Y. Van de Peer

Interspecific transfer of genetic information through polyploid bridges

This study models how polyploidy facilitates gene flow between diploid species by acting as a bridge, showing that increased recombination can enhance allele sorting and overcome species barriers.

Rapid establishment of species barriers in plants compared to animals

The paper finds that genetic exchange is more frequent between animal species than plant species at the same level of genetic divergence, suggesting faster establishment of species barriers in plants.

A metabolic perspective on polyploid invasion and the emergence of life histories: insights from a mechanistic model

The paper develops a mechanistic model to explore how metabolic efficiency influences polyploid invasion and coexistence with diploid ancestors in plants.

The duplication of genomes and gene regulatory networks and its potential for evolutionary adaptation and survival

This study shows that duplicated gene regulatory networks increase signal output variation, enabling polyploid populations to better survive environmental upheaval, but may be maladaptive in stable environments.

Whole-genome duplications and the long-term evolution of gene regulatory networks in angiosperms

The paper examines how whole-genome duplications (WGDs) and small-scale duplications (SSD) influence gene regulatory networks (GRNs) in angiosperms by analyzing network motifs and their association with functional categories.

Seagrass genomes reveal a hexaploid ancestry facilitating adaptation to the marine environment

This study presents chromosome-level genome assemblies of seagrass species and identifies ancient and recent genome duplication events linked to adaptation to marine environments.

Ocean currents drive the worldwide colonization of the most widespread marine plant, eelgrass (Zostera marina)

The paper reconstructs the colonization history of eelgrass using genomic data, showing trans-Pacific currents drove its spread and Atlantic populations arrived more recently with lower genetic diversity.

Revisiting Ancient Polyploidy in Leptosporangiate Ferns

The paper reanalyzes ancient whole-genome duplication events in leptosporangiate ferns using phylogenetic methods and substitution rate corrections, identifying four WGDs and highlighting methodological uncertainties.

Standing genetic variation fuels rapid evolution of herbicide resistance in blackgrass

This study investigates the genetic basis of herbicide resistance in blackgrass, finding that target-site resistance primarily arises from standing genetic variation rather than de novo mutations.

A two-type branching process model of gene family evolution

The paper introduces a two-type branching process model to better capture gene family evolution dynamics and applies it to Drosophila, yeasts, and primates data.

The seagrass methylome memorizes heat stress and is associated with variation in stress performance among clonal shoots

This study shows that clonal seagrass shoots have DNA methylation variation linked to photosynthetic performance and heat stress resilience, suggesting epigenetic variation complements genetic diversity in stress adaptation.

Multi-proxy analyses of a mid-15th century Middle Iron Age Bantu-speaker palaeo-faecal specimen elucidates the configuration of the ancestral sub-Saharan African intestinal microbiome

The paper analyzes a mid-15th century Bantu-speaker faecal specimen to understand the ancestral sub-Saharan African intestinal microbiome and its response to dietary and environmental changes.

Model-based detection of whole-genome duplications in a phylogeny

This study develops a Bayesian method to detect ancient whole-genome duplications in phylogenies, overcoming limitations of existing approaches by allowing flexible model assumptions and discovering WGDs without prior hypotheses.

Phages actively challenge niche communities in the Antarctic soils

The paper provides the first evidence of widespread antiphage innate immunity in Antarctic hypolith communities, showing phages actively challenge niche communities through dynamic host-phage interactions.

Whole genome duplication potentiates inter-specific hybridisation and niche shifts in Australian burrowing frogs Neobatrachus

This study investigates polyploidy in Neobatrachus frogs, finding that tetraploids have higher genetic diversity and may avoid climate-induced habitat loss compared to diploids.

Ancient whole genome duplications and the evolution of the gene duplication and loss rate

The paper develops a probabilistic framework for inferring ancient whole genome duplications by accounting for gene tree and reconciliation uncertainty, and applies it to land plants.

Using digital organisms to investigate the effect of whole genome duplication in (artificial) evolution

This study uses digital organisms to simulate the impact of whole genome duplication on evolution under different environmental conditions, finding that duplicated genomes increase adaptive potential during extinction events.

Virus-host coexistence in phytoplankton through the genomic lens

This study shows that virus-host coexistence in phytoplankton is maintained through bet hedging, where susceptible and resistant phenotypes switch, allowing continuous growth of both microalga and virus.

Conservation of a gene cluster reveals novel cercosporin biosynthetic mechanisms and extends production to the genus Colletotrichum

The paper identifies a conserved gene cluster for cercosporin biosynthesis across multiple fungal pathogens, expands its known production to the genus Colletotrichum, and reveals additional genes critical for toxin synthesis.