Mastodawn

Recently I visited my plant biology friend @leondo_d in Kiel. Their Botanical Garden is worth a visit! Currently they have built up a nice butterfly house I highly recommend to visit. But I also helped out in the lab and learned a new method. A. rhizogenes was injected into leaf midribs. Later, some transgenic roots will (hopefully) emerge from there!

Picture 2 was taken and thankfully provided by Leon (https://orcid.org/0009-0000-4184-729X).

#PlantScience #Kiel #BotanicalGarden #Butterfly #Agrobacterium

Samuel Nestor Meckoni Jun 13

Boas Pucker Jun 13

We are looking for a new group member (BSc/MSc student) to bring our full plasmid sequencing data analysis workflow (NanoPlasmiQC) to the next level.

If you are excited about long-read sequencing and bioinformatics, this project could be for you and your thesis. Please find additional details here:
https://www.izmb.uni-bonn.de/en/pbb/news#NPQCS

More details about NanoPlasmiQC:
https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.04.01.715842

#Python #Genomics #LongReads #Biotech #SynBio #Bioinformatics
@PuckerLab
@samnm

Samuel Nestor Meckoni Jun 12

This years EMPSEB conference (The European Meeting of PhD Students in Evolutionary Biology) was a really exciting experience for me. I met a lot of nice people and got helpful feedback and tips. It was quite surprising how widespread the use of bioinformatics is!

#EMPSEB31 #lentibulariaceae #carnivory #evolutionarybiology #plantbiology

Samuel Nestor Meckoni Jun 11

PuckerLab Jun 11

In Glasgow, Hannah presented our Cucurbitaceae resarch at EURO EVO DEVO 2026.

Who stole the blue flowers? Cucurbitaceae lack the genes required for anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin biosynthesis. This is quite unusual, as these genes are conserved in most flowering plants. Check out the full story in our recent preprint "Out of the blue: Family-wide loss of anthocyanin biosynthesis in Cucurbitaceae".

https://www.izmb.uni-bonn.de/en/pbb/news#evodevo2026
@boas_pucker
#Evolution #SciComm #Pigments

Samuel Nestor Meckoni May 4

Boas Pucker May 4

Final week of our Python course for Plant Sciences Master’s students 🌱🐍🖥️
Covered fundamentals (data types, control flow), file handling, and modules, plus discussed the risks and benefits of AI in scientific research.

🔗 https://github.com/bpucker/PyBo

#Python #PlantScience #Bioinformatics #DataScience #HigherEducation
@PuckerLab
@samnm

Samuel Nestor Meckoni May 2

Boas Pucker May 2

🌸 Do you enjoy cherry blossoms?

We are looking for a future group member to explore the genetic mechanisms behind coloration in cherry flowers and fruits.

The project focuses on tissue-specific gene expression and its role in ornamental plants and crops.

🔗 Details: https://www.izmb.uni-bonn.de/en/pbb/teaching#cherry

#PlantScience #Genetics #Botany #AcademicJobs #Research
@PuckerLab
@samnm

Samuel Nestor Meckoni Apr 29

I gave my presentation at the plant science Hauskolloquium of my University! I was very happy to share my plans and progress and to receive helpful feedback and input. The uncle sam figure was created by @mary_, Thank you Marie :)

#utricularia #genlisea #carnivorousplants #plantbiology

Samuel Nestor Meckoni Apr 10

Boas Pucker Apr 10

Getting ready for the next Python course at the University of Bonn, starting Monday! 🚀

Plant Sciences master’s students can learn how to handle big data using Python, from the basics to applying AI for real-world problems 🌱💻

Really looking forward to a few days of creative coding and problem-solving!

Slides & materials: https://github.com/bpucker/PyBo

#Python #DataScience #AI #PlantScience #Bioinformatics #BigData #OpenScience #Teaching
@PuckerLab
@samnm

Samuel Nestor Meckoni Apr 8

NFDI4Microbiota Apr 8

🗨️ NFDI4Microbiota is now on Matrix! Join our “NFDI4Microbiota Community” chat, ask questions, and connect with researchers, data stewards & developers.

Share ideas, get support, and network in an open space.

👉 Join the conversation: https://tinyurl.com/mwyd9ebh

We’re excited to meet you 👋!

#rdm #microbiology #support

Samuel Nestor Meckoni Apr 7

Boas Pucker Apr 7

Would you like to confirm your cloning success with full plasmid sequencing?

NanoPlasmiQC allows automatic analysis of dozens of plasmids in a single ONT sequencing run. If you would like to test it with your own plasmids, read more in the preprint and feel free to reach out:

https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.04.01.715842

#Genomics #Bioinformatics #OpenScience #Biotechnology #SynBio #iGEM
@PuckerLab

Website	https://www.izmb.uni-bonn.de/en/molecular-plant-sciences/samuel_nestor_meckoni
ORCID	https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4877-8762