Time-calibrated phylogeny of the family Drosophilidae showing major species groups, surrounded by representative adult flies that highlight the remarkable morphological diversity of this model insect group. The composite image was created using Microsoft PowerPoint. Fly photographs were taken by Darren J. Obbard and are published under the Creative Commons Attribution License with permission.
The #fly community aims to achieve a comprehensive genomic study of the Drosophilidae family. @pankajd.bsky.social @bernardkim.bsky.social @petrovadmitri.bsky.social @darrenobbard.bsky.social present a comparative gene annotation for 301 #Drosophilidae species @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/4c3pyrI
20.02.2026 08:55 —
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How does the piRNA pathway solve the self vs. non-self problem? 🧬
Since piRNAs come from single-stranded RNA, how does the cell choose the right ones? For years, "piRNA clusters" were seen as THE privileged source. But are they really special and earmarked for biogenesis? (1/19)
13.02.2026 15:11 —
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The grownups are cute! (although more true for (e.g.) deer-nose than for rhino!)
12.02.2026 15:40 —
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Transcriptomic analysis of non-model Drosophilidae reveals novel AMP candidates
#Drosophila
PubMed link
Transcriptomic analysis of non-model Drosophilidae reveals novel AMP candidates
#Drosophila
04.02.2026 17:23 —
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Why have you chosen to illustrate this with a random fly that is quite obviously not a drosophilid?
23.01.2026 21:29 —
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Cow Tools!
We have lived alongside cows for nearly 10,000 years.
We breed them and exploit them
It is now, only now, that we have discovered THEY CAN USE TOOLS
Here I describe our study
(paper) www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... in @currentbiology.bsky.social
with @auersperga.bsky.social
19.01.2026 17:23 —
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Rapid evolution and comparative analysis of piRNA clusters in D.simulans
Eukaryotic genomes are ubiquitously occupied by mobile genetic elements termed transposons, which are silenced via a specialized class of small RNA called piRNA. The small RNA is produced from the transposons themselves when they occupy specialized regions of the genome termed piRNA clusters. The formation of these specialized regions, or their evolution over time, is not well understood. Recent work has suggested that they are extremely variable even within a single species such as Drosophila melanogaster. We were interested in taking a comparative approach to piRNA cluster evolution to ask the question - what processes are unique to D.melanogaster and which are shared? Shared phenomena are more likely to be fundamental aspects of piRNA formation and evolution compared to those that are more labile. Using five high-quality long-read genome assemblies and five genotype-specific piRNA libraries, we approach this question from a population genetics standpoint. We annotate piRNA clusters, transposons, and structural variants in each of these five genomes. We found extensive variation in piRNA clusters across strains, with smaller piRNA clusters more likely to be limited to a single genotype. By and large, our results are consistent with a model of piRNA cluster evolution in which piRNA clusters are rapidly formed and lost, with a small subset increasing in frequency and length over time. However, we find that the TEs which nucleate the formation of small piRNA clusters are entirely distinct in D.simulans compared to D.melanogaster, and likely reflect its invasion history rather than any inherent property of the transposon to nucleate clusters. Therefore, while large common clusters can act as 'traps' as has been posited for piRNA clusters, there are also numerous small clusters that are born and lost rapidly within a species. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. National Science Foundation, NSF-EPSCoR-1826834, NSF-EPSCoR-2032756 National Institutes of Health, R35GM155272
If you need a little distraction from the world @prakashnarayanan.bsky.social first paper is out investigating the evolution of piRNA clusters in Drosophila simulans! Also with @kerogens101.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
20.01.2026 16:36 —
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SMBE Undergraduate Travel and Mentoring Award
The Undergraduate Travel and Mentoring Award provides support, advice and networking opportunities for undergraduate students (including Masters students under a 3+2 system) as they navigate their first international conference.
📨 Award applications
smbe2026.org/abstracts
#SMBE2026
15.01.2026 10:04 —
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Unfortunately I am in a meeting!
15.01.2026 12:07 —
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HLi Lab - Vacancies
Openings
I am looking for a postdoc to develop high-performance algorithms in computational genomics. Email or DM me if interested. For more information, see hlilab.github.io/vacancies. RTs appreciated!
14.01.2026 15:44 —
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Although that is not a flattering picture of @evogytis.bsky.social
14.01.2026 10:03 —
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Our new 416pp #FliesofBritainandIreland covering over 1300 species & with over 1500 photos is now being printed - due mid Feb 2026. You can still pre-order until 31 Jan bit.ly/4dqQI8Z
@flygirlnhm.bsky.social @gailashton.bsky.social
@dipteristsforum.bsky.social @georgemcgavin.bsky.social
13.01.2026 15:25 —
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There is a very simple solution ....
09.01.2026 16:22 —
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Save the date for phylogenetics!
RNA virus Journal Club returns ( @rdrpsummit.bsky.social ) with @evogytis.bsky.social intro to his "Baltic" - python module to visualise phylogenetic trees.
January 15th (Thu) - EEST Vilnius Time 3:00 PM
Join slack for updates: join.slack.com/t/rdrp-io/sh...
09.01.2026 13:31 —
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Why I Left iNaturalist
After almost 18 years, I left iNaturalist, the product and organization I helped create. I left because I don’t believe the current Leadership team is pointing the product in the right direction, and ...
Disheartening to learn that after 18 years, founder Ken-ichi Ueda has left iNaturalist, citing irreconcilable differences in the direction of the company.
kueda.net/blog/2026/01...
He has a Patreon while he figures out his next move: www.patreon.com/cw/kueda
07.01.2026 19:37 —
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Four days left to apply for two postdocs in social evolution with me and @dustinrubenstein.com
Based at the University of Bristol (UK), conducting fieldwork with wasps in Cameroon, Kenya, and South Africa.
07.01.2026 17:45 —
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"Nucleotide diversity is a poor predictor of short-term adaptive potential" - I've been waiting for so long to read this paper!
06.01.2026 17:12 —
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Could be cf. neotestacea? (or a close relative!)
05.01.2026 17:50 —
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Lauxaniidae
05.01.2026 17:49 —
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yes, hydei! (confidence depending on where you caught them)
05.01.2026 17:46 —
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course schedule as a table. Available at the link in the post.
I'm teaching Statistical Rethinking again starting Jan 2026. This time with live lectures, divided into Beginner and Experienced sections. Will be a lot more work for me, but I hope much better for students.
I will record lectures & all will be found at this link: github.com/rmcelreath/s...
09.12.2025 13:58 —
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Hi everyone! Please re-post: I want to highlight the amazing work of @queendroso.bsky.social and a newly formed NGO called the "Blossom STEM Education Initiative (BloSTEMEI)", which aims to support #STEM #Education, #Mentorship, innovation, and research-driven #ScienceOutreach across Africa ..
30.12.2025 13:41 —
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Balanced polymorphism in a floral transcription factor underlies an ancient rhythm of daily sex alternation in avocado https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.22.695989v1
25.12.2025 00:31 —
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14 two-year postdocs for academics of any nationality who cannot continue their research due to US politics. Do share if you know of such.
19.12.2025 17:19 —
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