Ecstatic to see the first chapter of my PhD published in MBE!
Most laterally acquired genes in plants are degenerating - the retained genes may to be more successful because they bring over their own regulatory machinery
academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
Collins et al. combined expression, methylation, and genomic data to investigate long-term persistence of laterally acquired genes in the grass Alloteropsis, showing that those capable of regulating their own expression are more likely to persist.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag042
#evobio #molbio
Awesome to see @cfcollins.bsky.social first paper out from her PhD - a huge amount of work!!
Regulatory features determine the evolutionary fate of laterally acquired genes in plants url: academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
Apply to be a Rising Star in Plant Science!
Organized by Molecular Plant and Plant Communications.
www.cell.com/cemps/rsps-a...
Applications close March 31, 2026
#PlantScience
This is who runs this account
01.02.2026 20:59 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Congratulations!!
24.12.2025 19:45 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
New special issue in Molecular Ecology on Conservation Genomics #popGen #evolution 🧪🧬🖥️ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/1365294x...
19.12.2025 12:45 — 👍 44 🔁 26 💬 0 📌 0
Come work with us!! 2.5 year postdoc on HGT in plants.
Please share and get in touch if interested
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPQ418/r...
Come work with us!! 2.5 year postdoc on HGT in plants.
Please share and get in touch if interested
www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPQ418/r...
I am currently searching for a new postdoctoral researcher to study the evolution, genetics, and physiology of cold acclimation and freezing tolerance in switchgrass at Michigan State University. This work will be funded by a newly funded five-year DOE grant. careers.msu.edu/jobs/researc...
20.11.2025 14:49 — 👍 60 🔁 82 💬 0 📌 3
Two PhD positions available to come and work with us - please share!
[1] Detecting rapid evolutionary responses to climate change in UK plants
tinyurl.com/ye262pk2
[2] Natural GM: The role of horizontal gene transfer in crop adaptation and evolution
tinyurl.com/32tkce2w
A fluorescent confocal microscopy image of a butterfly wing scale showing the surface and internal structures
We are looking for a physics/maths graduate with an interest in biology, or a biology graduate with strong computational/mathematical skills/interests, to join us as a PhD student working on biomechanical modelling of butterfly wing scale structure formation www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
23.10.2025 16:33 — 👍 10 🔁 14 💬 0 📌 1
A group of 23 people standing with their backs to a forested valley. They are a mixture of students and staff, many wearing binoculars. There is also a spotting scope at the right hand side of the image.
We’d like to say a big thank you to our visitors from @sheffielduni.bsky.social. We had a great time hosting you all this week, and were impressed by everybody’s enthusiasm and dedication to their field projects. We wish you the best of luck with the rest of your studies! @luketdunning.bsky.social
17.09.2025 08:22 — 👍 3 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
A group of ecology students stood in a rugged upland area of short grasses. They have binoculars and telescopes and are having something pointed out to them by a member of staff.
A Chalk Burnet moth sat on a dried grass stem. It is black with red spots surrounded by yellow borders.
A Bearded Vulture in flight against a cliff.
Staff and students at a lookout point. A member of staff is taking photos with a telephoto lens. In the background there are rising limestone crags.
With staff and students from @sheffielduni.bsky.social, we explored the Causse Méjean, an upland area famous for its rugged habitats, surrounded by deep gorges frequented by #vultures. We were lucky enough to spot Bearded Vultures, plus shrikes and some great #lepidoptera. @luketdunning.bsky.social
15.09.2025 09:28 — 👍 1 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
A group of staff and students looking into a white sampling tray next to a river.
A Spinycheek Crayfish.
A female Western Saddle Bush-cricket on the edge of a sweep net.
Students holding up a sweep net and looking at a bush cricket.
Day two with @sheffielduni.bsky.social, and we’ve been exploring field techniques. Kick sampling, GPS use, plus plant and terrestrial invertebrate surveys. Highlights were more mantises, Saddle-backed Bush Crickets, plus spotting crayfish in the river. @luketdunning.bsky.social
10.09.2025 05:52 — 👍 1 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
A Mediterranean Conehead Mantis sitting on a dried plant stem
A member of staff showing a mantis to a group of excited students
Three people close to the ground, taking photos of invertebrates with their phones
A Colchicum autumn crocus. The flower is pale purple with yellow stamens.
A great first afternoon with our visitors from the University of Sheffield. We explored the local habitats, seeing some fantastic autum wildlife including the Mediterranean Conehead Mantis. Other highlights were large Orthoptera, butterflies, and Colchicum autumn Crocuses. @luketdunning.bsky.social
09.09.2025 05:56 — 👍 0 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Great collaboration with
@lara-pereira.bsky.social
@metallophyte.bsky.social
@paulineraim.bsky.social
@emilyrbaker.bsky.social
And many more not on bsky
Awesome work led by @cfcollins.bsky.social looking at the factors that influence the long term retention of laterally transferred genes! A huge amount of work and awesome first PhD chapter
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Very excited to be awarded a NERC Pushing the Frontiers grant to continue our work on grass LGT, recruiting soon! 🥳
With @lara-pereira.bsky.social @jurriaanton.bsky.social @metallophyte.bsky.social & Roger Butlin
Know an Evolutionary Genomicist looking for a faculty position? Join us in EEB @utknoxville.bsky.social Position is open for studying any organism, but personally I have some botany bias. 🌱 Apply before Sept 19 for full consideration. apply.interfolio.com/170735 Please share widely. Thanks!
02.08.2025 16:16 — 👍 53 🔁 84 💬 2 📌 0
New preprint using Aristidoideae genomes to identify genetic precursors to C4 photosynthesis at the base of the PACMAD clade - where all the C4 fun happens in grasses 🌾
Led by @lara-pereira.bsky.social & Ahmed
@colinplants.bsky.social
@biggenomes.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Latest preprint. We tested the idea that dietary restriction (DR) is an ancient response.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Across Drosophila the lifespan phenotype and the transcriptomic response to DR are conserved. Yet, many genes were Diptera (fly) specific. Mechanisms may not be conserved…
Great article highlighting the "ongoing loss of direct field experience within the ecology community" & why field work is so crucial for education & our ability to address the biodiversity crisis.
Extinction of experience among ecologists: Trends in Ecology & Evolution www.cell.com/trends/ecolo...
🙏
28.02.2025 20:55 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Looking for a PhD?
Come work with us on Horizontal Gene Transfer in crops!
Deadline 14th March
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Looking for a PhD?
Come work with us on Horizontal Gene Transfer in crops!
Deadline 14th March
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Wow. This is sooo good. Echoing @urbanevol.bsky.social this user’s manual for Ne should be required reading for popgen and conservation genetics folks. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
17.02.2025 18:26 — 👍 88 🔁 41 💬 1 📌 3More fantastic work on Silene by @metallophyte.bsky.social and team! Great to be part of the project
06.02.2025 18:40 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Loving the new lab door sign - thanks
@metallophyte.bsky.social
Great annual lab walk and Christmas dinner. The Peak District was bleak (but dry), the pub was warm and the company grand!
18.12.2024 20:48 — 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0