Ages ago I shared a preprint about how gene conversion can cause hard selective sweeps to look like soft sweeps by copying the adaptive allele onto different haplotypes. The accepted version is now published in GENETICS: academic.oup.com/genetics/adv...

Allelic gene conversion softens selective sweeps

Abstract. The prominence of positive selection, in which beneficial mutations are favored by natural selection and rapidly increase in frequency, is a subj

academic.oup.com

Excited to share this publication where I explored the expression of TEs during Hydra head regeneration #TEsky link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Dynamic transposable element expression during Hydra head regeneration - Mobile DNA

Transposable elements (TEs) contribute to genome expansions, gene duplications, and the evolution of gene regulatory networks. Recent work has highlighted the role of TE domestication in contributing ...

link.springer.com

new preprint from our group led by Talleh Almelli -- important for folks doing single cell on malaria parasites or other organisms with hyperdiverse gene families. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Evaluating the impact of a sample-matched reference genome on single-cell transcriptomic inferences in Plasmodium falciparum

Background Plasmodium falciparum field isolates exhibit genomic variation, including copy number variation and sequence divergence. In contrast, the P. falciparum 3D7 reference genome (Pf3D7) was deri...

biorxiv.org

Very nice study! By investigating the molecular basis of 50 classical phenotypes, it shows that structural variants, including TEs, are enriched in deleterious visible phenotypes in 🪰. genome.cshlp.org/content/geno...

Why are structural variants (SVs) usually found at lower frequencies than SNPs? One prediction is that SVs should be enriched among deleterious mutations. Testing that idea has been difficult, partly because many SVs are hard to detect with traditional sequencing approaches. 🧵 1/7

Very cool pair of papers demonstrating little link between amount of additive genetic variation and amount of nucleotide variation within species: journals.plos.org/plosbiology/... www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Levels of additive genetic variation vary substantially between species

Adaptive potential determines how populations respond to environmental change. This study compiles evolvability estimates from over 170 multicellular species, revealing substantial variation across th...

journals.plos.org

Recent work from the lab. Even after hundreds of generations of intense directional selection at relatively small Ne, substantial genetic variation persists, and can be rapidly redeployed when the direction of selection reverses. Results are suggestive of balancing selection. doi.org/10.1093/molb...

Beyond Fixation: Persistent Genetic Variation Under Intense Selection

Abstract. Understanding how and why genetic variation is maintained under sustained selection remains a central question in evolutionary genetics. Experime

doi.org

My great technician is leaving the lab, and I'm trying to replace her. Are you or someone you know interested in evolutionary genomics research that combines animals experiments (with flies!) and molecular biology? Come work with me! Application info at the link evoldir.net/brian/evoldi...

Avocados come in 2 varieties - A-types start each day female and switch to male midday. B-types do the reverse. In work just published from the last chapter of my PhD, we show this system evolved 40+million yrs ago and is regulated by alleles of 1 transcription factor www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...

Balanced polymorphism in a floral transcription factor underlies the ancient rhythm of daily sex alternation in avocado | PNAS

In avocado and certain wild relatives in Lauraceae, a highly synchronized daily rhythm of floral sex timing promotes cross-pollination between two ...

pnas.org

The centromere performs an essential function during cell division, yet its DNA sequence can evolve remarkably rapidly—a puzzle known as the centromere paradox. How can function remain conserved when sequence does not? 🧵 1/4

How do transposons jump when they’re released from host control? I babysat two chromosomes for 2 years, making sure they are ok without most piRNAs. Here’s what we found & excited to share my 1st postdoc paper: “piRNA loss unleashes episodic transposition bursts” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

piRNA loss unleashes episodic transposition bursts

In Metazoa, transposon expression is suppressed by the piRNA pathway, and disruption of this pathway leads to rampant transposon expression. However, it remains unclear whether increased transposon ex...

biorxiv.org

What can undergraduate classroom research teach us about a decades-old genetics problem? A lot, as it turns out. Proud of the tremendous work by @alesamano.bsky.social and our undergraduate researchers. A great example of discovery-driven learning in action. artsci.tamu.edu/news/2026/07...

Texas A&M Undergraduate Study Reveals Effects of Large DNA Changes

Researchers found that major changes in DNA were connected to a surprisingly large number of harmful traits in fruit flies.

artsci.tamu.edu

It was a real privilege to chair sessions at #PEQG26, organized by @genetics-gsa.bsky.social, alongside co-chairs whose work I admire. Thanks to the organizers for putting together a great meeting.

Among all the recognitions I’ve received, this one holds a special place. I dedicate it to my teachers, mentors, and students. Grateful to the Dept of Biology @ Texas A&M for the freedom to build an ambitious undergraduate genomics program, and to the College of Arts & Sciences for the recognition.

1/12 Excited to share our new paper. Many essential functions, like DNA packaging and chromosome integrity, are encoded in highly repetitive, "recalcitrant" parts of the genome. But these regions have been incredibly hard to study. Until now. genome.cshlp.org/content/35/9...

🚨multiple tenure-track jobs Our department at @tamu.bsky.social is hiring multiple tenure-track faculty. Two of these will be in Evolutionary Biology/Genetics. Please apply or share it with anyone looking for a TT position! I'll be happy to answer questions. faculty.tamu.edu/JobDetail?Jo...

Faculty Job Board

In support of growth in the Biological Sciences, major remodeling of teaching space is presently underway, as is architectural design for a new Biology building that will add significant research space for our faculty.

faculty.tamu.edu

Are you interested in research in evolutionary genetics & genomics 🧬 (but maybe not ready to apply to graduate school)? Come work with me or one of my amazing colleagues at Rice University, University of Houston, or Texas A&M! Apply to our #NSF funded post-bacc research program! (Please share!)

STEGG-INTERACT@stegg-interact.bsky.social · 2y ago

The STEGG-INTERACT Research and Mentoring for Post-baccalaureates program is now accepting applications for our 2025-26 cohort! Application deadline is March 1, 2025. Program runs June 2025 - May 2026 at University of Houston, Rice University, and Texas A&M.

Fellow #Drosophila researchers! Ever wondered about the genome sequence of your lab strain or the balancers? Check out our Drosophila Laboratory Pangenome Database, featuring a growing collection of reference genome assemblies for popular D. melanogaster strains! github.com/chakrabortym...

GitHub - chakrabortymlab/DLPD: code and scripts relevant to the Drosophila Laboratory Pangenome Database

code and scripts relevant to the Drosophila Laboratory Pangenome Database - chakrabortymlab/DLPD

github.com

We're recruiting a postdoc. Lab works on diverse topics related to genetic variation. More here: chakrabortylab.org/research/ Competitive salary & strong support for trainee’s career growth! Informal inquiries are welcome. chakrabortylab.org/join-us/ #Genetics #Postdoc #ResearchOpportunity