Tae Seok Moon

The White House, then the United States Capitol, followed by the Supreme Court by walking. Which building do you like the most or worst? BTW, they should be independently operated, although they are closely located.

Finally at the White House, at the right time. Feel quiet although the Iran war is ongoing.

After 4h sleep and no trip over a month, I am embarking on the first trip of many. This one is to Office of Naval Research in Washington DC to give a talk and discuss!
@jcvi.org

AI is rewiring how the world’s best Go players think Ten years after a milestone victory, AI now dominates Go training. Players are figuring out what that means for the game.

In 1 hr, Lee Se-dol, the only Go player who won 1 game, will re-match against Google #DeepMind’s #AI #AlphaGo, the old version. 10 yrs ago, he was defeated by 1:4.

Interesting to see whether he has learned from AI, or will the result tell humans' future?
www.technologyreview.com/2026/02/27/1...

SynBYSS The International SynBYSS Conference is focused on bringing together the synthetic biology community with the explicit goal of developing young...

#SynBYSS welcomes Prof Zengyi Shao at Iowa State U & Prof Jihyun F. Kim at Yonsei U as the 287-8th pioneers, thanks!

For the conference, poster abstract submission is still open.

Early bird registration due: Mar 15

Hotel prices are increasing quickly, so book ASAP!

www.jcvi.org/events/synbyss

Genetic Markers Remain Detectable in Genetically Engineered Microbes Biocontained with a CRISPR Kill Switch Biocontainment strategies, such as kill switches, have been developed to avoid the unintended proliferation of genetically engineered microbes (GEMs) intended for open-release environmental applications. However, the presence of GEM DNA after successful biocontainment presents new environmental risks and challenges for monitoring. In this study, we investigated whether biocontainment using a CRISPR-Cas9 kill switch, which causes double-strand breaks in target genes essential for GEM growth, could resolve this challenge in a model Escherichia coli GEM. Surprisingly, the escape rates of the GEM as determined by CRISPR-targeted gene abundances were as high as 10–1.6 to 10–1.0 in LB media, despite the escape rates measured by colony forming units (cfu) being only 10–6.2 under the same condition. This discrepancy suggested that the CRISPR-Cas9 kill switch prevents colony growth while still leaving a large fraction of target genes intact for detection by molecular methods. Within 1 h after biocontainment, these target genes remained predominantly inside an intact cell membrane and were resistant to degradation by DNase, though degradation was observed in river water over multiple days. Overall, a detailed understanding of the impact of the biocontainment mechanism on both the GEM and its DNA is needed to minimize unintended environmental risks.

Our collaborative work is out in Environmental Science & Technology, a high-impact @acs.org journal. Thanks to Kim Parker for her leadership & researchers in her & my labs for tireless efforts in this challenging project funded by NSF, US EPA & USDA
@jcvi.org

pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Genome modelling and design across all domains of life with Evo 2 - Nature Evo 2 is an artificial intelligence-based biological foundation model trained on 9 trillion DNA base pairs spanning all domains of life that predicts functional properties from genomic sequences and p...

Wow, another in Nature!

"Here we introduce Evo 2, a biological foundation model trained on 9 trillion DNA base pairs from a highly curated genomic atlas spanning all domains of life to have a 1 million token context window with single-nucleotide resolution."

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

The MicrobeAtlas database: Global trends and insights into Earth’s microbial ecosystems MicrobeAtlas (www.microbeatlas.org) is an integrated, reference-based resource for truly planet-wide microbiomics, analyzing hundreds of thousands of microbial lineages across diverse environments, co...

Really useful and important resource paper in Cell
@cellpress.bsky.social
The MicrobeAtlas database: Global trends and insights into Earth’s microbial ecosystems: Cell
www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

⏰Hurry up! Submit your #ECB2026 abstract by 15 March 2026.
✅ Oral, Poster or Flash Poster presentation
📍 Antwerp, Belgium | 28 June – 1 July
🔗https://www.ecb2026.com/

@dmattanovich.bsky.social @taeseokmoon.bsky.social @lehorsfall.bsky.social @viblifesciences.bsky.social @vibmicrobes.bsky.social

YouTube video by TAESEOK Moon Blood Moon eclipse on March 3, 2026 in Korea recorded by my mom! Hope Middle East bloods will stop.

Blood #Moon #Eclipse recorded by my mom. I feel like it is being tarnished due to #MiddleEast bloods. I hope the #war will stop soon like the eclipse.

www.youtube.com/shorts/k7CJQ...

Department of Energy Announces Early Career Research Program for 2026, apply!
@departmentofenergy.bsky.social

science.osti.gov/grants/FOAs/...

A research man is surviving with a simple dish and its variation using leftover: #Korean tofu soup with beef, vegetables & egg; and Kimchi, steamed rice & dried seaweed as side dishes; next day with dumplings & rice cakes dunked into the leftover soup and #Kimchi again!
At least, some novelty^^.

Iran latest: US and Israel carry out joint attack on Iran as Tehran launches retaliatory strikes US President Donald Trump has called for regime change in Iran and said

While I have been writing a proposal and a paper until 4 am on Sat, the terrible War continues. www.bbc.com/news/live/cn...

Live Updates: U.S. Attacks Iran, as Trump Vows to Decimate Its Military

I want to stay up writing proposals or papers, rather than watching war news at 12:40 am on Sat.

www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02...

Here is my late lunch that was introduced in movie Parasite, which may be a cheapest & quickest way to go to Paradise: Korean brown instant noodle 짜파게티 red pepper powder sprayed with grilled beef & Kimchi.

SynBYSS The International SynBYSS Conference is focused on bringing together the synthetic biology community with the explicit goal of developing young...

We need your sponsorship. Unless you say otherwise, we DON'T support senior attendees: invited speakers and committee.
To be eligible for awards, you should give presentations. Abstract submission for oral will be closed on 2/27, but one for posters will remain open.
www.jcvi.org/events/synbyss

So glad to announce two awardees for #SynBYSS Spain conference: George Chao & Sonia Mecacci. Many more to announce.
@jcvi.org
I'll donate my personal money again ($2500) to support future leaders & remember my late dad who passed away in 2024, so you can do support us financially or in other ways.

Wow!

YouTube video by TAESEOK Moon SynBYSS seminar with Prof. Virginia Cornish at Columbia Univ & Abhishek Gupta at UC San Diego & JCVI

#SynBYSS seminar with Prof. Virginia Cornish at Columbia University & Abhishek Gupta at UC San Diego & J. Craig Venter Institute
@columbiauniversity.bsky.social
@ucsandiego.bsky.social
@jcvi.org

The talk video link is below:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S91b...

My deepest condolences. R.I.P.

SynBYSS_2026

#SynBYSS 10am USA CT
191st, Feb 26: Prof Virginia Cornish @columbiauniversity.bsky.social & Abhishek Gupta @jcvi.org & UCSD

192nd, Mar 13, "Fri": Prof SangWoo Seo at Seoul National U & Prof. Sam Oliveira @ncatsuaggies.bsky.social

Zoom link & schedule:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

How about #fried burger, potato, onion & mushroom along with cheese powder and fresh cucumber with Korean red pepper paste as Sunday brunch on a sunny San Diego day?

#SynBYSS welcomes Jamey Young, Laura Jarboe, John Morgan & Luis Serrano as 283-286th pioneer speakers!
1 Nobel Laureate, 30 National Academy members, 48 funders, 15 editors @natureportfolio.nature.com & @cellpress.bsky.social, 23 chief editors & 262 rising stars joined!
Send CV to me if interested.

Generative AI for synthetic biology: Designing biological parts, circuits, and genomes The convergence of generative AI and synthetic biology is transforming biological design, enabling the de novo creation of biological parts and systems with predictable, programmable function. Kim et ...

Great review on generative #AI for #synbio by Nayoung Kim, Jim Collins et al. in Cell Systems, @cellpress.bsky.social

Generative AI for synthetic biology: Designing biological parts, circuits, and genomes: Cell Systems
www.cell.com/cell-systems...

What problem do you hope bioengineering or synthetic biology approaches will enable us to tackle in the next decade? Worsening global warming, the demand for sustainable chemicals and foods, and the societal imperative to enable healthier and longer lives are redefining the mission of bioengineering. Over the next d...

Great Voices article in Cell Systems by many of my colleagues in Engineering Biology or Synthetic Biology.
@cellpress.bsky.social

What problem do you hope bioengineering or synthetic biology approaches will enable us to tackle in the next decade?: Cell Systems
www.cell.com/cell-systems...

Pope Leo will be visiting Barcelona on June 10th to inaugurate Gaudi's cathedral, which will likely bring a very large number of visitors to the city. So please book your hotel ASAP.
Thanks, Victor de Lorenzo, for letting me know.
@jcvi.org @marcguellc.bsky.social @vdlorenzo.bsky.social

Live Updates: Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Sweeping Tariffs

"Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Sweeping Tariffs"
"The Supreme Court dealt a major blow to President Trump’s economic policy on Friday, ruling that he had exceeded his authority when he imposed tariffs on nearly every U.S. trading partner."
@nytimes.com

www.nytimes.com/live/2026/02...

SynBYSS The International SynBYSS Conference is focused on bringing together the synthetic biology community with the explicit goal of developing young...

Luis Serrano will give a welcoming remark at #SynBYSS. Collins’ & Elowitz’s @nature.com papers, Jan 2000 started #synbio field, with Becskei & Serrano’s Nature, Jun 2000.
You can meet editors @natcomms.nature.com & @cp-trendsbiotech.bsky.social
Feb. 23: abstract deadline
www.jcvi.org/events/synbyss

YouTube video by TAESEOK Moon SynBYSS with Prof. Jean-Michel Ane at U. Wisconsin, Madison & Prof. Rosa Santomartino at Cornell U.

#SynBYSS webinar with Prof. Jean-Michel Ané at University of Wisconsin-Madison & Prof. Rosa Santomartino at Cornell University
@uwmadison.bsky.social
@cornellupress.bsky.social

The talk video link is below:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnuB...

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol found guilty of leading an insurrection | CNN Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was found guilty on Thursday of leading an insurrection during his short-lived imposition of martial law in late 2024, which plunged the country into politi...

"Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol found guilty of leading an insurrection"
@cnn.com
www.cnn.com/2026/02/19/a...