Molecular Biology and Evolution

MBE | Evolutionary innovation within conserved gene regulatory networks underlying biomineralized skeletons in Bilateria

Bai et al. performed developmental profiling of transcriptomic and chromatin dynamics in a bivalve mollusc to uncover gene regulatory networks underlying biomineralized skeletons in the Bilateria.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag019

#evobio #molbio

MBE | Germline de novo mutation rate of the highly heterozygous amphioxus genome

Xue et al. sequenced a two-generation pedigree of the amphioxus, a chordate with exceptionally high genomic heterozygosity, finding that elevated heterozygosity mainly results from a large effective population size.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molb...

#evobio #molbio

SMBE Best Graduate Student Paper

SMBE is calling for nominations for Best Graduate Student Papers of 2025, recognizing outstanding papers in @molbioevol.bsky.social and @genomebiolevol.bsky.social

🗓️ Deadline Feb 27

Articles published in 2025 are eligible. The nominated student must be first author; anyone can nominate authors.

Molecular Biology and Evolution | February 2026

The February cover of Molecular Biology and Evolution features the work of Ward et al. on the evolution of SERPINA snake venom inhibitors in rodents.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf290

🖌️ Rajani Arora

#evobio #molbio

Notably, the first four authors were all postdocs at @uconn.bsky.social @uconneeb.bsky.social . This is a great example of among-postdoc collaboration. Milan Vrtilek did the initial experiment, with Andrea Roth-Mozon on fish care. Lauren Fuess did the reference transcriptomes. Ben did all the rest

@laurenfuess.bsky.social @danielbolnick.bsky.social

MBE | Macroevolutionary changes in gene expression response to an immune stimulus across the diversity of fishes

Flanagan et al. test the macroevolutionary stability of the transcriptomic response to a standardized immune challenge in 14 ray-finned fish; conserved phenotypic responses are associated with highly flexible gene regulatory architecture.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf323

#evobio #molbio

Congratulations Agneesh on your great study, thank you and your colleagues for your contribution to MBE!

Our project on molecular convergence in teleosts is published in MBE. This study involved analysing over 2 million genes, and combining multiple data modalities to uncover some surprising insights behind the evolution of adaptations in teleosts. Thank you @hfspo.bsky.social for the funding!

This Highlight was written by SMBE Fellow Haoran Cai @haorancai.bsky.social

Learn more about the SMBE Fellows Program here: smbe.org/smbe-fellows-program

MBE | Highlight: Dark skin and cancer suppression in humans—an evolutionary spandrel?

The recent MBE Review on the evolution of dark skin in humans is the focus of January's Highlight.

Highlight: Dark skin and cancer suppression in humans—an evolutionary spandrel?
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag012

#evobio #molbio

Estimates of molecular convergence reveal multiple genes with adaptive variation across teleost fish Abstract. Molecular convergence, where specific nonsynonymous changes in protein-coding genes lead to identical amino acid substitutions across multiple li

Barua, @marcrr.ecoevo.social.ap.brid.gy et al. searched for convergent substitutions in teleost fishes, detecting convergence in 89 protein-coding gene families across 143 genomes. Functional experiments support functional roles of convergent genes.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag015

#evobio #molbio

Genomic and neurobiological bases of variation in fighting strategies in gamecocks Abstract. Aggression is an essential animal behavior for survival, particularly in situations where fighting cannot be avoided. In such situations, the cho

Shimmura et al. combined population genomics, transcriptomics, and neurobiology to study the molecular basis of fighting strategies in gamecocks, finding that neurodevelopment-related genes underlie differences in fighting strategies.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag007

#evobio #molbio

Diagram showing the evolutionary relationships among waterfowl (ducks, geese, and their close relatives).

Phylogeny of waterfowl: academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-... 🪶🧪 (📷Wang et al.)

A General Principle of Neuronal Evolution Reveals a Human-Accelerated Neuron Type Potentially Underlying the High Prevalence of Autism in Humans Abstract. The remarkable ability of a single genome sequence to encode a diverse collection of distinct cell types, including the thousands of cell types f

"Sugerimos que la prevalencia excepcionalmente alta del autismo en humanos podría ser un resultado directo de selección natural para una menor expresión de un conjunto de genes que conferían un beneficio de fitness a nuestros ancestros."

academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...

The green lacewing venom system and the complex mechanisms underlying its evolution Abstract. Venom has independently evolved across many lineages, yet relatively few have been studied in detail, particularly among insects. Of these, Neuro

New publication provide new insights into the #evolution of #venom in insects.
With Marius Maurstad @mariusmaur.bsky.social, Bea Ramiro, Jan Philip Oeyen, Pedro Nachtigall, Kjetill Jakobsen, Eivind Undheim from @biovitenskap.bsky.social & @unioslo-cees.bsky.social
Published @molbioevol.bsky.social

MBE | Insights into human history and complex traits from the genomes of African populations

Bitsue, Tang & Yang review prehistoric demographic events and the genomic profiles of modern Africans and highlight the importance of integrated international cooperation to strengthen African genomics research.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf329

#evobio #molbio #humanevolution

Widespread turnover of a conserved cis-regulatory code across 589 grass species Abstract. The growing availability of genomes from non-model organisms offers new opportunities to identify functional loci underlying trait variation thro

Hale et al. analysed >500 grass genomes to support a “stable motifs, variable binding sites” model of cis-regulatory evolution that involves turnover of thousands of individual binding sites while preserving TF binding preferences.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf324

#evobio #molbio #PlantSky

MBE | MicrobeTrace 2.0: the enhanced visualization multitool for molecular epidemiology and bioinformatics

Shankar et al. present the updated MicrobeTrace 2.0 as a next-generation, interoperable tool for genomic epidemiology and data-driven public health response.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf334

#evobio #molbio #compbio

Ancient genomes from the Qing Dynasty reveal unbroken genetic continuity in China's Central Plains Abstract. The Central Plain of China, the cradle of Chinese civilization, experienced major demographic upheavals during the Qing era (1644–1912 AD), yet i

Zhou et al. generated genome-wide data for 46 Qing Dynasty human individuals from the Sanzhiyuan cemetery (China), demonstrating stability of the genetic profile of the Central Plains population for millenia.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf335

#evobio #molbio #humanevolution

Dorsoventral limb patterning in paired appendages emerged via regulatory repurposing of an ancestral posterior fin module Abstract. Limbs exhibit adaptive differentiation along their dorsal-ventral (DV) axis, determined by the dorsal expression of the LIM homeobox gene Lmx1b.

Zdral et al. study the expression of the LIM homeobox gene Lmx1b, demonstrating that the dorsoventral axis of paired appendages arose from the integration of ancestral midline fin and flank determinants with novel regulatory inputs.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf331

#evobio #molbio

Viviparity and beyond: captured endogenous retroviral envelope genes drive teleost physiological innovations Abstract. Endogenous retroviral envelope (ERV env) genes, notably syncytins, are known for driving placental development in mammals and lizards. However, t

Song et al. discover and characterize three co-opted/captured ERV envelope gene clades, revealing that each plays a distinct and critical role in neural regulation, reproductive maturation, and viviparity in vertebrates.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf333

#evobio #molbio #devbio

Authors on Bluesky:
@fannyhartmann.bsky.social
@tatianagiraud.bsky.social
@pierregrognet.bsky.social

Stepwise recombination suppression around the mating-type locus associated with a diploid-like life cycle in Schizothecium fungi Abstract. Recombination suppression often evolves around sex-determining loci and extends stepwise, resulting in adjacent regions with different levels of

De Filippo et al. investigated the evolution of recombination suppression in dung fungi, revealing multiple, likely independent evolutionary strata, associated with an extended diploid-like stage in Schizothecium fungi.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf325

#evobio #molbio #fungi

Hie Lim Kim (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)

From Nanyang Technological University, in Singapore, Hie Lim Kim brings her expertise on population genomics, environmental genomics, and human evolution to the MBE editorial board.

#societyjournal

Suhua Shi (Sun Yat-sen University, China)

Suhua Shi (Sun Yat-sen University, China), researcher on speciation, adaptive evolution, plants, population genetics, joins the MBE editorial board as an Associate Editor.

#societyjournal

Alternative splicing contributes to plasticity and regulatory divergence in locally adapted house mice from the Americas Abstract. Alternative splicing is a major driver of transcriptome and proteome variation, but the role of alternative splicing in regulatory evolution is o

@phiferrixey.bsky.social Ward & @katyamack.bsky.social investigated wild-derived strains of house mice from different climates on standard and high-fat diets, showing the potential of alternative splicing for adaptation and plasticity.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf332

#evobio #molbio

Evolution of Insulin, Insulin-like Growth Factors, and Their Cognate Receptors in Vertebrates, Invertebrates, and Viruses Abstract. The insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system regulates essential biological functions such as growth, metabolism, and development. Whi

Chrudinová, @emrahaltindis.bsky.social et al. used >1000 insulin and insulin-like growth factor sequences from vertebrates, invertebrates, and viruses to uncover the evolution of this essential metabolic and developmental system.

🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf319

#evobio #molbio

Li Yu (Yunnan University, China)

MBE welcomes Li Yu, Professor at Yunnan University (China), as a new Associate Editor specializing in mammal speciation, adaptive evolution, conservation, and metagenomics.

#societyjournal

Welcome Paschalia!