
#PlantGenomics #LongReads @bpucker.bsky.social
Diversity of Asteraceae flower pictures. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asteracea_poster_3.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0
Plants do not just turn red when stressed: pathogen-induced red pigmentation actively boosts disease resistance through protective anthocyanins in Asteraceae #FlavonoidFriday (doi.org/10.64898/202... & shorturl.at/TolZT)
Diversity of Asteraceae flower pictures. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asteracea_poster_3.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0
Plants do not just turn red when stressed: pathogen-induced red pigmentation actively boosts disease resistance through protective anthocyanins in Asteraceae #FlavonoidFriday (doi.org/10.64898/202... & shorturl.at/TolZT)
Please share with potentially interested colleagues :)
#Bioinformatics #Genomics #EvolutionaryBiology
Are you passionate about computational biology and the evolution of specialized plant metabolism? We invite highly motivated and experienced students and early-career researchers to join our group in Bonn for a visiting research stay. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience, exchange ideas, and work in a collaborative and supportive scientific environment with excellent computational resources. We especially welcome colleagues with prior research experience in bioinformatics, phylogeny, evolutionary biology, or comparative genomics, and a strong interest in plant metabolism. Master’s students and candidates looking to strengthen their research profile are strongly encouraged to reach out. If you are proactive, curious, and eager to conduct your own research project, we would love to hear from you. More details and contact information: https://www.izmb.uni-bonn.de/en/pbb/contact#EBPCM #ComputationalBiology #Bioinformatics #EvolutionaryBiology #ComparativeGenomics #ResearchOpportunity #EarlyCareerResearchers #PhDOpportunity #ScientificCollaboration #ResearchInGermany
Are you passionate about computational biology and the evolution of specialized plant metabolism?
More details and contact information:
www.izmb.uni-bonn.de/en/pbb/conta...
#Bioinformatics #Genomics #ResearchInGermany @puckerlab.bsky.social
Are you passionate about computational biology and the evolution of specialized plant metabolism? We invite highly motivated and experienced students and early-career researchers to join our group in Bonn for a visiting research stay. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience, exchange ideas, and work in a collaborative and supportive scientific environment with excellent computational resources. We especially welcome colleagues with prior research experience in bioinformatics, phylogeny, evolutionary biology, or comparative genomics, and a strong interest in plant metabolism. Master’s students and candidates looking to strengthen their research profile are strongly encouraged to reach out. If you are proactive, curious, and eager to conduct your own research project, we would love to hear from you. More details and contact information: https://www.izmb.uni-bonn.de/en/pbb/contact#EBPCM #ComputationalBiology #Bioinformatics #EvolutionaryBiology #ComparativeGenomics #ResearchOpportunity #EarlyCareerResearchers #PhDOpportunity #ScientificCollaboration #ResearchInGermany
Are you passionate about computational biology and the evolution of specialized plant metabolism?
More details and contact information:
www.izmb.uni-bonn.de/en/pbb/conta...
#Bioinformatics #Genomics #ResearchInGermany @puckerlab.bsky.social
Location and date of the Molecular Biology of Plants Conference in Hennef, Germany, from 16 - 19 March 2026
#PlantSciConfi
Updated programme of the
Molecular Biology of Plants Conference
organized by @kunzlab.bsky.social et al.
is available on the website of our Section @molplantsci.bsky.social
www.pflanzen-molekularbiologie.de/en/conferenc...
Screenshots of slides of the Plant Bioinformatics lecture. More details & course materials: https://github.com/bpucker/PlantBioinformatics
🌿 Plant Bioinformatics! 💻🧬
How do we turn massive plant data into biological insight?
We cover genomics, transcriptomics, sequence analysis, phylogenetics, statistics, and reproducible research practices. Plant science is data science. 🌱
Materials:
github.com/bpucker/Plan...
@puckerlab.bsky.social
Screenshots of slides of the Plant Bioinformatics lecture. More details & course materials: https://github.com/bpucker/PlantBioinformatics
🌿 Plant Bioinformatics! 💻🧬
How do we turn massive plant data into biological insight?
We cover genomics, transcriptomics, sequence analysis, phylogenetics, statistics, and reproducible research practices. Plant science is data science. 🌱
Materials:
github.com/bpucker/Plan...
@puckerlab.bsky.social
Summary of the Plant Bioinformatics course. AI-generated image (ChatGPT) showing some of the central elements. Details: https://github.com/bpucker/PlantBioinformatics
Getting ready for “Plant Bioinformatics” 🌱
Big data, command line, cloud computing & reproducible research — plus replicating published studies.
Materials: github.com/bpucker/Plan...
Study in Bonn: www.biologie.uni-bonn.de/de/studium/b...
#Bioinformatics #OpenEducation @puckerlab.bsky.social
Summary of the Plant Bioinformatics course. AI-generated image (ChatGPT) showing some of the central elements. Details: https://github.com/bpucker/PlantBioinformatics
Getting ready for “Plant Bioinformatics” 🌱
Big data, command line, cloud computing & reproducible research — plus replicating published studies.
Materials: github.com/bpucker/Plan...
Study in Bonn: www.biologie.uni-bonn.de/de/studium/b...
#Bioinformatics #OpenEducation @puckerlab.bsky.social
I do not want to hide my GitHub repositories. Scripts and data should be accessible once the preprint is on bioRxiv. How would others cite these resources without names attached to them? I am not against double blind review, but I do not see a huge benefit and it does not seem feasible
If you submit data to ENA, it gives away your name. If you publish scripts on GitHub, your name is visible. If you mention Botanical Gardens for providing material, it is not that difficult to infer the author identity. Therefore, I do not think a double blind review would be feasible in plant bio
Highly recommended! I had the pleasure to speak at an earlier edition and found it an amazing gathering!
Genome sequence annotation workflow. Source: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-026-12623-z
How to complete your plant genomics project with a comprehensive annotation?
"Cookbook for Plant Genome Sequences"
doi.org/10.1186/s128...
#Genomics #Bioinformatics #BigData
@puckerlab.bsky.social
If you are looking for the hands-on part of our cookbook, we also have a copy on GitHub to ensure that it can be updated over time:
github.com/bpucker/Plan...
#Genomics #Bioinformatics
Three medals / horese ribbons in green, blue and red colours
Our calls to nominate #ECRs for 3 scientific awards are out
1/5
➡️ www.deutsche-botanische-gesellschaft.de/u/BS3awards
Plant genome sequencing workflow. Details: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-026-12623-z
Need a genome sequence of your favourite plant? We laid out instructions for a complete workflow based on ONT sequencing:
"Cookbook for plant genome sequences"
doi.org/10.1186/s128...
#Genomics #LongReads #PlantSciences #Bioinformatics
@puckerlab.bsky.social @unibonn.bsky.social
Promote brilliant plant science #ECRs 🌱
@plantsciencedbg.bsky.social Awards 2026 are open. monetary prize, a certificate & a plenary talk at Botanik-Tagung.
Deadline: 26 Apr 2026.
Pro tip: 👉 Self-noms welcome for Horst Wiehe Award
Details: www.deutsche-botanische-gesellschaft.de/u/3awards
No, we would use NAVIP to classify variants based on effect: doi.org/10.1371/jour...
Plant genome sequencing workflow. Details: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-026-12623-z
Need a genome sequence of your favourite plant? We laid out instructions for a complete workflow based on ONT sequencing:
"Cookbook for plant genome sequences"
doi.org/10.1186/s128...
#Genomics #LongReads #PlantSciences #Bioinformatics
@puckerlab.bsky.social @unibonn.bsky.social
