BOL: Related items

Eugene V. Koonin Lab

Tue, 09 Jan 2018 05:01:15 -0600

Interested in understanding the evolution of life. To obtain glimpses of such understanding, we employ existing and new methods of computational biology to perform research in several major areas.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/research/groups/koonin/

Edanchin Lab

Thu, 19 Nov 2020 08:00:07 -0600

My main topics of interest are:

The impact of non tree-like evolution such as horizontal gene transfers and hybridization on species biology
Evolution and adaptation of animals in the absence of sexual reproduction and the underlying mechanisms
Genomic signatures of adaptation to a parasitic life-style

More at https://edanchin.org/

PostDoc in Germany @ EvolutionaryTheory

Mon, 03 Aug 2026 06:50:26 -0500

We are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join the group of Jonathan Henshaw at the University of Freiburg in Germany (https://www.henshaw-lab.com/). We are a primarily theoretical lab working on a broad set of topics in evolutionary biology, with a particular focus on the evolution of animal behaviour. We develop both individual-based simulations and mathematical models (e.g., using evolutionary game theory, adaptive dynamics and quantitative genetics). We put a strong emphasis on a supportive and inclusive working environment. As a postdoc in our lab, you would have considerable freedom to shape the direction of your projects within these broad areas of interest.

More at https://evoldir.net/brian/evoldir/PostDocs//UniFreiburg_Germany.EvolutionaryTheory

Rotifers Lab

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 23:23:14 -0600

For scientists in the MBL’s Gribble Lab, the rotifer (Brachionus manjavacas) is used as a model organism to study evolution, stress responses, the biology of aging, and maternal effects. Rotifers are small, easy to grow in the lab, have a short lifespan, and share many of their genes with humans. That makes them ideal specimens in which to address questions relevant to human health as well as understand basic biological and evolutionary processes. Brachionus rotifers produces eggs that can be completely dried and frozen for decades, then hatch within a day when exposed to water and light.

https://www.mbl.edu/research/research-organisms/rotifer
https://gribblebiolab.org/

Rennison Lab !

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 15:10:32 -0500

Welcome to the Rennison lab in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of California San Diego. We are a group interested in the evolution and maintenance of biodiversity. We study the processes related to biodiversity using methods from the fields of evolution, ecology, population genomics, and theory.

More at https://rennisonlab.com/

SOWDHAMINI Lab

Sun, 15 Sep 2013 09:19:12 -0500

Genome sequencing projects have enormous potential for benefiting human endeavors. However, just as acquiring a language's vocabulary does not enable one to speak it, databases that list the amino acid composition of proteins do not directly tell us much about these proteins' higher-level structure and function. The most productive way to indirectly exploit these databases has been to start with the small number of proteins that are fully-characterised and to assume that other "similar" proteins will have a related structure and function. Proteins with very similar amino acid sequence are "no-brainers", but the real test, which our group largely focuses on, is to detect the "essential" similarity in proteins whose non-critical sections have experienced random rearrangements during evolution. In such cases functionally similar proteins may have less than 25% sequence overlap.

More @ http://www.ncbs.res.in/sowdhamini/groups_sowdhamini.htm

Sidow Lab

Fri, 07 Dec 2018 09:06:30 -0600

We study mechanisms of cancer evolution by using state-of-the-art genomic approaches at the bench and in analysis. Accurate genome reconstruction is our other major area of interest. We also collaborate on important questions for which our expertise in genomics and computation is relevant. Arend's biosketch highlights some of our past contributions.

http://www.sidowlab.org/

Coronavirus Resources !

Neel — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 17:11:33 -0500

2019nCoVR features comprehensive integration of genomic and proteomic sequences as well as their metadata information from the GISAID, NCBI, NMDC and CNCB/NGDC. It also incorporates a wide range of relevant information including scientific literatures, news, and popular articles for science dissemination, and provides visualization functionalities for genome variation analysis results based on all collected 2019-nCoV strains.

Annotation

https://bigd.big.ac.cn/ncov/variation/annotation

Genome wharehouse

https://bigd.big.ac.cn/gwh/browse/index

Released Genome

https://bigd.big.ac.cn/ncov/release_genome

Download data

ftp://download.big.ac.cn/Genome/Viruses/Coronaviridae/

Raw data

https://bigd.big.ac.cn/gsa/browse/run/?tag=Coronaviridae

Address of the bookmark: https://bigd.big.ac.cn/ncov/about

"IdeasLab"* workshop !

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 06:13:48 -0600

A new, grant-funded opportunity seeks early career researchers interested
in life's origins: https://templetonideaslab.umbc.edu/

Applications are invited to an all-expenses paid position at a 5-day
"IdeasLab"* workshop to be held near Prague CZ in June 2022. Thirty
successful applicants will be drawn in equal number from the relevant
sectors biological evolution, A-Life anbd theoretical physics. The week's
activities will lead these thirty to form interdisciplinary teams which
each propose how they can advance frontiers of abiogenesis research. Up to
$5 million total funding will be available for developing these ideas
produced by the week's activities. Further details of the event,
including the online application form, are found at the link posted above

Genetic basis of tail-loss evolution

LEGE — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:12:36 -0600

The paper "On the genetic basis of tail-loss evolution in humans and apes (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07095-8)", published in Nature, investigates the genetic mechanisms that led to the loss of tails in humans and apes. The study suggests that a specific genetic mutation, involving the insertion of an Alu element (a type of transposable DNA sequence), played a critical role in the evolutionary transition from tailed primates to tailless hominoids.

Key Findings of the Study:

Alu Insertion and Tail Loss:
The researchers discovered an Alu-mediated genetic change in a common ancestor of modern apes and humans. This change disrupted the normal function of a gene involved in tail development, leading to the suppression of tail formation.
Gene Disruption Mechanism:
The Alu insertion was found within a regulatory region of the TBXT gene (also known as T or Brachyury), which is crucial for tail development in vertebrates. This insertion likely altered the gene's expression patterns, leading to tail reduction over evolutionary time.
Functional Evidence from Model Organisms:
To test their hypothesis, the researchers introduced similar genetic modifications in mice. The modified mice exhibited shortened or absent tails, supporting the idea that the identified mutation played a role in tail loss in hominoids.
Evolutionary Implications:
The findings suggest that small, random genomic changes—such as transposable element insertions—can have profound effects on body morphology. This study provides evidence that mobile DNA elements (like Alu) can drive major evolutionary transitions.
Relevance to Human Evolution:
Understanding the genetic basis of tail loss helps in reconstructing the evolutionary history of hominins (the lineage that includes humans and our extinct relatives). It also sheds light on how genetic variations contribute to anatomical diversity among primates.

Significance of the Study:

This research highlights the role of transposable elements in shaping evolutionary traits and provides a concrete genetic explanation for a defining characteristic of humans and great apes. It also demonstrates how mutations in regulatory regions of developmental genes can lead to significant anatomical changes.