Scientist @DanforthCenter & @MizzouBiology studying mobile DNA called Transposable Elements in plant genomes. CSO of @Spearhead_Bio. Father and political junkie
St Louis, MO
Joined April 2018
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Keith Slotkin retweeted
Cool startup for today:
Spearhead Bio by @Slotkin_Lab is using pieces of DNA that naturally move around genomes as programmable tools for engineering crops
If I understand correctly, Instead of making tiny genetic edits, the idea is to insert or replace much larger pieces of DNA
Keith Slotkin retweeted
Exclusive: Spearhead Bio lands oversubscribed seed round for faster, more precise gene editing tech agfundernews.com/exclusive-s…
Keith Slotkin retweeted
Big news for St. Louis agtech! Danforth Center startup @Spearhead_Bio has closed an oversubscribed $1.62M seed round to advance crop-engineering technology designed to save years and millions of dollars in developing improved crops.
Learn more: danforthcenter.org/news/spea…
Keith Slotkin retweeted
NAASC member Tomo Kawashima announces ICAR2027-Madison and the Keynote Speakers: Adrienne Roeder, Keith Slotkin, Cyril Zipfel, and Doris Wagner. 🌱🌱🌱🌱
Sign up for updates here arabidopsiscommunity.org/ica…
@RoederLab @Doris_Wagner_ @Slotkin_Lab
Keith Slotkin retweeted
Excited to share our @NaturePlants News & Views article highlighting how two independent studies uncover transcription factor mediated recruitment of the key siRNA-producing protein, RNA polymerase IV to specific DNA sequences in plants.
Full article: doi.org/10.1038/s41477-025-0… 1/3
Keith Slotkin retweeted
Overall, these studies show TFs can guide siRNA production in plants in a sequence specific manner highlighting the importance of genetic /DNA sequence for epigenetic regulation.
Grateful to @Slotkin_Lab for the opportunity and support!! 3/3
Keith Slotkin retweeted
🌱 Poster abstracts due Sept 18! Early-career scientists, submit your work for Keystone Symposia: Plant Epigenetics & Epigenome Engineering. Showcase your research, get feedback & connect with leaders. 🔗 hubs.ly/Q03FFM170 #KSPlantEpi26 @Doris_Wagner_ @zhonglab
Keith Slotkin retweeted
Today I delivered my maiden speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate, a long held tradition for new senators.
It’s a love letter to Michigan where we invented the middle class. Protecting the middle class is and always will be my north star.
Keith Slotkin retweeted
Spearhead Bio, a Danforth Technology Company startup, has received a grant from @NSF that will allow them to fast-track their breakthrough genome engineering technology to develop corn varieties equipped for ag’s biggest challenges. Read more: loom.ly/zHfitlo
Keith Slotkin retweeted
Today, was a busy and productive one in the House Science Committee! We passed two bills that I wrote and introduced, the Post-Quantum Cybersecurity Standards Act and the Small Business Artificial Intelligence Advancement Act. Both bills will safeguard our national security and empower American small businesses to lead in the digital age. This legislation will ensure that the small businesses and manufacturers who are the backbone of Michigan’s economy will be able to safely continue to innovate in the 21st century.
Keith Slotkin retweeted
What is one country also investing heavily in agricultural research? It's China.
That's why this Administration's $600M cut to ag research makes no sense. We cannot go backward on investing in the future of agriculture. It impacts our farmers and our national security.
Keith Slotkin retweeted
👇
@Spearhead_Bio Offers Precise Plant Engineering Using CRISPR-Directed Jumping Genes
TAHITI couples #CRISPR with transposable elements from plants to edit cash crops such as corn and soybean with reduced off-target effects
@DanforthCenter @Slotkin_Lab
hubs.li/Q03mLWqx0
Keith Slotkin retweeted
@Spearhead_Bio Offers Precise Plant Engineering Using CRISPR-Directed Jumping Genes
TAHITI couples #CRISPR with transposable elements from plants to edit cash crops such as corn and soybean with reduced off-target effects
@DanforthCenter @Slotkin_Lab
hubs.li/Q03mLWqx0
Keith Slotkin retweeted
I’m about to lead my @sciencedems
colleagues on the House floor to stand up for science, fight Trump and Musk’s NSF cuts, and STOP THE CHAOS!
Tune in!
Keith Slotkin retweeted
I’m happy to share that our collaborative commentary is out! In defense of funding foundational plant science academic.oup.com/plcell/arti…
Keith Slotkin retweeted
See us in St. Louis Magazine! @stlmag stlmag.com/business/spearhea…
Keith Slotkin retweeted
Introducing the newest startup to spin out of the Danforth Center: Spearhead Bio. Spearhead’s technology enhances the efficiency of genome engineering by harnessing the plant’s own natural DNA. 🌱
Learn more:
loom.ly/UVnGrzc
Keith Slotkin retweeted
New Perspective: "The future of genome editing in plants" rdcu.be/ef8aa
Genome editing will mimic the natural evolutionary processes that shape genomes; will be used to reshape genomes in a manner that could have happened naturally, but more precisely and more rapidly.
Keith Slotkin retweeted
Can we please bring back science? Can we invest in foundational research to invent tomorrow’s technology? And develop new vaccines? And cure Alzheimer’s? And childhood cancer? And solve the climate crisis? And beat China? Let’s not relitigate settled science but pursue new frontiers.