Luke Dunning
@luketdunning.bsky.social
Evolutionary biologist at @SheffieldUni interested in genomics, rapid adaptation & lateral gene transfer in grasses. @NERCscience IRF
humanity has always been moved forward by people who think differently www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Dyslexic thinking made me the scientist I am today. If we could harness its power, imagine what could be possible | Maggie Aderin
Progress has always been made by people who think differently. Neurodiversity helps us think outside the box – and when we do, the sky’s the limit, says space scientist Maggie Aderin
theguardian.com
🍃 Join @annbot.bsky.social Special Issue celebrating 60 years of discovery in C4 photosynthesis, edited by Rowan Sage & guest editors Marj Lundgren, Robert Sharwood & Luke Dunning. (1/4) @marjorielundgren.bsky.social @luketdunning.bsky.social #C4Photosynthesis #PlantScience #CropScience
What a nice surprise from @ahmedalenazi.bsky.social returning to work after the holidays! We also have his final PhD chapter now out - so all data chapters are now published.. amazing effort! doi.org/10.1002/ppp3...
Our work on #hornwort #pyrenoids is finally out in @science.org! 🎉 We uncovered how hornworts pack their Rubisco into pyrenoids and successfully recreated them in Arabidopsis. A key step toward engineering more efficient photosynthesis in crops @btiscience.bsky.social www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
An unconventional Rubisco small subunit underpins the CO2-concentrating organelle in land plants
In many algae, photosynthesis is boosted by biophysical CO2-concentrating mechanisms, which pack the CO2-fixing enzyme Rubisco into liquid-like organelles called pyrenoids. Engineering C3 crops with a...
science.org
Ecstatic to see the first chapter of my PhD published in MBE! Most laterally acquired genes in plants are degenerating - the retained genes may to be more successful because they bring over their own regulatory machinery academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
Regulatory features determine the evolutionary fate of laterally acquired genes in plants
Abstract. Lateral gene transfer (LGT) is widespread in eukaryotes, including in animals and plants where it can fuel adaptive evolution and innovation. How
academic.oup.com
Collins et al. combined expression, methylation, and genomic data to investigate long-term persistence of laterally acquired genes in the grass Alloteropsis, showing that those capable of regulating their own expression are more likely to persist. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag042 #evobio #molbio
Regulatory features determine the evolutionary fate of laterally acquired genes in plants
Abstract. Lateral gene transfer (LGT) is widespread in eukaryotes, including in animals and plants where it can fuel adaptive evolution and innovation. How
doi.org
Awesome to see @cfcollins.bsky.social first paper out from her PhD - a huge amount of work!! Regulatory features determine the evolutionary fate of laterally acquired genes in plants url: academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
Regulatory features determine the evolutionary fate of laterally acquired genes in plants
Abstract. Lateral gene transfer (LGT) is widespread in eukaryotes, including in animals and plants where it can fuel adaptive evolution and innovation. How
academic.oup.com
Apply to be a Rising Star in Plant Science! Organized by Molecular Plant and Plant Communications. www.cell.com/cemps/rsps-a... Applications close March 31, 2026 #PlantScience
New special issue in Molecular Ecology on Conservation Genomics #popGen #evolution 🧪🧬🖥️ onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/1365294x...
Special Issue: CONSERVATION GENOMICS ‐ MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Molecular Ecology: Vol 34, No 23
Molecular Ecology is an international journal for research using molecular genetic techniques to address questions in ecology, evolution, behavior and conservation.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Come work with us!! 2.5 year postdoc on HGT in plants. Please share and get in touch if interested www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPQ418/r...
Research Associate: Horizontal Gene Transfer at University of Sheffield
Searching for an academic job? Explore this Research Associate: Horizontal Gene Transfer opening on jobs.ac.uk! Click to view more details and browse other academic jobs.
jobs.ac.uk
Come work with us!! 2.5 year postdoc on HGT in plants. Please share and get in touch if interested www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPQ418/r...
Research Associate: Horizontal Gene Transfer at University of Sheffield
Searching for an academic job? Explore this Research Associate: Horizontal Gene Transfer opening on jobs.ac.uk! Click to view more details and browse other academic jobs.
jobs.ac.uk
I am currently searching for a new postdoctoral researcher to study the evolution, genetics, and physiology of cold acclimation and freezing tolerance in switchgrass at Michigan State University. This work will be funded by a newly funded five-year DOE grant. careers.msu.edu/jobs/researc...
Research Associate-Fixed Term - East Lansing, Michigan, United States
Position Summary The Lowry Lab at Michigan State University is searching for a postdoctoral research associate to conduct molecular and physiological experiments to understand the causes of genetic va...
careers.msu.edu
Two PhD positions available to come and work with us - please share! [1] Detecting rapid evolutionary responses to climate change in UK plants tinyurl.com/ye262pk2 [2] Natural GM: The role of horizontal gene transfer in crop adaptation and evolution tinyurl.com/32tkce2w
We are looking for a physics/maths graduate with an interest in biology, or a biology graduate with strong computational/mathematical skills/interests, to join us as a PhD student working on biomechanical modelling of butterfly wing scale structure formation www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
We’d like to say a big thank you to our visitors from @sheffielduni.bsky.social. We had a great time hosting you all this week, and were impressed by everybody’s enthusiasm and dedication to their field projects. We wish you the best of luck with the rest of your studies! @luketdunning.bsky.social
With staff and students from @sheffielduni.bsky.social, we explored the Causse Méjean, an upland area famous for its rugged habitats, surrounded by deep gorges frequented by #vultures. We were lucky enough to spot Bearded Vultures, plus shrikes and some great #lepidoptera. @luketdunning.bsky.social
Day two with @sheffielduni.bsky.social, and we’ve been exploring field techniques. Kick sampling, GPS use, plus plant and terrestrial invertebrate surveys. Highlights were more mantises, Saddle-backed Bush Crickets, plus spotting crayfish in the river. @luketdunning.bsky.social
A great first afternoon with our visitors from the University of Sheffield. We explored the local habitats, seeing some fantastic autum wildlife including the Mediterranean Conehead Mantis. Other highlights were large Orthoptera, butterflies, and Colchicum autumn Crocuses. @luketdunning.bsky.social
Awesome work led by @cfcollins.bsky.social looking at the factors that influence the long term retention of laterally transferred genes! A huge amount of work and awesome first PhD chapter www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Regulatory features determine the evolutionary fate of laterally acquired genes in plants
Lateral gene transfer (LGT) is widespread in eukaryotes, including in animals and plants where it can fuel adaptive evolution and innovation. However, the factors that influence the integration and lo...
biorxiv.org
Very excited to be awarded a NERC Pushing the Frontiers grant to continue our work on grass LGT, recruiting soon! 🥳 With @lara-pereira.bsky.social @jurriaanton.bsky.social @metallophyte.bsky.social & Roger Butlin
Know an Evolutionary Genomicist looking for a faculty position? Join us in EEB @utknoxville.bsky.social Position is open for studying any organism, but personally I have some botany bias. 🌱 Apply before Sept 19 for full consideration. apply.interfolio.com/170735 Please share widely. Thanks!
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New preprint using Aristidoideae genomes to identify genetic precursors to C4 photosynthesis at the base of the PACMAD clade - where all the C4 fun happens in grasses 🌾 Led by @lara-pereira.bsky.social & Ahmed @colinplants.bsky.social @biggenomes.bsky.social www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Gene turnover and contingency facilitated the repeated evolution of C4 photosynthesis in grasses
In grasses, almost all species belong to two evenly sized clades (BOP and PACMAD), yet the >20 independent origins of C4 photosynthesis in this family only occur in the PACMAD lineage. Here, we identi...
biorxiv.org
Latest preprint. We tested the idea that dietary restriction (DR) is an ancient response. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... Across Drosophila the lifespan phenotype and the transcriptomic response to DR are conserved. Yet, many genes were Diptera (fly) specific. Mechanisms may not be conserved…
biorxiv.org
Great article highlighting the "ongoing loss of direct field experience within the ecology community" & why field work is so crucial for education & our ability to address the biodiversity crisis. Extinction of experience among ecologists: Trends in Ecology & Evolution www.cell.com/trends/ecolo...
Extinction of experience among ecologists
Fieldwork-based research and education in ecology are under multiple threats and are progressively declining. We call for greater attention to this ongoing loss of direct field experience within the e...
cell.com
Looking for a PhD? Come work with us on Horizontal Gene Transfer in crops! Deadline 14th March www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Horizontal gene transfer and its role in crop adaptation and evolution at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Horizontal gene transfer and its role in crop adaptation and evolution at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com
findaphd.com
Looking for a PhD? Come work with us on Horizontal Gene Transfer in crops! Deadline 14th March www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Horizontal gene transfer and its role in crop adaptation and evolution at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com
PhD Project - Horizontal gene transfer and its role in crop adaptation and evolution at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com
findaphd.com
Wow. This is sooo good. Echoing @urbanevol.bsky.social this user’s manual for Ne should be required reading for popgen and conservation genetics folks. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
The Idiot's Guide to Effective Population Size
This is a reference manual for the elegant, yet hideously complex concept of effective population size (Ne), inspired by a classic, self-published manual of automotive repair ‘for the compleat idiot’...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
More fantastic work on Silene by @metallophyte.bsky.social and team! Great to be part of the project
Alex Papadopulos (@metallophyte.bsky.social)
Evolutionary biologist in Wales
metallophyte.bsky.social
Alex Papadopulos@metallophyte.bsky.social · last yr.Our new paper shows that plasticity that has evolved to deal with one stressful situation, can help plants to adapt rapidly to new stressful situations. doi.org/10.1073/pnas... @meebangor.bsky.social @rbgkew.bsky.social @ukri.org @pnas.org
