The Blueprint Blog

A simple habit like waking up and stepping outside in the first 15-20 minutes of the morning affects your body across multiple biological layers, from genes to metabolism. Let's dive into the multi-omics of it all! Genomics Your body contains circadian clock genes that regulate a roughly 24-hour rhythm. Genes like CLOCK, PER, and BMAL1 help regulate: Sleep Hormones Body temperature Metabolism Morning sunlight helps reset this genetic clock every day. When light hits your eyes

Featuring Model Rosalinda  Photography by Florence Piel What is Vitiligo? Vitiligo is a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the cells that produce skin pigment (melanocytes). Leading to white patches on the skin. Vitiligo affects 1% of people worldwide. ALL  ages, ALL   backgrounds AND  skin tones. (even dogs, horses, and cats get vitligo) What is Multi-Omics? By “multi-omics”, we are referring to an integrated biological approach that combines all the “om

Not just genes... Have you ever wondered how butterflies get their amazing colors and patterns?  In Puerto Rico, bioinformatics researcher Angelo Ruggieri dug deep into the DNA of Heliconius  butterflies to find the answer. And spoiler alert: it’s not just about the genes. Not just DNA, but how DNA is controlled For a long time, scientists thought that small mutations in genes were the main way species evolved new traits. But Angelo’s research shows something surprising: The

In many ways, evolution is the foundation of ALL  biology. By learning evolution in the classroom, biology students can better understand the diversity of life and the connections that exist among all living things (Dobzhansky, 1973).  However, teaching evolution can be challenging. It is often met with resistance, non-acceptance, and misinformation (including teachers).  Non-acceptance , in particular, can influence: How confidently teachers teach How deeply students underst

What does 2026 Look Like for The Blueprint of Life Team? Science doesn’t move forward alone… This week, the team came together to reflect on our Year 1 achievements, and set the direction for what comes next. Here’s what we discussed… The Big Goal  The Blueprint of Life brings together scientists, educators, and communicators to explore a simple question: how does matter become life, and how do cells know what to do? By building a pangenome from many genome assemblies, we’re