Cryptic sponge with bizarre, GC-rich mitogenome (missing cox2) found in a Haliclona–Plakortis symbiosis. Resembles H. plakophila, but genetic + morphological data reveal a new Haplosclerida lineage, highlighting hidden diversity 🧽🧬 @makhaki.bsky.social @dlavrov.bsky.social doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...

Hidden in plain sight: a novel symbiotic haplosclerid sponge species revealed by its mitochondrial genome

Abstract. Sponges (phylum Porifera) are known to form symbiotic relationships with a variety of organisms, including other sponges. Recently, such symbiosi

doi.org

"In 2025, Eddy received a letter from the National Institutes of Health, informing him that his work "had been determined to be of absolutely no value to the US taxpayer, and therefore it was being specifically terminated..." This is HMMER, Infernal, PFAM!

Ben Langmead@benlangmead.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Brutal and sad. The article mentions multiple scientists, but I happen to know Sean. Sean is true role model, as a scholar, engineer communicator & mentor. He has poured time into serving NIH. If the NIH / White House is kicking Sean to the curb, we're truly done for www.npr.org/2026/05/21/n...

New paper published on symbiosis between sponges: doi.org/10.1093/jeb/... #Porifera #Mitochondria

Hidden in plain sight: a novel symbiotic haplosclerid sponge species revealed by its mitochondrial genome

Abstract. Sponges (phylum Porifera) are known to form symbiotic relationships with a variety of organisms, including other sponges. Recently, such symbiosi

doi.org

“The message, very clearly, they’re sending is, do not speak out on behalf of Chinese postdocs. If you do, you’re going to pay a penalty...It seems pretty obvious that this is an attempt by the current administration to silence people that question their activities." — Roger Innes, IU AAUP member

A Professor Defended a Postdoc Who Was Deported. Now His Lab Has Been Suddenly Locked Down.

Work at an Indiana University biology lab was halted amid federal scrutiny, affecting dozens of researchers. “The damage is significant and mounting,” the department chair told The Chronicle.

chronicle.com

🌱 We’re hiring in Plant Biology at Penn State! The Department of Biology at Penn State University Park is searching for a tenure-track Assistant or Associate Professor in any area of plant biology.

Workday next?

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

A catastrophic climate event is upon us. Here is why you’ve heard so little about it | George Monbiot

Scientists say a crucial Atlantic system is set to collapse. But the billionaire death cult that steers humanity’s destiny just doesn’t do existential crises, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

theguardian.com

The U.S House of Representatives voted to permanently undo protections for the watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota. Now it's up to the Senate who will likely vote within the next two weeks. Please speak up for this important wilderness area. ⬇️

Urgent: The Last Stand for the Boundary Waters

Last month the House of Representatives voted to permanently undo protections for the watershed of the Boundary Waters in Minnesota. Now the last stand to keep the country’s most popular wilderness ar...

act.biologicaldiversity.org

Where do you find an animal mitochondrial genome that is several Mbp in size and contains thousands of linear chromosomes? In a tiny #sponge Sycon ciliatum: doi.org/10.1098/rstb... #Porifera #Mitochondria

Extreme mitochondrial genome complexity in the calcaronean sponge Sycon ciliatum (Fabricius, 1780): fragmentation, gene duplication and mRNA editing

Abstract. Mitochondrial genomes (mt-genomes) of calcaronean sponges are among the most unusual in Metazoa. They are fragmented into multiple linear chromos

doi.org

With Eugene Koonin, we propose a concept of “the selfish ribosome”, under which evolution of life is viewed as a ribosomal takeover, where the ribosome evolved to consume most of the cell’s resources, while other cellular componentry ensures the propagation of the ribosome. arxiv.org/abs/2602.23268

SponBIODIV @biodiversa.eu participates in a new population genomics study of the beautiful Mediterranean🧽 Axinella polypoides. Findings emphasize the importance of protecting mesophotic habitats! www.nature.com/articles/s41...

CORAL REEF NEWS: 2026 May Be The Year Coral Reefs Around The World Finally Collapse Read full story here: www.sciencealert.com/2026-may-be-... #coralreefs #tippingpoint #climatenews #coralnews #climatechange #coralbleaching #coralreefecology #marinescience #marinebiology

2026 May Be The Year Coral Reefs Around The World Finally Collapse

Tropical coral reefs cover less than 1% of the seafloor, yet support 25% of all marine species.

sciencealert.com

More goings on in eukaryotic ancestors, this time from @phil-donoghue.bsky.social and friends. The data is coming thick and fast! #actin #nucleus #LECA #asgard #mitochondria #phylogeny

Ian Henderson@hendersi.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Interesting study suggesting that nucleus, cytoskeleton, and endomembranes preceded acquisition of mitochondria, during eukaryogenesis www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Was reading this earlier today - such an important advance!

Eric Topol@erictopol.bsky.social · last yr.

A big day for preventing mitochondrial diseases from transmitting to the next generation www.nature.com/articles/d41... www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.... www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.... www.nejm.org/doi/full/10....

Mitochondrial origins of the pressure to sleep

Mitochondrial origins of the pressure to sleep - Nature

Research on Drosophila neurons shows links between the need to sleep and aerobic metabolism, indicating that the pressure to sleep may have a mitochondrial origin.

nature.com

Please share! Our lab is recruiting a PhD student to join us starting fall 2026. Our group is broadly interested in plant molecular evolution and comparative genomics. More info about our lab and grad programs at Colorado St. is available on our lab website. sites.google.com/site/danielb...

Sloan Lab

Welcome! Our research focuses on the evolutionary process at the molecular level. In particular, we investigate how a mixture of natural selection and non-adaptive forces create and maintain the amazi...

sites.google.com

Yep- the bogus summer reading list from the Chicago Sun Times is real. Here I am with it from a few minutes ago. (Support your local library!!)

Congress is considering opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to oil drilling in their latest government funding bill. We can’t let this happen – demand that Congress rejects Arctic drilling in this bill. 👉 act.350.org/letter/may-2...

Tell Congress to reject Arctic drilling

The Trump EPA’s plan to roll back crucial climate and environmental regulations will dismantle decades of progress in reducing harmful climate pollution. It’s a giveaway to Big Oil, and it comes at ev...

act.350.org

TOMORROW! Stand Up for Higher Education! Join an action in your area! @actioninhighered.bsky.social @higheredlabor.bsky.social

Nature reports on how researchers are studying why mitochondria are moving between cells and whether the process can be harnessed to treat cancer and other diseases. 🧪

Cells are swapping their mitochondria. What does this mean for our health?

Researchers are studying why the energy factories are moving between cells and whether the process can be harnessed to treat cancer and other diseases.

go.nature.com

www.change.org/p/save-the-i...

Sign the Petition

Save the ISU Insect Zoo!!!

change.org

“I never expected to face such a distressing experience after escaping persecution from the CCP in China, only to encounter a somewhat similar situation” at New College in the United States. Read more at: www.miamiherald.com/news/politic...

New College fires Chinese professor under controversial Florida ‘countries of concern’ law

“I never expected to face such a distressing experience after escaping persecution from the CCP in China, only to encounter a somewhat similar situation,” the fired professor said.

bradenton.com

Ames protest next Saturday: www.mobilize.us/handsoff/eve...

Hands Off! Ames Fights Back · Hands Off

**Donald Trump and Elon Musk think this country belongs to them.** Ames is fighting back! They're taking everything they can get their hands on—our health care, our data, our jobs, our services—and d...

mobilize.us

This is the text of the email just sent to hundreds of international students telling them that their visas have been revoked due to activism or social media posts.

🧪 Scientists have created the first map of mitochondria throughout the entire brain https://go.nature.com/42j9YCV

First map of human brain mitochondria is ‘groundbreaking’ achievement

Nature - Hundreds of cubes of human brain tissue help scientists to chart the energy-making capabilities of various brain regions.

go.nature.com

Calling all faculty across campuses nationwide: sign our petition to condemn ICE and DHS activity on campuses as well as the arrest and detention of Palestinian activists Mahmoud Khalil and Leqaa Korda, Read and sign onto the rest of our statement: link here and in bio bit.ly/3XUwsHM

Our article on unusual mtDNA evolution in a group of sponges has been published in GBE. Please let me know if you have any comments or notice any errors. #mitochondria #Porifera #tRNA

Pervasive mitochondrial tRNA gene loss in the clade B of haplosclerid sponges (Porifera, Demospongiae)

Abstract. Mitochondrial tRNA gene loss and cytosolic tRNA import are two common phenomena in mitochondrial biology, but their importance is often under-app

academic.oup.com

Genome architecture and speciation in plants and animals. I learned a lot writing this with @dortizba.bsky.social, Silu Wang and Loren Rieseberg! doi.org/10.22541/au....