Caitlin E. McDonough-Goldstein
@ideaspermatheca.bsky.social
(they/them) Evolutionary reproductive biologist, queer, feminist, artist. Equal parts science, speculative fiction, period dramas and tea.
Join us for a special screening of the award-winning documentary Second Nature and a panel discussion afterwards! ✨ When: 24. 11. 2026, 17:15 h 📍 Where: Hörsaal 2, UBB 🎙Panelists: @jasmineloveland.bsky.social @ideaspermatheca.bsky.social @asthebaultg.bsky.social
If there is one thing we can agree on - it's that there are disagreements about the meaning and use of sex in biological research. Contribute to the @treeofsex.bsky.social research survey to let us know how you define sex in biology! univie.questionpro.eu/definitionsurvey
ToS.DefinitionSurvey.QuestionPro
ToS.DefinitionSurvey.QuestionPro
univie.questionpro.eu
Caitlin E. McDonough-Goldstein@ideaspermatheca.bsky.social · 2mo agoHow do we navigate the semantic labyrinth of sex in biology? doi.org/10.1093/icb/icag093 In developing a @treeofsex.bsky.social 2.0 ontology, we have encountered many versions of sex. In this paper, we come together to explore places of contention and make connections across concepts of sex.
New publication alert: Tree of Sex 2.0 members unpack the many, sometimes overlapping, sometimes conflicting uses of "sex" in biology. Lead author Caitlin McDonough-Goldstein @ideaspermatheca.bsky.social has an excellent explainer thread if you want a preview!
Caitlin E. McDonough-Goldstein@ideaspermatheca.bsky.social · 2mo agoHow do we navigate the semantic labyrinth of sex in biology? doi.org/10.1093/icb/icag093 In developing a @treeofsex.bsky.social 2.0 ontology, we have encountered many versions of sex. In this paper, we come together to explore places of contention and make connections across concepts of sex.
How do we navigate the semantic labyrinth of sex in biology? doi.org/10.1093/icb/icag093 In developing a @treeofsex.bsky.social 2.0 ontology, we have encountered many versions of sex. In this paper, we come together to explore places of contention and make connections across concepts of sex.
Navigating the Semantic Labyrinth of “Sex” in the Study of Reproductive Trait Evolution
Synopsis. “Sex” is a compound of many different concepts that contribute to a multiplicity of meanings. As a result, “sex” appears in a wide range of scien
doi.org
and check out the awesome highlight of our paper by @evopaa.bsky.social
bsky.app
Molecular Biology and Evolution@molbioevol.bsky.social · 2mo agoThis paper is featured in MBE's August Highlight; read it to learn more about the evolution of bed bug reproduction. Highlight: Traumatic insemination and the molecular evolution of a novel reproductive organ in bed bugs 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag191
Inside the body morphological and molecular interactions influence reproductive outcomes. Traumatic insemination may bypass barriers But in bed bugs, a new organ evolved to respond to mating and receipt of ejaculate! Find out more in a wonderful collaboration led by @martingarlovsky.bsky.social
Molecular Biology and Evolution@molbioevol.bsky.social · 2mo agoMartens et al. study the evolution of gene expression of female reproductive organs in the bed bug, finding that the mesospermalege exhibits a gene expression profile consistent with functions of the lower reproductive tract in other insects 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag169 #societyjournal #evobio
Very happy to see our paper just published in @molbioevol.bsky.social highlighted: academic.oup.com/mbe/article/... Probably my favourite paper to be a part of and really fun working with some great people! Bedbugs are very gross but also very cool! Paper here: academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
Highlight: Traumatic insemination and the molecular evolution of a novel reproductive organ in bed bugs
Sex can be complicated—just ask bed bugs. The bane of many conference goers, these blood-feeding parasitic insects mate via traumatic insemination, a repro
academic.oup.com
If the reproductive system of internal fertilisation could evolve anew would it be the same or different? This is the question we were able to investigate in bed bugs which inject sperm into a novel organ within the abdomen bypassing the reproductive tract.
Martin Garlovsky@martingarlovsky.bsky.social · 6mo agoTo deal with being stabbed in the gut by a dirty “needle” filled with sperm, female bedbugs have evolved a novel organ called the spermalege that’s separate from the reproductive tract. Sperm stay in this sponge-like organ for hours before crossing into the blood and then the reproductive tract.
Good to see some of our US-based ToS members at #Evol2025! If you're at the meeting and interested or just curious about the project, say hi to @ajmongue.bsky.social @nicolevalenzuela.bsky.social @ideaspermatheca.bsky.social @emistasis.bsky.social, Mike White or Louise Heitzmann!
In a world filled with so many crucial challenges to humanity, transphobia is not just sad and anger-inducing. The demonisation and targeting of vulnerable minorities is simply pathetic. prideinstem.org/2025/04/26/s...
Scientists 🧪 then need to *DEFEND* research with animal models of gender affirming hormone therapy. If not for the unjust targeting of trans people, or for the fact such research benefits cis people too, then maybe for the continuation of their own damn research.
Letter from the SSE/SSB/ASN councils on the scientific understanding of sex and gender, pls RT
Letter to the US President and Congress on the Scientific Understanding of Sex and Gender
President Donald J Trump Washington, DC Members of the US Congress Washington, DC February 5, 2025 RE: Scientific Understanding of Sex and Gender Dear President Trump and Members of the US Congr...
evolutionsociety.org
Good morning. It seems the right time to share that my book (preorder available) is about #scientists #transgender #LGBTQ #sexworkers and #women who fought against #Nazi fascism 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🧪🗃️ wwnorton.com/books/978132...
The Intermediaries
The fascinating history of a daring team of sexologists who built the first trans clinic in the shadow of the Third Reich., The Intermediaries, A Weimar Story, Brandy Schillace, 9781324036319
wwnorton.com
ICYMI
Julia Serano@juliaserano.bsky.social · 2y agosince the US v Skrmetti #SCOTUS case is this week, I thought I'd share this 🧵 of excerpts from my essay "Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth Is Neither New nor Experimental: A Timeline and Compilation of Studies" (no paywall). the essay provides... juliaserano.medium.com/gender-affir...
looking over the arguments also is a good (by which i mean viscerally horrifying) example of why there's a *specific* need for those of us who teach biology to be explicit in how we talk about sex and gender. so much transphobic rhetoric gains a foothold bc of misconceptions of biology + genetics
Trans inclusion in the biology classroom — The McLaughlin Lab
One of my favorite parts of working at a university is getting to teach. I find biology utterly fascinating and magical, and getting to impart that to students is an incredible joy. Although I don’t c...
jfmclaughlin.org
Progesterone, Estrogen, & Testosterone as molecules that act on biological systems engage in the same biological signaling pathways and mechanisms regardless of the sex chromosomes, gamete production, and other markers of sex. Arguments in favor Tennessee's ban on the basis of biology are lies.
Hi folks, this is the official Tree of Sex account. We are an open consortium of reproductive scientists with the aim to catalogue reproductive knowledge across Eukaryota. You can be part of it too: treeofsex.sanger.ac.uk
Tree of Sex
Web site created using create-react-app
treeofsex.sanger.ac.uk
The coolest postdoc I know is now accepting applications: 🧪🔬THE WITTIG POSTDOC IN FEMINIST BIOLOGY🧪🔬 Our interdisciplinary program @ UW Madison seeks to train the next generation of feminist scientists/scholars of science Please share widely and read more here: crgw.gws.wisc.edu/scholarships...
Unique postdoc opportunity at the intersection of biological/biomedical sciences and feminist science studies at UW Madison. Can propose research in any field as long as the fellow will explore connections with feminist scholarship. crgw.gws.wisc.edu/scholarships... Happy to answer questions!
