James Gahan

Final version @nature.com of our paper describing unconventional multicellular development in a choanoflagellate inhabiting an extreme environment. A ton of new data since the first @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social preprint (which we've kept updating).

A brief 🧵 (carried over from the old place)

Clonal-aggregative multicellularity tuned by salinity in a choanoflagellate - Nature The choanoflagellate Choanoeca flexa forms motile and contractile cell monolayers purely clonally, purely aggregatively or through a combination of both processes depending on environmental conditions.

A study in Nature shows that the single-celled form of a tiny, aquatic organism can turn into a multicellular version by three different routes. The discovery adds insight to the possible origins of multicellular life, suggesting a previously unrecognized degree of flexibility. 🧪

Congratulations @thibautbrunet.bsky.social and all the authors! This is an awesome story! Very excited to have these critters in the lab now 😍

New preprint from Ruohan Zhong on the architecture of the Nematostella nervous system, check it out!

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

I came to comments to ask the exact same thing!

Molecular and Cell Biology of Symbiosis | Marine Biological Laboratory This is an immersive research-based course designed to teach basic concepts, open research questions, and facilitate state-of-the-art experimental approaches in symbiosis research.

It is happening again! Consider taking our course on the Molecular and Cell Biology of Symbiosis at
@mblscience.bsky.social. Application deadline March 4th! www.mbl.edu/education/ad...

Post-replicative chromatin accessibility predicts cell fate change Knudsen and colleagues use repli-ATAC-seq to compare replicated and unreplicated chromatin in two models of cell identity change. They find that lineage-specific elements are accessible earlier in rep...

DNA replication globally disrupts the epigenome. But does this create a chromatin-access opportunity for TF binding to facilitate cell identity change? Now 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐢-𝐀𝐓𝐀𝐂-𝐬𝐞𝐪 shows 𝘥𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘰 chromatin opening & TF binding occurs specifically post-replication, in cellular differentiation & reprogramming!

Excited to announce the upcoming Jacques Monod Conference on the mechanistic and evolutionary basis of programmed DNA elimination (Sept 21–25, 2026):
cjm.sb-roscoff.fr/en/conferenc...
Organized by @laurarossevo.bsky.social and myself.

Webinar reminder ⏰

Next Friday join us for @brianstrahl.bsky.social - from @uncchapelhill.bsky.social - webinar on 'Chromatin at the Crossroads of Gene Regulation and Genome Integrity'.

Don't miss out! See registration details below!

us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

@activemotifusa.bsky.social

Global reorganization of genome architecture at the transition to gametogenesis - Nature Structural & Molecular Biology Huang, Rigau and colleagues observe major changes in how DNA is organized in early germ cells before they start developing into sperm or eggs. These results show that germline removes structural ‘memo...

Happy to share our latest paper.

Our findings uncover a unique chromatin architecture and spatial chromosome arrangement in gonadal germ cells and document that alongside global DNA demethylation, the germline epigenetic reprogramming involves reorganisation of the 3D genome.

Group Leader Call at the @cbitoulouse.bsky.social in
Genome biology, projects at the interface with devbio will be given particular attention. please share :)
cbi-toulouse.fr/wp-content/u...

Ancient co-option of LTR retrotransposons as yeast centromeres - Nature Evolutionarily related ‘proto-point’ centromeres providing resolution to the evolutionary origins of point centromeres are identified in yeast, and comparison shows they evolved in an ancestor with re...

Our paper is now out in Nature:

“Ancient co-option of LTR retrotransposons as yeast centromeres”

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

A short thread on how retrotransposons helped give rise to yeast point centromeres.

1/14

We are delighted to launch the (free!) registration for our 5th AICC symposium, hosted this year in @ucddublin.bsky.social on May 27th.

If you are interested in chromatin, gene regulation or the nucleus please join us!

allirelandchromatinconsortium.ie/annual-meeti...

Evolution of monoamine reception and its role in cellular contractility.

How do #sponges coordinate their bodies despite lacking neurons and true muscles?

We show that sponges use monoamines to control water flow in their canals — reminiscent of how adrenaline regulates blood vessels.

My PhD story, now on BioRxiv:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
#Evolution

Please sign up form this years AICC meeting in Dublin.

Congratulations Omaya and Team :)

A 🆕 #Ichthyosporea story
Led by@margaridaaraujo.bsky.social, in Co. @gautamdey.bsky.social & @hiralshah.bsky.social+🔥team across @embl.org & @sciencesunige.bsky.social
We finally have a look at what #microtubules are doing during #cellularization in #Sphaeroforma
▶️ tinyurl.com/MTSARC
#ProtistsOnSky

PDRA position still open in my lab for anyone who wants to solve some outstanding questions in limb development. We have a variety of models and approaches (everything from stem cells to chicks and catsharks). Please share!

I understand that the root is still contentious but is there not a consensus in phylogenomic analyses for monophyletic Euglenozoa?

A golden blade of sugar kelp is floating against a background of clear blue water and sandy sediment. (C) Sarina Niedzwiedz

🚨We are hiring!🚨

The #ROVKA project focuses on the productivity and vulnerability of Baltic brown algae populations. Join us as a scientist (2 years, 100% salary) for population genomic analyses and mesocosm experiments @geomarkiel.bsky.social @bfn-de.bsky.social

See
www.geomar.de/en/karriere/...

3 lecturer jobs at School of Biological sciences at Bristol! Apply by March 8!
www.bristol.ac.uk/jobs/find/de...

The Lise Meitner Excellence Programme is designed to attract and specifically promote exceptionally qualified female scientists.

A position with prospects! We offer excellent researchers again the possibility to apply for a position as a Leader of a Lise Meitner Research Group in all areas of #science. Applications are possible between February 11th and April 15th, 2026. www.mpg.de/lise-meitner... #lisemeitnergroups

A promotional graphic for a workshop titled “Integrating Multi-Modal, Multi-Scale Models of Cardiovascular Disease Mechanisms.” The word “Workshop” appears in yellow at the top left, with the main title in large white text on a black background. Below, it lists the organisers: Jennifer Davis, Christine Mummery and Beth Pruitt. On the right, there is a yellow box stating: “Early-career researchers apply for funded places.” Bottom right shows the dates “8–11 November 2026” and the location “Buxted Park, East Sussex, UK.” Bottom left displays The Company of Biologists logo.

Applications are now open for funded ECR places at our Workshop 'Integrating Multi-Modal, Multi-Scale Models of Cardiovascular Disease Mechanisms', organised by Jennifer Davis, Christine Mummery & Beth Pruitt. Find out more & apply to attend: biologists.com/workshops/no...

@sharday-penn.bsky.social

Postdoc in Archaea Microbiology - Vacancy at Aarhus University Vacancy at Department of Biology - Microbiology, Aarhus University

Postdoc position on Asgard archaea in Thiago’s new lab for someone well trained in biochemistry, cloning, and protein purification:
international.au.dk/about/profil...

Perhaps some merch for the next Choanocon 😀

As a choanoflagellate biologist I need this printed on a mug!

Symbiotic entrenchment through ecological Catch-22 A symbiotic rove beetle develops a stealth phenotype by silencing production of its hydrocarbon pheromones, enabling it to infiltrate ant colonies, steal ant pheromones, and achieve social acceptance ...

Symbiotic entrenchment through ecological Catch-22: Cell www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...

📣 next Friday weekly DSCB Seminar tomorrow
@devstempasteur.bsky.social

🗓️ 2026 Friday Feb. 6th
🕣11am
📍Amphi Ullmann

Detlev Arendt, Ph.D.

Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg,
EMBL Heidelberg, Germany

Animal evolution: a cell type perspective

Invited by Thibaut Brunet

Sign up date coming quickly!
Come join us in beautiful Roscoff for this Conference Jacques Monod on Developmental regulation: from molecular to ecological niches
May 18-22, 2026 Roscoff, France
Abstract deadline: January 31, 2026
Apply here: cjm.sb-roscoff.fr/en

There's still time to apply to be a 2026 @dev-journal.bsky.social Pathway to Independence fellow

For those about to apply for their first independent academic position, the programme offers

- mentoring
- leadership training
- profile rising
- networking

journals.biologists.com/dev/pages/pi...