comparative / phylogenetic analysis

Unveiling the tempo of molecular and morphological evolution across the Tree of Life

This study examines molecular and morphological evolution across 40 clades, finding little support for punctuated equilibria but high among-lineage rate variation in both evolution types.

Slowing down: A macroevolutionary approach to the hypometabolic strategies of amphibians

This study investigates hypometabolic strategies in amphibians, finding that ancestral species likely had these strategies, which may affect their resilience to climate change.

Linguistic evolution minimizes the amount of syntactic hierarchy in grammar

The paper uses phylogenetic modeling to show that languages tend to minimize syntactic hierarchy in grammar, with cultural variation, likely due to learning costs.

Contrasting macroevolutionary patterns in the human N-glycosylation pathway

This study examines the evolutionary origins of glycosylation machinery genes and their targets in humans, revealing ancient and recent evolutionary patterns in the N-glycosylation pathway.

Charge distribution of coating brush drives inter-chromosome attraction

The paper investigates how the charge distribution on Ki-67 affects RNA-mediated inter-chromosome attraction during cell division.

Nuclease-NTPase systems use shared molecular features to controlbacterial anti-phage defense

The paper analyzes 16 nuclease-NTPase systems to identify shared features controlling bacterial anti-phage defense, revealing universal protein complex formation and broad nucleic acid degradation capabilities.

Evolutionary genomics reveals plant-associated origins of acetic acid bacteria in fermented food

This study traces the evolutionary origins of acetic acid bacteria, showing they transitioned from plant-associated lifestyles to fermented foods, not from social insect hosts.

Structural and regulatory determinants of flagellar motility in Rhodobacterales - The archetypal flagellum of Phaeobacter inhibens DSM 17395

This paper identifies essential genes for flagellar motility in Phaeobacter inhibens and shows the CtrA phosphorelay regulates flagellar gene expression and quorum sensing in Rhodobacterales.

Gut Bacteria Encode Reductases that Biotransform Steroid Hormones

Gut bacteria encode 5β-reductase, fused 3β-HSDH/Δ5-4 isomerase and Δ6-3-ketosteroid reductase enzymes acting on steroid hormones; two of these genes are enriched in female gut metagenomes.

The evolutionary path of the epithelial sodium channel delta-subunit in Cetartiodactyla points to a role in sodium sensing

The paper traces the evolutionary changes in the ENaC delta-subunit in cetartiodactyls, suggesting it functions in sodium sensing and became obsolete in marine cetaceans.

Evolutionary dynamics of the vertebrate Wnt gene repertoire

This study analyzes the evolutionary dynamics of Wnt genes across vertebrates, revealing lineage-specific expansions and variations in gene repertoire sizes and evolutionary rates.

Genetic mapping in the red mason bee implicates ANTSR as an ancient sex-determining locus in bees and ants

The paper maps a CSD locus in the red mason bee, identifies ANTSR as the sex-determining gene, and suggests it is an ancient locus in Hymenoptera.

Establishment, conservation, and innovation of dorsal determination mechanisms during the evolution of vertebrate paired appendages

The paper identifies ancestral dorsal-ventral patterning mechanisms in fish fins and shows evolutionary innovations in their regulation.

Ancient climate changes and relaxed selection shape cave colonisation in North American cavefishes

This study investigates the evolutionary history of North American cavefishes, finding three independent cave colonisations linked to ancient climate changes and relaxed selection.

Interplay of genotypic and thermal sex determination shapes climatic distribution in herpetofauna

The paper shows that the climatic distribution of amphibians and reptiles is shaped by the interaction between genotypic and temperature-dependent sex determination systems.

The evolution of separate sexes in waterhemp is associated with surprising chromosomal diversity and complexity

This study investigates the genetic basis of sex determination in waterhemp, revealing complex chromosomal diversity and phenotypic variability associated with the transition to dioecy.

Floral innovation through modifications in stem cell peptide signaling.

The paper investigates how reduced CLAVATA3 peptide signaling contributes to the evolution of capitula in Asteraceae plants and shows its impact on stem cell regulation and flower development.

Specimen-tailored "lived" climate reveals precipitation onset and amount best predict specimen phenology, but only weakly predict estimated reproduction across a clade

The paper uses herbarium specimens to reconstruct climate conditions and assess their impact on phenology and reproduction across a plant clade, finding precipitation onset and amount best predict phenology but weakly predict reproduction.

Genetic parallelism underpins convergent mimicry coloration across Lepidoptera

This study identifies shared genetic mechanisms underlying convergent mimicry coloration in Lepidoptera, showing that non-coding regions near ivory and optix genes are consistently associated with color pattern switches across distantly related species.

Evolution of the non-visual and visual opsin gene repertoire in ray-finned fishes

This study examines the evolution of opsin genes in ray-finned fishes, showing variation in gene numbers, co-evolution of visual and non-visual opsins, and reduced opsin repertoires in dark environments.

Discovery, functionality and global dynamics of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. nexti : a novel starch-degrading subspecies in the infant gut

The paper identifies a novel subspecies of Bifidobacterium longum, BL. nexti, in infant gut microbiomes, showing its association with formula feeding and vertical transmission.

Convergence and horizontal gene transfer drive the evolution of anaerobic methanotrophy in archaea

This study identifies convergent evolution and horizontal gene transfer as key drivers in the evolution of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea using comparative metagenomics of Candidatus Methanovorans.

A Compartmental Model for Simulating the Gut-Brain Axis in Gastric Function Regulation

This paper introduces a compartmental model of the gut-brain axis to simulate gastric function regulation, showing inhibitory and excitatory effects of sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways on digestion.

Seasonal Phenology of Empoasca fabae (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) in Quebec, Canada

This study examines the seasonal phenology of Empoasca fabae in Quebec using degree-day models and CLIMEX ecological niche modeling, finding earlier emergence and higher generational potential in warmer regions.

Bird species with color polymorphism have greater ecological success

The paper examines whether body color polymorphism in birds correlates with ecological success, finding that polymorphic species have larger ranges, lower extinction risk, and more stable populations.

Evolution of thyroglobulin: an integrated view of its origin and complexity from a structural perspective.

This study analyzes the structural and evolutionary origin of thyroglobulin in sea lamprey, revealing conserved domains and proposing an evolutionary model for its complex architecture.

An episodic burst of massive genomic rearrangements and the origin of non-marine annelids

The paper shows that clitellates experienced a burst of genomic rearrangements leading to loss of macrosynteny with marine annelids and new chromosomal interactions.

The evolution of gene regulatory programs controlling gonadal development in primates

This study analyzes gene regulatory programs in primate gonads, finding shared and species-specific regulatory dynamics and candidate genes for sex development disorders.

The complete genome and comparative analysis of a new Tequintavirus: Salmonella phage Tennessee Salten

The paper reports the genome analysis of a new Tequintavirus bacteriophage, Salmonella phage Tennessee Salten, and compares it to its closest relative, identifying unique and divergent genes.

Coordinated evolution of opsin genes in iridescent blue butterfly species diversified within tropical forest habitats

The paper examines opsin gene evolution in Morpho butterflies, finding positive selection and co-evolving amino acids linked to light environment and wing coloration.