Patrick Goymer

Homepage - 2026 Population, Evolutionary, and Quantitative Genetics Conference Visit our website to learn more.

PEQG website live! genetics-gsa.org/peqg-2026/

Text: Society for the Study of Evolution Dobzhansky Prize to recognize the accomplishments and future promise of an outstanding early-career evolutionary biologist. Nominations due December 1, 2025.

Nominations are now open for the Dobzhansky Prize, which recognizes the accomplishments and future promise of an outstanding early-career evolutionary biologist. The award includes $5000 and an award talk at the in-person Evolution meeting. Deadline: December 1
shorturl.at/p70wY

When women researchers publish, media attention doesn’t always follow Men-led papers receive more media coverage than women’s, new study finds

In an analysis of 1.2 million news stories about scholarly research, men-led papers were found to receive more attention overall and were heavily overrepresented in the top 5% of most covered studies. https://scim.ag/4o7l5a5

Structural and functional analysis of Escherichia coli membrane disruption by Ib-M peptides Antimicrobial resistance represents a critical global public health challenge, leading to increased mortality and morbidity due to the ineffectiveness of current antibiotics against bacterial infectio...

A new study in @plosone.org investigates how Ib-M antimicrobial peptides disrupt E. coli membranes using fluorescence assays and microscopy. The work clarifies peptide-lipid interactions that underlie bacterial killing and informs new antimicrobial peptide design.

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Octopus track chemosensory plumes to find food Chemosensory plume-guided navigation, tracking a chemical plume to its source, is a primordial behavior used by many animals to search beyond the visual range. Here we report the first laboratory obse...

A new study in @plosone.org shows octopuses can follow chemosensory plumes in moving water to locate food sources. Researchers observed that octopuses use chemical cues to track prey trails, highlighting complex sensory integration in cephalopod foraging.

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Cardiac function in Vimba vimba embryos under electromagnetic exposure at hatchery-relevant intensities The increasing expansion of energy infrastructure and anthropogenic transformation of the environment have introduced electromagnetic fields (EMFs) into aquatic ecosystems. While studies on the impact...

Expanding energy infrastructure adds electromagnetic fields (EMFs) to aquatic ecosystems. A study in @plosone.org shows that Vimba vimba embryos exposed to EMFs have higher heart rates but also signs of physiological adaptation under hatchery-level EMF exposure.

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Pilot-scale depuration demonstrates the suitability of non-pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus as a surrogate for commercial-scale validation studies Shellfish producers have proposed using depuration systems to reduce Vibrio parahaemolyticus levels by supporting the oysters’ natural purging ability. For commercial viability, depuration efficacy mu...

A new study in @plosone.org uses a pilot-scale recirculating depuration system to reduce Vibrio parahaemolyticus levels in commercial oysters, and demonstrates that non-pathogenic strains can act as valid surrogates in commercial validation trials.

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Bacterial communities of fungus-growing ant queens are species-specific and suggest vertical transmission Multipartite symbioses are inherently complex, involving dynamic ecological interactions between organisms with intertwined yet distinct evolutionary histories. The fungus-growing (attine) ants…

New work in @plosone.org shows that fungus-growing ant queens harbor species-specific bacterial communities in their eggs, ovaries and tissues, and suggests maternal (vertical) transmission of symbionts rather than purely environmental acquisition.

Long-term spatial dynamics of jaguars in a high-density population We assessed the socio-spatial dynamics of a jaguar population over 15 years using camera-trap data from Belize. Using ~4,000 independent detections of male jaguars, we documented and quantified range…

A new study in @plosone.org uses camera-trap data to show that male jaguars in Belize shift their ranges, overlap extensively, and lack exclusive territoriality, suggesting a scramble-competition mating system rather than strict mate monopoly.

A novel TRPV5/6-like channel from a scleractinian coral The calcium regulation mechanisms that underlie skeleton formation in stony corals are poorly understood. In epithelial tissues from vertebrates, transient receptor potential vanilloids 5 and 6 (TRPV5...

A newly discovered TRPV5/6-like ion channel in the coral Pocillopora damicornis shows high calcium permeability, resistance to conventional inhibitors, and sensitivity to menthol, suggesting a role in coral calcification and potential links to bleaching responses.

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Frizzled 7 drives amplification of cancer stem-cell subpopulations and the aggressiveness and poor differentiation of human hepatocellular carcinoma FZD7 is one of the key players in the subset of WNT-TGFβ-activated hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), but the consequences of its abnormal expression on hepatocarcinogenesis remain to be better…

A new study in @plosone.org reveals that overexpression of FZD7, especially when combined with CD133, drives stem-cell–like features, impairs differentiation, and correlates with poor prognosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Canonical correlation analysis reveals five sleep-biopsychosocial profiles (LCs). Scatter plots showing correlations between biopsychosocial and sleep canonical scores. Each dot represents a different participant. The inset shows the null distribution of canonical correlations obtained by permutation testing; note that the null distribution is not centered at zero. The dashed line indicates the actual canonical correlation computed for each LC. The distribution of sleep (top) and biopsychosocial (right) canonical scores is shown on rain cloud plots.

Sleep is often only investigated from a single dimension. @bttyeo.bsky.social &co identify 5 sleep-biopsychosocial profiles that link self-reported #sleep patterns to variability in #health, #cognition & #lifestyle factors in 770 healthy young adults @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/42tRXSc

Changes in free-roaming dog population demographics and health associated with a catch-neuter-vaccinate-release program in Jamshedpur, India India’s large free-roaming dog populations contribute to significant human health, environmental, and social challenges. Population management strategies, such as catch-neuter-vaccinate-release (CNVR)...

A new study in @plosone.org of a catch-neuter-vaccinate-release (CNVR) program in India found that it reduced mange, transmissible venereal tumours, and pregnancy in free-roaming dogs. Numbers of sterilised dogs observed increased but so did the population overall.

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Histopathological change of age-related hearing loss in female advance-aged CBA/CaJ mice With the increase in the older population, the number of individuals with age-related hearing loss is also growing explosively. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify the detailed pathology of...

A new study in @plosone.org shows significant age-related degeneration of outer hair cells, synapses, stria vascularis, and neurons in mice, and suggests that age-related hearing loss results from both oxidative stress and lifelong noise exposure.

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Home range and activity budget in the Falkland Steamer Duck (Tachyeres brachypterus) The Falkland Islands support globally important populations of seabirds and coastal birds, underscoring their value for international conservation efforts. However, substantial knowledge gaps impede t...

Using GPS tracking of 29 Falkland Steamer Ducks, a new study in @plosone.org found that home-range size, movement, foraging time and distance vary with breeding status and proximity to kelp beds, freshwater and human sites, highlighting kelp’s conservation value.

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2012 Nobel laureate John Gurdon has died. His work was central to both the development of animal cloning and the possibility of reprogramming cells to a different state. A giant of cell and developmental biology.
www.magd.cam.ac.uk/news/profess...

Health assessment of non-native red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) and their impact potential on native species Red-eared sliders (RES; Trachemys scripta elegans) are a globally invasive species that can impact native chelonian populations through resource competition and disease introduction. In Cook County, I...

A new study in @plosone.org shows that invasive red-eared sliders in Illinois carry several pathogens without showing symptoms, thereby potentially acting as hidden carriers that pose a threat to native turtle populations through disease transmission.

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Thanks to @ashleyingiosi.bsky.social for this thoughtful primer about our recent astrocyte/sleep paper!

How social and economic policies have affected the genome of mezcal agaves: The contrasting stories of Bacanora and Espadín Plant domestication in Mesoamerica gave the world crops of global significance, such as maize, beans, squashes, cocoa, and cotton. Additionally, it has introduced species of regional economic importan...

Social and economic policies have left distinct genomic footprints on mezcal‑producing agaves in Mexico, reports a study in @plosone.org: Espadín shows evidence of clonal selection, while Bacanora has retained genetic diversity thanks to more permissive management.

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In our latest Editorial, PLOS Medicine Executive Editor Helen Lumbard and I call for the scientific community to tackle research fraud and paper mills head on by creating robust systems of data sharing and transparency 🧪 #PLOSMedicine #datasharing #openscience
@plos.org

📄➡️ plos.io/4nDKQ2c

Top: Micrographs showing hyphal filaments extending from colony peripheries in a sexual cross between CBS8507 and CBS10435 after 2 weeks of incubation on CMA and V8 pH 5 media, in the dark, at room temperature. Insets depict two types of basidia: globose (a–c) and lageniform (b–d). Black arrows indicate clusters of cells emerging near basidia (either at the surface or embedded), scored as potential meiotic progeny (basidiospores). Bottom: Schematic representation of key chromosomal rearrangements and evolutionary events underlying transitions from tetrapolar to bipolar and pseudobipolar mating configurations. The phylogenetic tree highlights inferred changes in MAT locus structure, with color-coded branches representing both extant and reconstructed MAT configurations. Dashed lines indicate unresolved phylogenetic relationships among clades A, B, and C. Insets summarize distinct evolutionary stages, including: the ancestral organization with unlinked and compact P/R and HD loci (1); small-scale expansion of the P/R locus in Kwoniella (2); two independent large-scale expansions of the P/R locus in Cryptococcus (5); relocation of P/R and HD loci onto the same chromosome in Kwoniella resulting in either pseudobipolar (3) or fused (4) MAT configurations; and independent HD-P/R fusion events with HD gene loss in Cryptococcus pathogens and Cryptococcus sp. 3 (6). These transitions illustrate the diverse pathways by which chromosomal rearrangements (CRs) have shaped MAT locus architecture in these fungal lineages.

Evolution of fungal mating systems: Study of #Cryptococcus & Kwoniella by @marcoacoelho.bsky.social @marciadavidpalma.bsky.social &co shows that MAT locus fusions & recombination suppression drive diversity of #SexualReproduction in #fungi @plosbiology.org 🧪 plos.io/479579M

The 2025 @nobelprize.bsky.social in Physiology or Medicine goes to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi for their work on the identification of regulatory T cells and FOXP3.

www.nobelprize.org/uploads/2025...

Are you an oceanographer or marine biologist with an interest in marine biodiversity and climate change? Our upcoming scientific meeting will look at #ClimateChange and #BiodiversityLoss linkages in ocean ecosystems:

royalsociety.org/science-even...

Study on the environmental adaptation characteristics of red panda release into the wild Animals undergo a cognitive process when exposed to novel environments, which plays a crucial role in their ability to identify optimal habitats and support long-term survival. We conducted an…

A new study in @plosone.org shows that a rescued female red panda released into the wild had different movement and habitat use from wild individuals at first but adjusted over ~60 days, suggesting a transitional period is needed for post-release acclimation.

Treatment and monitoring of a high-density population of bare-nosed wombats for sarcoptic mange Sarcoptes scabiei causes a fatal disease (mange) in bare-nosed wombats (BNWs) (Vombatus ursinus) across their range and can threaten isolated populations with extinction. Repeated dosing of moxidectin...

Sarcoptic mange threatens wombat populations, but a new study in @plosone.org shows that repeated moxidectin treatment via burrow-flap systems can temporarily eliminate the disease in high-density populations, with retreatment needed after approximately 20 months.

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Wildfires Are Ruining Your Favorite Wines. These Bacteria Might Be Able to Help Microbes already growing on grape plants may help neutralize one of the compounds responsible for wildfire-exposed grapes' off-putting flavors, new research suggests

A new study in @plosone.org describes two strains of Gordonia alkanivorans on grape leaves that can break down the wildfire-caused smoky-taste in wine, and identifies the guaA cytochrome P450 gene as essential for this.

www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/w...

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The 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission Livestream YouTube video by EAT

Live streaming now, the EAT-Lancet Commission 2025 report: www.youtube.com/live/4ofJYRz...
(also report here: www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

A Call to Action on World Rabies Day and Beyond - EveryONE On World Rabies Day, PLOS One Academic Editor Dr. Zinia T. Nujum shares her perspectives on this year’s theme, “Act Now: You…

PLOS ONE Academic Editor, epidemiologist, and public health professional Dr. Zinia T. Nujum discusses this year’s #WorldRabiesDay theme “Act Now: You, Me, Community” in this recent EveryOne blog: plos.io/46upkGX

Jane Goodall’s legacy: three ways she changed science The primatologist challenged what it meant to be a scientist.

As we mourn Jane Goodall, this @nature.com article explores three ways in which she changed science:

1. Altering the way we view both other primates and ourselves
2. Inspiring generations of women scientists
3. Communicating science in a way that engaged the public

www.nature.com/articles/d41...

RIP #JaneGoodall - one of the modern pioneers of profound interconnections between people, animals and ecosystems. Her life was lived through science, compassion and tireless advocacy for the multiple values of nature - leaving a legacy that will endure for people and planet.