Is the rate of protein evolution really constant through time? In our new preprint, we map lineage-specific shifts in evolutionary rates across thousands of protein families spanning the tree of life and explore how evolutionary history and protein structure shape these patterns. Check it out:

bioRxiv Evolutionary Biology@biorxiv-evobio.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The Shifting Tempo of Evolution: Mapping Site-Specific Rate Shifts Across the Tree of Life https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.06.19.733087v1

#Tokens

Our new study is now available on @molbioevol.bsky.social Here, we show that the loss of prfB autoregulation might be driven by compensatory evolution rather than direct adaptation of prfB expression. Sometimes, such complex traits can be an 'Evolutionary jail', constraining a species from escaping.

Molecular Biology and Evolution@molbioevol.bsky.social · 2mo ago

@sungbin.bsky.social et al. explore the evolutionary forces behind prfB autoregulation loss to illustrate how compensatory evolution can favor trait loss when the fitness benefit of losing the trait outweighs its cost. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag125 #evobio #molbio

Officially wrapped up my MSc at @unipd.bsky.social! Spent an incredible time exploring compensatory mutations at @mpi-evolbio.bsky.social under the mentorship of @jydutheil.bsky.social. Now, let's see where the fitness landscape leads next.

New paper! In female mammals, one X-chromosome is inactive in each cell. In some cats, this causes typical color patterns, depending on which X is active and the color it codes for. The @eddaschulz.bsky.social lab found a new regulatory principle behind X-inactivation. 1/2 Note: AI generated image

​My loyalties are split for this year's Ig-Nobel favorite. It's a dead heat between the physicist who analyzed how to stir pasta and the theorist who suggested to eat teflon to reduce calories. ​Both feel equally essential to the future of humanity. #IgNobel #Science

Nature@nature.com · 11mo ago

Highlights of this year’s Ig Nobel recipients include a nutrition prize for studying the preferred pizza toppings of rainbow lizards at a seaside resort in Togo go.nature.com/3I4wd8E

A common type of ant in Europe breaks a fundamental rule in biology: its queens can produce male offspring that are a whole different species go.nature.com/4mOb5T9

‘Almost unimaginable’: these ants are different species but share a mother

Ant queens of one species clone ants of another to create hybrid workers that do their bidding.

go.nature.com

Does population size shape protein coevolution? I explored this in my talk today at the MPI for Evolutionary Biology. Our work in mammals suggests the answer is yes - genetic drift is a major determinant of compensatory mutations. #evolution #genomics #proteinevolution @mpi-evolbio.bsky.social

Please come and see Jinyang’s purr-fectly interesting talk at the #ESEB2025 the coming Thursday 3:45 PM (Meeting Room 116) on Polarizing SNPs without outgroup. (I won’t be there, busy.) -Sent from Naja’s pawphone

Very happy for the chance to share a snapshot of my Master’s project at the MPI for Evolutionary Biology, in Julien Dutheil’s group. I’ve been tracing how the effective population size drives intra-protein compensatory mutations - tiny edits that help life stay in balance. @mpi-evolbio.bsky.social