Yukawa et al. demonstrate that coevolution between host and parasitic replicators can result in diversity loss and frequent extinctions depending on dilution conditions. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag084 #societyjournal #evobio #molbio

The last chapter of my PhD work is now live on MBE. This has been an incredible project, combining genomics, proteomics, as well as transcriptomics that resolves total mRNA from ribosome-associated mRNA (which we infer to be in the process of translation).

Molecular Biology and Evolution@molbioevol.bsky.social · 3w ago

@ironark.bsky.social et al. measured transcript abundance, ribosome-associated RNA, and protein abundance in bacterial endosymbionts, suggesting a mechanism for aberrant pseudogene-derived protein removal. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag153 #societyjournal #evobio #molbio

Záhonová et al. tested whether hydrogenosomes and mitosomes in Metamonada originated from an independent endosymbiosis, finding instead that these organelles originated from an Alphaproteobacterium during a single common endosymbiosis. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag175 #societyjournal #compbio

Phylogenetic ancestry of Metamonada proteins points to a common origin of mitochondria in all eukaryotes

Abstract. Hypotheses concerning eukaryogenesis, the evolution of eukaryotic cells, differ in the relative timing of mitochondrial acquisition. Recently, a

doi.org

Serok, @haimashkenazy.bsky.social et al. introduce regression models that predict the distance of a given multiple sequence alignment from the reference alignment. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag173 #societyjournal #compbio

A deep learning–based score to evaluate multiple sequence alignments

Abstract. Multiple sequence alignment (MSA) inference is a central task in molecular evolution and comparative genomics, and the reliability of downstream

doi.org

MBE invites submissions for a special series on the evolutionary inferences made possible by the new generation of high-quality vertebrate reference genomes. 🔗 academic.oup.com/mbe/pages/call-for-papers-evolutionary-genomics-of-vertebrates 🗓️ From Aug. 1 2026 ℹ️ eic.mbe@gmail.com #societyjournal

August's here, and so is the new issue of MBE. New articles are published as the month progresses; visit our website regularly to read all the latest research on molecular evolution. 🔗 academic.oup.com/mbe/issue/43/8 #societyjournal #evobio #molbio

If you think sex chromosomes in mammalian placentas are interesting you’ll want to know about seahorses academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...

Independent Evolution of Sex Chromosomes and Male Pregnancy–Related Genes in Two Seahorse Species

Abstract. Unlike birds and mammals, many teleosts have homomorphic sex chromosomes, and changes in the chromosome carrying the sex-determining locus, terme

academic.oup.com

I got tired of doomGPTing so moved onto doomMBEing recently academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...

Reconstruction of Ancestral Protein Sequences Using Autoregressive Generative Models

Abstract. Ancestral sequence reconstruction (ASR) is an important tool to understand how protein structure and function changed over the course of evolutio

academic.oup.com

this is relieving academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...

Robustness of Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction to Among-site and Among-lineage Evolutionary Heterogeneity

Abstract. Ancestral sequence reconstruction is typically performed using homogeneous evolutionary models, which assume that the same substitution propensit

academic.oup.com

We (@rileyshultz.bsky.social) tracked a recessive mutation from birth to death in honey bees. It causes ivory eyes. We collaborated across the continent to identify the mutation and it's downstream effects. Ultimately it is purified through selection on drones. We think Hamilton would be pleased!

Molecular Biology and Evolution@molbioevol.bsky.social · 6d ago

Shultz @beeharpur.bsky.social et al. documented the trajectory of a spontaneous deleterious mutation from its origin in a single queen to its extinction, directly observing how haplodiploidy exposes recessive alleles to immediate purifying selection 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag156 #societyjournal

Shultz @beeharpur.bsky.social et al. documented the trajectory of a spontaneous deleterious mutation from its origin in a single queen to its extinction, directly observing how haplodiploidy exposes recessive alleles to immediate purifying selection 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag156 #societyjournal

Chen, Qu & Zhang perform kingdom-wide evolutionary analyses across 364 Archaeplastida genomes and find massive PPR gene expansions in early-diverging land plants, predominantly driven by dispersed duplication associated with retroposition. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag168 #societyjournal #PlantSky

Kingdom-wide evolutionary characterization of RNA editing factors in Archaeplastida

Abstract. RNA editing, a post-transcriptional modification in plant mitochondria and plastids, is essential for environmental adaptation and diverse physio

doi.org

Kayhani et al. find that introgression of warm-adapted alleles was largely successful despite the risk of introducing mitonuclear incompatibilities that could result from genome-wide shifts toward the paternal allele in Tigriopus californicus. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag158 #societyjournal

Introgression of thermal tolerance alleles drives adaptation despite risk of mitonuclear conflict

Abstract. Hybridization may offer a form of genetic rescue from warming temperatures through the introgression of heat-adapted alleles from a high-toleranc

doi.org

@prateekverma.bsky.social Albari & Marshall evaluate the potential of Y-linked genome editors to suppress or eliminate a mouse population on a small, isolated island - results suggest YLEs as a promising, ecologically manageable biocontrol tool 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag165 #societyjournal

Y-linked editors for invasive rodent control

Abstract. Invasive rodents are major contributors to biodiversity loss, particularly on islands where native species have evolved in their absence. Genetic

doi.org

Garrecht, @plantevodevo-ab.bsky.social et al. conducted a comprehensive analysis of streptophyte algae and land plants, finding that the LUG and SEU genes have existed for at least 800 Myr, with specific domains remaining nearly invariant. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag154 #societyjournal #PlantSky

800 million years of co-evolution in the green plant lineage: the case of LEUNIG and SEUSS transcriptional co-regulators

Abstract. The evolution of land plants has involved significant restructuring and expansion of gene networks responsible for developmental processes, leadi

doi.org

Zhu, Zhuo & Zhen show that natural selection has shaped the evolution of CTCF binding sites in primates, driving both conservation and innovation in chromatin organization and contributing to human-specific regulatory evolution. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag167 #societyjournal #evobio

Evolution of CTCF binding sites in the human genome

Abstract. The CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) is a master regulator of topologically associating domains (TADs), which shape 3D genome architecture and gene re

doi.org

Huang et al. elucidate a unique biomineralization strategy in the apple snail and identify potential molecular targets for disrupting capsule formation, offering new avenues for controlling this globally invasive species. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag164 #societyjournal #evobio #invasive

Egg capsule mineralization via vaterite transportation in the invasive apple snail Pomacea canaliculata

Abstract. The invasive apple snail Pomacea canaliculata utilizes calcified egg capsules as a key adaptation for terrestrial reproduction; however, the biom

doi.org

Genomic Imprint of Chromosomal Inversions and Demographic History in Island Populations of Deer Mice academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...

The Genomic Imprint of Chromosomal Inversions and Demographic History in Island Populations of Deer Mice

Abstract. Populations that colonize islands experience novel selective pressures, fluctuations in size, and changes to their connectivity. Owing to their u

academic.oup.com

New article! I had the pleasure of collaborating (also with @fcocubillosr.bsky.social, Claudio Martínez & @litinice.bsky.social) on this work, led by Dr Francisco Salinas, investigating the genomic structure of a horizontally acquired region (Region B) in #yeast. academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...

Genetic background shapes the transcriptional activity and phenotypic contribution of a horizontally acquired region in yeast

Abstract. Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) is the movement of genetic material across species. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a DNA segment known as Region B w

academic.oup.com

@jechave.bsky.social & Carpentier extend the Mutation-Stability-Activity model for enzyme sequence evolution, identifying constraints that operate in each enzyme family, exploring their relative importance, and biophysical and selective determinants 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag162 #societyjournal

Why structural divergence varies among residues in enzyme evolution: contributions of mutation, stability, and activity constraints

Abstract. In enzyme evolution, structural divergence varies among residues, forming residue-dependent structural divergence profiles. The evolutionary cons

doi.org

Cheng & Xu explore how DNA methylation, shaped by both genetic and environmental exposures, affects population-specific epigenetic diversity across human populations. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag160 #societyjournal #epigenetics

In a new paper, IGI researchers at UC Berkeley & UC San Diego develop a novel approach to controlling invasive rodent populations: Y-linked genome editors, combining scalability with a level of control that has previously been difficult to achieve: https://ow.ly/8mMx50Zs8of 🧪

Our new paper on Y-linked CRISPR editors for invasive rodent control is featured by @innovativegenomics.bsky.social. innovativegenomics.org/news/a-new-a... #CRISPR #RodentControl

A New Approach to Controlling Invasive Rodent Populations with CRISPR

A New Approach to Controlling Invasive Rodent Populations with CRISPR - Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI)

innovativegenomics.org

Weaver & Lowe suggest that placing regulatory elements in new genomic contexts primes them for neofunctionalization, and that regulatory rewiring after segmental duplication is a common mechanism underlying gene regulatory change. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag140 #societyjournal #evobio #molbio

Segmentally Duplicated Regulatory Elements Undergo Human-Specific Rewiring

Abstract. Gene regulatory innovation underlies many phenotypic transitions. Transposable elements are an established mechanism for creating families of cis

doi.org

Zheng, @zhiyunguo.bsky.social et al. present EnhancerDB 2.0, a user-friendly platform for managing large-scale enhancer data, providing a wide range of annotation and analysis tools to facilitate enhancer functional interpretation. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag161 #compbio #societyjournal

Mishra, Weit & @martinlercher.bsky.social infer the frequency, distribution, and retention of inter-phylum HGT events, finding that most transferred genes are lost rapidly, and those that survive are retained over long periods. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag146 #HGT #societyjournal

The Fate of Horizontally Acquired Genes: Rapid Initial Turnover Followed by Long-Term Persistence

Abstract. A major driver of bacterial evolution is horizontal gene transfer (HGT), the acquisition of genes from other strains or species. Transfers betwee

doi.org

MBE invites submissions for a special series on the evolutionary inferences made possible by the new generation of high-quality vertebrate reference genomes. 🔗 academic.oup.com/mbe/pages/call-for-papers-evolutionary-genomics-of-vertebrates 🗓️ From Aug. 1 2026 ℹ️ eic.mbe@gmail.com #societyjournal

Zhou et al. provide novel insights into the phenotypic and genetic evolution of vocalization in terrestrial mammals and shed light on the origins of human speech and language. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag126 #evobio #societyjournal

Phylogenomic analysis of vocal fold length evolution reveals links between vocal and auditory systems in terrestrial mammals

Abstract. Vocal fold length is a primary anatomical determinant of pitch and fundamental frequency in terrestrial mammal vocalizations, playing a key role

doi.org

Laasya Samhita was present at #SMBE2026 to present her recent MBE paper on how translation accuracy impacts adaptation in E. coli; she spoke to us about it in detail. Read the original paper: doi.org/10.1093/molb... #societyjournal

Tong et al. reveal convergent genomic changes associated with repeated evolution of diurnality and illustrate how ecological light environments repeatedly shape the molecular evolution of complex animal behavior. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msag159 #evobio #societyjournal