J. Wood

Superiority of chromosomal compared to plasmid-encoded compensatory mutations

This study compares the ecological effects of compensatory mutations on plasmids and chromosomes, finding that chromosomal mutations are more effective in reducing plasmid fitness costs and promoting plasmid spread.

Reconstructing colonization dynamics to establish how human activities transformed island biodiversity

The paper develops a process-explicit method to reconstruct human colonization dynamics on islands, showing it can reveal how human activities transformed biodiversity in New Zealand.

The evolution of two transmissible cancers in Tasmanian devils

This study analyzes the genetic diversity and evolution of two transmissible cancers in Tasmanian devils, revealing their emergence dates, mutation rates, and evolutionary patterns.

Caecilian genomes reveal molecular basis of adaptation and convergent evolution of limblessness in snakes and caecilians.

The paper analyzes caecilian genomes to identify molecular mechanisms underlying limblessness and convergent evolution with snakes, finding shared genetic targets involved in limb development.

Genomic consequences of domestication of the Siamese fighting fish

The paper uses genomic data to show betta fish were domesticated over 1,000 years ago and identifies genes involved in their phenotypic diversity.

Plasmid fitness costs are caused by specific genetic conflicts

The paper identifies specific genetic conflicts as the cause of plasmid fitness costs in Pseudomonas fluorescens, showing that single mutations can ameliorate these costs.

Rapid compensatory evolution can rescue low fitness symbioses following partner-switching

This study shows that partner-switching in the Paramecium-Chlorella symbiosis can lead to low fitness due to mismatched photoprotection traits, but compensatory evolution can rapidly restore fitness within 50 generations.