Zhu et al. provide novel evidence that polygenic natural selection may be acting to lower Andean hemoglobin concentration in a manner phenotypically convergent with Tibetan populations. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag164 #societyjournal #humanevolution

Genomic Evidence for Natural Selection Underlying High-Altitude Adaptive Hemoglobin Levels Among Peruvian Andeans

Abstract. High-altitude hypoxia presents an extreme environmental pressure that challenges human survival, growth, and reproduction. Despite this challenge

doi.org

@trinskeep.bsky.social & @simoncgroen.bsky.social link genome-wide gene expression to lifetime fecundity in C. elegans, suggesting that genome structure and network topology jointly shape how variation in gene expression translates into fitness. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag180 #societyjournal

Nazir & @bramvandijk.bsky.social demonstrate how phage lifecycle dynamics and spatial heterogeneity drive mobile genetic element–gene associations, providing new insights into the evolution of phage-encoded virulence. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag181 #societyjournal #virus

Viral Lifecycle Dynamics and Spatial Structure Explain Why Accessory Genes Are Associated With Temperate Phages

Abstract. Genes encoding for virulence factors are frequently found on prophages, yet the evolutionary forces driving this association remain unclear. The

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@sergeilkp.bsky.social @hverdonk.bsky.social et al. present B-STILL, a hierarchical Bayesian framework designed to resolve the selective landscape of protein-coding genes near the zero-rate limit. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag184 #societyjournal #compbio

Beyond Invariable Sites: Using Evolutionary Stasis to Map Multilayered Constraints on the Evolution of Viral and Mammalian Genomes

Abstract. The quantification of genomic conservation has progressed from foundational statistical modeling of evolutionary rates to state-of-the-art deep l

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Happy to share this release of some new long-read genomes in @genomebiolevol.bsky.social! We hope that subspecies-specific, quality genomes will enable better profiling of variation underlying phenotypic differences in Heliconius, mitigating bias from using a relative's genome as the reference 1/3

Genome Biology and Evolution@genomebiolevol.bsky.social · 5d ago

@a-mack-s.bsky.social @evolvwing.bsky.social et al. generate deep-coverage PacBio long-read data from five Heliconius, recovering high genome contiguity, quality, and completeness scores. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag171 #societyjournal #genome

@hverdonk.bsky.social, Callan & @sergeilkp.bsky.social present CAPHEINE, a computational workflow that starts with a set of unaligned pathogen sequences and a reference genome and performs a comprehensive exploratory evolutionary analysis. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag173 #societyjournal #compbio

CAPHEINE, or Everything and the Kitchen Sink: A Workflow for Automating Selection Analyses Using HyPhy

Abstract. Here, we present CAPHEINE, a computational workflow that starts with a set of unaligned pathogen sequences and a reference genome and performs a

doi.org

Chen et al. integrated proteomic and genomic data, supporting a model wherein lophotrochozoan biomineralization is underpinned by a shared ancestral molecular toolkit, differentially filtered and elaborated according to mineral chemistry. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag146 #societyjournal #evolution

The August 2026 issue of GBE is now live! Be sure not to miss any of the great science that is coming your way this month. 🔗 academic.oup.com/gbe/issue/18/8 #societyjournal #genome #evolution

@a-mack-s.bsky.social @evolvwing.bsky.social et al. generate deep-coverage PacBio long-read data from five Heliconius, recovering high genome contiguity, quality, and completeness scores. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag171 #societyjournal #genome

de novo Assembly of five Highly Contiguous Heliconius Butterfly Genomes With Long-Read Sequencing Alone

Abstract. Rapidly decreasing costs of sequencing whole genomes have caused a boom in genomic resources for many species. However, many key nonmodel systems

doi.org

Masuko et al. propose that admixture of cosmopolitan European and African goats into Island Southeast Asia was mediated by the maritime transport of goats during the colonial period as a source of provisions. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag177 #societyjournal #evolution

Genome-Wide Diversity of Goats From Indonesia and the Philippines Reveals Local Ancestry With Different Levels of Cosmopolitan Admixture

Abstract. In order to investigate the genetic diversity, differentiation, gene flows, and propagation routes of Island Southeast Asian (ISEA) goats, we gen

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Bugnot, @gwenaelp.bsky.social et al. show that resistance to prasinovirus OmV2 in a cosmopolitan phytoplankton species evolves rapidly and consistently, even though no resistance-associated SNPs or shared SVs were identified on standard chromosomes. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag162 #societyjournal

Interchromosomal Translocations and Large Deletions Drive the Evolution of the Outlier Chromosome in the Smallest Photosynthetic Eukaryote

Abstract. Marine microalgal populations can rapidly evolve resistance to viruses upon infection. In Ostreococcus mediterraneus, resistance to the prasinovi

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Wang et al. generated five genomes of Botryosphaeriaceae, a fungal family that colonizes a wide range of woody hosts, revealing that lineage-specific gene family innovations have driven virulence diversification and adaptation. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag178 #societyjournal #evolution

Lineage-Specific Gene Family Innovations Underpin the Pathogenicity of Woody-Plant Pathogens in Botryosphaeriaceae

Abstract. Botryosphaeriaceae is an important fungal family that colonizes a wide range of woody hosts, including economically important crops, and causes s

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Typeset version of new paper out in @genomebiolevol.bsky.social. Link: academic.oup.com/gbe/article/... We identified segmental duplications in genomes from 117 vertebrate species (thanks to @vertebrategenomes.bsky.social ). We describe the properties and evolution of segmental duplications.

Genomes From 117 Vertebrate Species Reveal Rapidly Evolving Segmental-Duplication Landscapes

Abstract. Segmental duplications are major drivers of evolutionary innovation; yet, their dynamics across vertebrates remain poorly understood. Here, we id

academic.oup.com

Lebleux et al. investigated diversity in Maudiozyma humilis, the second most frequently encountered yeast species in sourdough bread, challenging the hypothesis that increases in ploidy are necessarily beneficial in domesticated species. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag176 #societyjournal #evolution

Genotypic and Phenotypic Diversity of Maudiozyma humilis: The Multiple Evolutionary Trajectories of a Domesticated Yeast

Abstract. Maudiozyma humilis is the second most frequently encountered yeast species in sourdough bread. Despite its ecological and food relevance, little

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@alberaqil.bsky.social et al. identify segmental duplications from genomes of 117 vertebrates, finding that the genomic architecture underlying segmental duplications is highly dynamic, uniquely shaping each lineage's potential to adapt 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag043 #societyjournal #evolution

Genomes From 117 Vertebrate Species Reveal Rapidly Evolving Segmental-Duplication Landscapes

Abstract. Segmental duplications are major drivers of evolutionary innovation; yet, their dynamics across vertebrates remain poorly understood. Here, we id

doi.org

Castro-Nallar et al. report a chromosome-scale reference genome of the Antarctic Pearlwort (Caryophyllaceae), one of only two vascular plants native to Antarctica and a model species for studying adaptation to extreme environments. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag182 #societyjournal #genome #PlantSky

A Chromosome-Scale Genome Assembly and Annotation of the Antarctic Pearlwort Colobanthus quitensis (Caryophyllaceae)

Abstract. Colobanthus quitensis (Caryophyllaceae) is one of only two vascular plants native to Antarctica and a model species for studying adaptation to ex

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Tamura, Oda-Ishii & Satou surveyed the genome of a tunicate and identified eight groups of candidate genes that are unlikely to have been vertically transferred and that are associated with physiological and structural features unique to tunicates. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag170 #societyjournal

Unique Tunicate Traits Possibly Encoded by Horizontally Transferred Genes

Abstract. While horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is common among prokaryotes, its prevalence and impact among metazoans are debatable. A clear example of HGT

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@jigisha1.bsky.social @fmenardo.bsky.social et al. highlight the role of ecological isolation in preventing gene flow between triticale powdery mildew and its parental lineages. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag172 #societyjournal #PlantSky

Tracking the Evolutionary Trajectory of a Young Hybrid Plant Pathogen

Abstract. A common mechanism by which emerging plant pathogens gain the ability to infect new hosts is hybridization. Despite its widespread occurrence, th

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@topalwos.bsky.social @owlsforpeace.bsky.social et al. sequenced 33 barn owl trios, providing evidence of mutation rate dependence on age at reproduction in birds, highlighting how life history can drive the rate of molecular evolution 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag175 📷 Alex Labhardt #societyjournal

Tek et al. report chromosome-scale genome assemblies for four duckweed species, the smallest and fastest-growing angiosperms, which exhibit extreme morphological reduction yet retain remarkable genomic plasticity. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag163 #societyjournal #genome

Chromosome-Scale Genome Assemblies of Duckweeds Provide Insights Into Genomic Plasticity, Aquatic Adaptation, and Morphological Reduction

Abstract. Duckweeds (Lemnaceae) present a striking example of convergent genome evolution following the return from land to water. As the smallest and fast

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@reeskassen.bsky.social presents a sketch for a functional theory of adaptation built around the idea that the primary source of selection in the initial stages of adaptation involves rapid re-growth in the presence of stress. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag158 #societyjournal #adaptation

Toward a Functional Genetics of Adaptation: Insights From Microbial Experimental Evolution

Abstract. A general theory of adaptation is one that accounts for both the quantitative and functional properties of adaptive evolution. To date, the field

doi.org

What might a functional theory for the genetics of adaption look like? A first proposal: academic.oup.com/gbe/advance-... TL;DR : it’s all about rebalancing stress and growth.

Towards a functional genetics of adaptation: insights from microbial experimental evolution

Abstract. A general theory of adaptation is one that accounts for both the quantitative and functional properties of adaptive evolution. To date, the field

academic.oup.com

Weis, @nehapotnis.bsky.social et al. review plant pathogenic bacterial diversity, showing that pathogenicity has independently evolved numerous times and that there is not one unifying trait determining plant pathogenicity. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag174 #societyjournal #plants

Genome Evolution in Plant Pathogenic Bacteria

Abstract. Bacterial plant pathogens have ravaged crops since the dawn of agriculture and continue to pose a serious threat today. Bacteria and their plant

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Kunzel et al. performed controlled competitive growth assays in E. coli, providing experimental support for the capacity of random sequences to directly generate adaptive effects without the necessity to acquire additional adaptive mutations. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag159 #societyjournal #ecoli

A Reassessment of Positive Growth Effects of Expressed Random Sequence Clones in E. coli Suggests Direct Adaptive Functions

Abstract. De novo gene emergence from noncoding sequences is an important evolutionary mechanism, yet the functional potential of random sequences remains

doi.org

Messina et al. resequenced genomes of 99 understorey forest songbirds, finding that genetic erosion can occur within a few decades of habitat disturbance even in apparently common tropical bird species. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag139 #societyjournal #congen

Casillas et al. investigated the genetic basis of a unique longitudinal dorsal stripe pattern in adders from Gossa Island, identifying a significantly differentiated genomic region containing PMEL and a missense variant in this gene. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag144 #societyjournal #genome #colour

Kazuhiko Kawasaki investigated genomes of 63 teleosts, suggesting distinct sets of SCPP genes are vital to bone, tooth, or scale formation in teleosts, differing considerably from SCPP genes involved in the mineralization of bone and teeth in mammals. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag148 #societyjournal

SCPP Gene Repertoires in Teleosts and Evolutionary Changes in Bone, Teeth, and Scales

Abstract. Secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein (SCPP) genes are involved in bone, tooth, and scale formation in bony vertebrates, including teleosts. V

doi.org

So excited to share that one of the chapters from my thesis has been published! In it we discovered that, despite previous assumptions, Escovopsis (a mycoparasite in the fungus growing ant symbiosis), has a complete MAT locus under purifying selection.

Genome Biology and Evolution@genomebiolevol.bsky.social · 2w ago

@soleilsolay.bsky.social et al. find that Escovopsis s.l. - specialized fungal parasite of the fungus-growing ant symbiosis - likely undergoes cryptic sex as all examined strains have a complete mating-type locus under purifying selection. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag160 #evolution #societyjournal

@soleilsolay.bsky.social et al. find that Escovopsis s.l. - specialized fungal parasite of the fungus-growing ant symbiosis - likely undergoes cryptic sex as all examined strains have a complete mating-type locus under purifying selection. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag160 #evolution #societyjournal

Yifei Joye Zhou & Carol Eunmi Lee show that the αCA gene family shows signatures of selection both on macroevolutionary time scales across phyla, as well as between closely related sibling species within Arthropoda. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag156 #evolution #societyjournal

Evolutionary History of the α-Carbonic Anhydrase Gene Family in the Phylum Arthropoda, With Comparisons to αCA in Chordates

Abstract. The α-carbonic anhydrase (αCA) gene family encodes an abundant and ancient metalloenzyme present in all animals. Found in both eukaryotes and pro

doi.org