Dr. Ahna Skop

Dr. Ahna Skop

@ahnaskop.bsky.social

Cell biologist, artist, science artist, educator, scientific cake baker, foodie, and traveler. I study the RNA granule in the Midbody and MBR. The midbody remnant (MBR) is a large translating Extracelluar vesicle that is generated in mitosis.

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Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

As a scientist who has spent years studying these tiny structures, knowing that a seventh grader knows about MBRs absolutely makes my day/week/year—and reminds me why sharing our science matters so much.

Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

To the teachers who nurture curiosity and the students who ask questions: thank you. You may not realize how much moments like this mean to the scientists on the other end of that email. —I’m going to frame this! ❤️

Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

A teacher (one of my former undergrads) from Alma Center, Wisconsin (the strawberry capitol of Wisconsin with 713 residents) wrote to tell me that a SEVENTH GRADER brought up midbody remnants (MBRs) during a lesson on cell division. Unprompted!!! 🔬🤯

Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

Super cool!

Marvin Tanenbaum@marvintanenbaum.bsky.social

Did you ever want to sequence that one interesting cell you observed in your microscopy experiment? We have a new pre-print out today that describes a genetic barcoding method, Waldo, to perform live-cell imaging and single-cell sequencing on the same single cells. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

biorxiv.orgLinking live-cell imaging to single-cell sequencing using genetic barcodingLinking cellular phenotype to genotype and gene expression is a central goal in biomedical research. Live-cell imaging captures dynamic cellular phenotypes, whereas single-cell sequencing measures gen...
Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

Excited to share a review on mitotic and meiotic midbody remnants! Karen Schindler and I wrote this piece! Enjoy! Mitotic and meiotic midbody remnants: Divergent architectures with distinct clinical applications: Cell Genomics www.cell.com/cell-genomic...

cell.comMitotic and meiotic midbody remnants: Divergent architectures with distinct clinical applicationsMidbody remnants adopt division-mode-specific functions. Mitotic remnants can act as translating extracellular vesicles with potential relevance to cancer biomarkers, whereas meiotic midbody caps reta...

Dr. Ahna Skop reposted

The Game Crafter
@thegamecrafter.bsky.social

Game in Lab’s international call for projects is open to researchers from all over the world and aims to support the production of scientific knowledge about board games. https://www.game-in-lab.org/en/international-call-for-projects

game-in-lab.orgInternational call for projects - Game in LabGame in Lab’s international call for projects is open once again in 2026, to researchers from all over the world and aims to support the production of scientific knowledge about board games. Game in Lab has already supported more than 30 researchers through previous international calls for projects.…
Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

Any idea why editors are now asking for revisions before manuscript goes out to reviewers? This takes time and unclear why defining one acronym or fixing minor typos before review is necessary.

Dr. Ahna Skop reposted

Science Magazine
@science.org

"Those who believe in free, open, and responsive institutions must recognize how critically linked science is to democracy itself and defend its integrity with every tool at their disposal," writes John Palfrey in a new #ScienceEditorial. https://scim.ag/4i9awDH

Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

Super excited my new review on midbody remnants (MBRs) is out: "Condensates on the Move: Midbody Remnants as Large, Translation‐Competent Extracellular Vesicles" #extracellularvesicles #midbody #mitosis #condensates #translation #proteinsynthesis onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

onlinelibrary.wiley.comCondensates on the Move: Midbody Remnants as Large, Translation‐Competent Extracellular VesiclesMitotic cells produce three EV types: exosomes and microvesicles (green/blue) delivering pre-formed molecules, and midbody remnants (magenta) containing functional ribosomes and translation machinery...
Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

Just a reminder that many EV and exosome isolation kits isolate MBRs at ~50% of the total EVs that they pull down.

Dr. Ahna Skop@ahnaskop.bsky.social

Excited our Large Extracellular Vesicles/Midbody Remnants generated during the cell cycle is out! #ev #mbrs #extracellularvesicles #cellcycle #mitosis www.molbiolcell.org/doi/10.1091/...

Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

When I publicly acknowledge a male colleague’s work, it’s considered “professional.” When I point out that they failed to acknowledge mine, suddenly I’m “emotional,” or “aggressive”

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Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

If you’re a male scientist who only values my work in private emails, closed-door meetings, or grant reviews—but goes silent when there’s public recognition, you are part of the problem, not an ally.

Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

Being called out for bias is not an attack on science; it’s a demand that you apply the same standards of citation, credit, and respect to women that you already extend to men. If this makes you uncomfortable, ask yourself why your comfort depends on my invisibility.

Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

When I publicly acknowledge a male colleague’s work, it’s considered “professional.” When I point out that they failed to acknowledge mine, suddenly I’m “emotional,” or “aggressive”

Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

This is what a double standard looks like: women are systematically under-credited for their scientific contributions, and then punished socially when we name it out loud.

Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

This place is great for creating your own science art themed games! Perhaps a NSF broader impacts idea?

The Game Crafter@thegamecrafter.bsky.social

These invader mats are a great way to create randomized hex maps with small hexes. Mats are made out of our standard 12 point 320gsm black-core matte cardstock and are printed double-sided. https://www.thegamecrafter.com/make/products/InvaderMat

Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

We’re hiring! Funded postdoc position available immediately to study RNA (miRNA, lncRNA, mRNA) and protein in midbody remnants (MBRs). Our goal is to develop early predictors for cancer and neurodegenerative disease. Interested? Email skop@wisc.edu

Dr. Ahna Skop reposted

Jan Willem Tulp
@tulpinteractive.com

Last week I had the honour of giving the keynote speech for the last day of #VIZBI (visualizing biology) in Cambridge, UK. The topic of my talk was "Seeing things differently" in which I showed and explained various concepts of #frameshift design. vizbi.org/Videos/57391... (you must register/pay)

Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

Anyone know if the new R35 MIRA requires a current and pending funding document at submission? There are conflicting info on the NIH website and my PO didn’t actually know either. Said would get back to me but didn’t.

Dr. Ahna Skop
@ahnaskop.bsky.social

Dear potential reviewers please respond to editors especially given the opportunities it gives to authors. It seems crazy to me to be on the verge of a reject response in Science advances because the editors can’t find another reviewer.

Dr. Ahna Skop reposted

WARF (Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation)
@warfnews.bsky.social

Congratulations to @ahnaskop.bsky.social and Anne Lynn Gillian-Daniel, who received the Bassam Z. Shakhashiri Public Science Engagement Award!

research.wisc.eduExcellence in outreach recognized with 2026 Bassam Z. Shakhashiri Public Science Engagement Award | Research | UW–MadisonExcellence in outreach recognized with 2026 Bassam Z. Shakhashiri Public Science Engagement Award PostedMarch 2, 2026 By Natasha Kassulke, natasha.kassulke@wisc.edu Ahna Skop, professor in the Departments of Genetics and Medical Genetics, and Anne Lynn Gillian-Daniel, distinguished teaching faculty...