Evan Irving-Pease
@evanirvingpease.bsky.social
PI at the Big Data Institute, University of Oxford
Royal Society University Research Fellow
aDNA | Complex Traits | Selection | Disease | Domestication
🇦🇺🇬🇧💀🧬🦠🐕
Royal Society University Research Fellow
aDNA | Complex Traits | Selection | Disease | Domestication
🇦🇺🇬🇧💀🧬🦠🐕
Pinned
Delighted to see our paper characterising the inbreeding history of dogs and wolves over the past 10,000 years published this week in @pnas.org. Work led by the excellent @katiabou.bsky.social, and co-supervised by me, Laurent Frantz and Fernando Racimo www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
A PNAS Special Feature exclusively about dogs? Woof!
Here are 3 of the 8 that we were involved with. Congrats to @lachiescarsbrook.bsky.social & @undeaddandy.bsky.social
Dingoes!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
German Shepherds!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Imputation!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Here are 3 of the 8 that we were involved with. Congrats to @lachiescarsbrook.bsky.social & @undeaddandy.bsky.social
Dingoes!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
German Shepherds!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Imputation!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Imputation of ancient canid genomes reveals inbreeding history over the past 10,000 years | PNAS
The multi-millennia-long history between dogs and humans has placed them at the forefront
of archaeological and genomic research. Despite ongoing e...
www.pnas.org
November 25, 2025 at 12:41 PM
A PNAS Special Feature exclusively about dogs? Woof!
Here are 3 of the 8 that we were involved with. Congrats to @lachiescarsbrook.bsky.social & @undeaddandy.bsky.social
Dingoes!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
German Shepherds!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Imputation!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Here are 3 of the 8 that we were involved with. Congrats to @lachiescarsbrook.bsky.social & @undeaddandy.bsky.social
Dingoes!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
German Shepherds!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Imputation!
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
🚨 PNAS Special Feature 2 🐕
We used ancient DNA and dietary isotopes to show that landscape modification and the introduction of European dogs impacted dingo populations across Australia.
🔗 Full paper here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
We used ancient DNA and dietary isotopes to show that landscape modification and the introduction of European dogs impacted dingo populations across Australia.
🔗 Full paper here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
November 24, 2025 at 9:22 PM
🚨 PNAS Special Feature 2 🐕
We used ancient DNA and dietary isotopes to show that landscape modification and the introduction of European dogs impacted dingo populations across Australia.
🔗 Full paper here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
We used ancient DNA and dietary isotopes to show that landscape modification and the introduction of European dogs impacted dingo populations across Australia.
🔗 Full paper here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
🚨 PNAS Special Feature 🐕
We analysed genomes of historical German Shepherds to reveal how bottlenecks linked to WWII and the use of popular sires led to significant declines in genomic health. We also found an early 20th century wolf-dog hybrid!
🔗 Full paper here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
We analysed genomes of historical German Shepherds to reveal how bottlenecks linked to WWII and the use of popular sires led to significant declines in genomic health. We also found an early 20th century wolf-dog hybrid!
🔗 Full paper here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
November 24, 2025 at 9:10 PM
🚨 PNAS Special Feature 🐕
We analysed genomes of historical German Shepherds to reveal how bottlenecks linked to WWII and the use of popular sires led to significant declines in genomic health. We also found an early 20th century wolf-dog hybrid!
🔗 Full paper here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
We analysed genomes of historical German Shepherds to reveal how bottlenecks linked to WWII and the use of popular sires led to significant declines in genomic health. We also found an early 20th century wolf-dog hybrid!
🔗 Full paper here: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
Our paper is out! Although wolves and dogs can interbreed and produce fertile offspring, hybridization between the two is rare. We found that most dogs today have low but detectable levels of post-domestication wolf ancestry that has shaped their evolution in human environments. tinyurl.com/yt4x4r7n
A legacy of genetic entanglement with wolves shapes modern dogs | PNAS
Dogs evolved through interactions between people and gray wolves during the Late Pleistocene
and have been ubiquitous in human societies ever since...
www.pnas.org
November 25, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Our paper is out! Although wolves and dogs can interbreed and produce fertile offspring, hybridization between the two is rare. We found that most dogs today have low but detectable levels of post-domestication wolf ancestry that has shaped their evolution in human environments. tinyurl.com/yt4x4r7n
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
The invention of agriculture (around 9,000 years ago) spurred the rise of early states? NO. Our research www.nature.com/articles/s41... (with @drqueue.bsky.social) in @nathumbehav.nature.com supports an alternative theory that States almost invariably formed in societies that grew cereal grains.
State formation across cultures and the role of grain, intensive agriculture, taxation and writing - Nature Human Behaviour
Opie and Atkinson conduct a global phylogenetic analysis of 868 cultures and find evidence indicating that cereal grain cultivation, not agricultural surplus, drove state formation. Their findings als...
www.nature.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:11 AM
The invention of agriculture (around 9,000 years ago) spurred the rise of early states? NO. Our research www.nature.com/articles/s41... (with @drqueue.bsky.social) in @nathumbehav.nature.com supports an alternative theory that States almost invariably formed in societies that grew cereal grains.
Very thankful to the @royalsociety.org for the opportunity to start my own research group at the Big Data Institute, @ndm.ox.ac.uk, as a Royal Society University Research Fellow! royalsociety.org/news/2025/11...
Exceptional researchers awarded early career fellowships worth more than £83 million | Royal Society
A new cohort of exceptional researchers at have been awarded funding through the Royal Society’s early career schemes, the University Research Fellowship (URF), Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship (DHF) and Ne...
royalsociety.org
November 25, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Very thankful to the @royalsociety.org for the opportunity to start my own research group at the Big Data Institute, @ndm.ox.ac.uk, as a Royal Society University Research Fellow! royalsociety.org/news/2025/11...
Delighted to see our paper characterising the inbreeding history of dogs and wolves over the past 10,000 years published this week in @pnas.org. Work led by the excellent @katiabou.bsky.social, and co-supervised by me, Laurent Frantz and Fernando Racimo www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
November 25, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Delighted to see our paper characterising the inbreeding history of dogs and wolves over the past 10,000 years published this week in @pnas.org. Work led by the excellent @katiabou.bsky.social, and co-supervised by me, Laurent Frantz and Fernando Racimo www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
We are recruiting!
If you like evolutionary biology, microbial genomics, and host-pathogen interactions we have a PhD opening at @ugiatucl.bsky.social using population-scale metagenomics to map global phage diversity and uncover evolutionary signatures that could point to new antimicrobials.
If you like evolutionary biology, microbial genomics, and host-pathogen interactions we have a PhD opening at @ugiatucl.bsky.social using population-scale metagenomics to map global phage diversity and uncover evolutionary signatures that could point to new antimicrobials.
November 24, 2025 at 10:50 AM
We are recruiting!
If you like evolutionary biology, microbial genomics, and host-pathogen interactions we have a PhD opening at @ugiatucl.bsky.social using population-scale metagenomics to map global phage diversity and uncover evolutionary signatures that could point to new antimicrobials.
If you like evolutionary biology, microbial genomics, and host-pathogen interactions we have a PhD opening at @ugiatucl.bsky.social using population-scale metagenomics to map global phage diversity and uncover evolutionary signatures that could point to new antimicrobials.
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
⏰ The clock is ticking❗
LESS THAN 10 DAYS LEFT to submit your abstracts (30th Nov).
Do it here👉 icp2026.palaeogenomics.org/abstracts/
Many of you are asking for the registration fees 💸. We are still working out the details, but we estimate 400-500€ for regular attendees and 300-400€ for students.
LESS THAN 10 DAYS LEFT to submit your abstracts (30th Nov).
Do it here👉 icp2026.palaeogenomics.org/abstracts/
Many of you are asking for the registration fees 💸. We are still working out the details, but we estimate 400-500€ for regular attendees and 300-400€ for students.
Abstracts – International Conference on Palaeogenomics 2026
icp2026.palaeogenomics.org
November 21, 2025 at 11:39 AM
⏰ The clock is ticking❗
LESS THAN 10 DAYS LEFT to submit your abstracts (30th Nov).
Do it here👉 icp2026.palaeogenomics.org/abstracts/
Many of you are asking for the registration fees 💸. We are still working out the details, but we estimate 400-500€ for regular attendees and 300-400€ for students.
LESS THAN 10 DAYS LEFT to submit your abstracts (30th Nov).
Do it here👉 icp2026.palaeogenomics.org/abstracts/
Many of you are asking for the registration fees 💸. We are still working out the details, but we estimate 400-500€ for regular attendees and 300-400€ for students.
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
I wrote a little bit about the "missing heritability" question and several recent studies that have brought it to a close. A short 🧵
The missing heritability question is now (mostly) answered
Not with a bang but with a whimper
theinfinitesimal.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I wrote a little bit about the "missing heritability" question and several recent studies that have brought it to a close. A short 🧵
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
The 2026 EMBL symposium 'Reconstructing the human past using ancient and modern genomics' is live with a fantastic invited speaker lineup!
Abstract deadline 9 June. If work is ongoing, plan for Heidelberg in September😉.
Organised by Maanasa Raghavan, @matejahajdi.bsky.social, Choongwon Jeong & me.
Abstract deadline 9 June. If work is ongoing, plan for Heidelberg in September😉.
Organised by Maanasa Raghavan, @matejahajdi.bsky.social, Choongwon Jeong & me.
November 19, 2025 at 1:41 PM
The 2026 EMBL symposium 'Reconstructing the human past using ancient and modern genomics' is live with a fantastic invited speaker lineup!
Abstract deadline 9 June. If work is ongoing, plan for Heidelberg in September😉.
Organised by Maanasa Raghavan, @matejahajdi.bsky.social, Choongwon Jeong & me.
Abstract deadline 9 June. If work is ongoing, plan for Heidelberg in September😉.
Organised by Maanasa Raghavan, @matejahajdi.bsky.social, Choongwon Jeong & me.
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
Thrilled to finally share the magnum opus of my PhD that focuses on the genetic basis of evolutionary change! Specifically, we know we can map the genetic basis of a trait, but can we tell which genes will underlie the trait shift when it evolves? doi.org/10.1101/2025...
High-resolution mapping of a rapidly evolving complex trait reveals genotype-phenotype stability and an unpredictable genetic architecture of adaptation
The extent to which adaptation can be predicted, particularly for traits with complex genetic bases, is unknown. Here, we leveraged a model complex trait, model species, and high-powered longitudinal ...
doi.org
November 18, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Thrilled to finally share the magnum opus of my PhD that focuses on the genetic basis of evolutionary change! Specifically, we know we can map the genetic basis of a trait, but can we tell which genes will underlie the trait shift when it evolves? doi.org/10.1101/2025...
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
🚨 New paper alert 🚨
Our research, published today in Science, reveals remarkable concordance between human and dog genomes through time, highlighting how deeply intertwined our evolutionary histories have been over the past 11,000 years.
🔗 Read the full paper here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Our research, published today in Science, reveals remarkable concordance between human and dog genomes through time, highlighting how deeply intertwined our evolutionary histories have been over the past 11,000 years.
🔗 Read the full paper here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Genomic evidence for the Holocene codispersal of dogs and humans across Eastern Eurasia
As the first domestic species, dogs likely dispersed with different cultural groups during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed 73 ancient dog genomes, including 17 ...
www.science.org
November 13, 2025 at 10:48 PM
🚨 New paper alert 🚨
Our research, published today in Science, reveals remarkable concordance between human and dog genomes through time, highlighting how deeply intertwined our evolutionary histories have been over the past 11,000 years.
🔗 Read the full paper here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Our research, published today in Science, reveals remarkable concordance between human and dog genomes through time, highlighting how deeply intertwined our evolutionary histories have been over the past 11,000 years.
🔗 Read the full paper here: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
In the immortal words of Sir Mix-a-Lot: "And ugh, double-up, ugh, ugh".
2 doggy papers are so much better than 1. Both studies a testament to slow science & international collaboration between brilliant people. What it's all about.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
2 doggy papers are so much better than 1. Both studies a testament to slow science & international collaboration between brilliant people. What it's all about.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The emergence and diversification of dog morphology
Dogs exhibit an exceptional range of morphological diversity as a result of their long-term association with humans. Attempts to identify when dog morphological variation began to expand have been con...
www.science.org
November 13, 2025 at 7:30 PM
In the immortal words of Sir Mix-a-Lot: "And ugh, double-up, ugh, ugh".
2 doggy papers are so much better than 1. Both studies a testament to slow science & international collaboration between brilliant people. What it's all about.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
2 doggy papers are so much better than 1. Both studies a testament to slow science & international collaboration between brilliant people. What it's all about.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
First time on Bsky and first big announcement!
I am excited to announce that our new study explaining the missing heritability of many phenotypes using WGS data from ~347,000 UK Biobank participants has just been published in @Nature.
Our manuscript is here: www.nature.com/articles/s41....
I am excited to announce that our new study explaining the missing heritability of many phenotypes using WGS data from ~347,000 UK Biobank participants has just been published in @Nature.
Our manuscript is here: www.nature.com/articles/s41....
Estimation and mapping of the missing heritability of human phenotypes - Nature
WGS data were used from 347,630 individuals with European ancestry in the UK Biobank to obtain high-precision estimates of coding and non-coding rare variant heritability for 34 co...
www.nature.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:57 PM
First time on Bsky and first big announcement!
I am excited to announce that our new study explaining the missing heritability of many phenotypes using WGS data from ~347,000 UK Biobank participants has just been published in @Nature.
Our manuscript is here: www.nature.com/articles/s41....
I am excited to announce that our new study explaining the missing heritability of many phenotypes using WGS data from ~347,000 UK Biobank participants has just been published in @Nature.
Our manuscript is here: www.nature.com/articles/s41....
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
Excited to share our latest work on the factors that determine what genes we find (and don't find!) in GWAS and burden tests.
We describe a critical concept that we call *specificity*.
Led by Jeff Spence and Hakhamanesh Mostafavi:
We describe a critical concept that we call *specificity*.
Led by Jeff Spence and Hakhamanesh Mostafavi:
How do GWAS and rare variant burden tests rank gene signals?
In new work @nature.com with @hakha.bsky.social, @jkpritch.bsky.social, and our wonderful coauthors we find that the key factors are what we call Specificity, Length, and Luck!
🧬🧪🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
In new work @nature.com with @hakha.bsky.social, @jkpritch.bsky.social, and our wonderful coauthors we find that the key factors are what we call Specificity, Length, and Luck!
🧬🧪🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Specificity, length and luck drive gene rankings in association studies - Nature
Genetic association tests prioritize candidate genes based on different criteria.
www.nature.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Excited to share our latest work on the factors that determine what genes we find (and don't find!) in GWAS and burden tests.
We describe a critical concept that we call *specificity*.
Led by Jeff Spence and Hakhamanesh Mostafavi:
We describe a critical concept that we call *specificity*.
Led by Jeff Spence and Hakhamanesh Mostafavi:
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
My first preprint of my PhD! Thanks to @ekerdoncuff.bsky.social and @moorjanipriya.bsky.social for their guidance and mentorship in this project!
Revisiting the Evolution of Lactase Persistence: Insights from South Asian Genomes https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.11.05.686799v1
November 7, 2025 at 12:28 AM
My first preprint of my PhD! Thanks to @ekerdoncuff.bsky.social and @moorjanipriya.bsky.social for their guidance and mentorship in this project!
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
Paul Nurse describing the main job of a PI
(From ‘The Thinking Game’, 2024)
(From ‘The Thinking Game’, 2024)
October 31, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Paul Nurse describing the main job of a PI
(From ‘The Thinking Game’, 2024)
(From ‘The Thinking Game’, 2024)
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
I want to comment on a piece of research that came to my attention yesterday that I think is a reflection of endemic problems in our field. The study was published in a top-tier journal and was covered by the national press. It had a very large sample (N>30,000) and several yearly time points.
October 30, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I want to comment on a piece of research that came to my attention yesterday that I think is a reflection of endemic problems in our field. The study was published in a top-tier journal and was covered by the national press. It had a very large sample (N>30,000) and several yearly time points.
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
Are you obsessed with archaeological or historical questions and easily get into coding?
Or a computational scientist that want to understand biology and disease evolution, and curious about the ancient past?
If you have these or other burning questions that fits into our programme, apply below!
Or a computational scientist that want to understand biology and disease evolution, and curious about the ancient past?
If you have these or other burning questions that fits into our programme, apply below!
PhD-opening in our ancient genomics lab this year, apply below!
We work on:
📜 Genetic history integrated with archaeology and history
📈 Natural selection and trait genetics
🐺 Evolutionary genomics of dogs and wolves
🦠 Ancient pathogen genomics
💀 Hominin evolution and ancient proteomics
We work on:
📜 Genetic history integrated with archaeology and history
📈 Natural selection and trait genetics
🐺 Evolutionary genomics of dogs and wolves
🦠 Ancient pathogen genomics
💀 Hominin evolution and ancient proteomics
Motivated graduates with backgrounds in biological or biomedical sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering and/or computer science are invited to apply to our 4-year fully funded PhD programme.
Apply by 05 November 2025
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-...
Apply by 05 November 2025
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-...
October 27, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Are you obsessed with archaeological or historical questions and easily get into coding?
Or a computational scientist that want to understand biology and disease evolution, and curious about the ancient past?
If you have these or other burning questions that fits into our programme, apply below!
Or a computational scientist that want to understand biology and disease evolution, and curious about the ancient past?
If you have these or other burning questions that fits into our programme, apply below!
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
One week left to apply!
I have funding for a 2-year dry-lab postdoc to join our team @humanevouu.bsky.social 🧪 (Deadline Oct 21st)
The project will utilize modern and #aDNA data from humans and sheep to study environmental adaptation (including method development and simulations).
Please share!
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...
The project will utilize modern and #aDNA data from humans and sheep to study environmental adaptation (including method development and simulations).
Please share!
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...
Postdoctoral position in Population Genomics - Uppsala University
Postdoctoral position in Population Genomics, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University
www.uu.se
October 14, 2025 at 2:53 PM
One week left to apply!
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
Very happy to see our pre-print on ancient Irish goat genetics on bioRxiv #aDNA #spiergorm
I want to acknowledge this was only possible through the work of the late Dr. Judith Findlater, along with Prof. Eileen Murphy at @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social.
I want to acknowledge this was only possible through the work of the late Dr. Judith Findlater, along with Prof. Eileen Murphy at @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social.
Old Goats: 3,000 years of genetic connectivity of the domestic goat in Ireland
The domestic goat likely first arrived to the island of Ireland as part of the introduction of agriculture approximately 5,900 years ago, and remains a part of the island's biocultural heritage. Howev...
www.biorxiv.org
September 28, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Very happy to see our pre-print on ancient Irish goat genetics on bioRxiv #aDNA #spiergorm
I want to acknowledge this was only possible through the work of the late Dr. Judith Findlater, along with Prof. Eileen Murphy at @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social.
I want to acknowledge this was only possible through the work of the late Dr. Judith Findlater, along with Prof. Eileen Murphy at @qubelfastofficial.bsky.social.
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
What's that? The story of East Asian pig domestication as told through ancient DNA? Yes please! Congrats to everyone on such a fantastic and overdue story! Pigs are so great.
doi.org/10.1093/molb...
doi.org/10.1093/molb...
Ancient Genomics Reveals the Origin, Dispersal, and Human Management of East Asian Domestic Pigs
Abstract. Pigs are the most commercially important modern livestock animal in East Asia. Numerous aspects of their domestication history remain unclear, ho
doi.org
September 26, 2025 at 11:30 AM
What's that? The story of East Asian pig domestication as told through ancient DNA? Yes please! Congrats to everyone on such a fantastic and overdue story! Pigs are so great.
doi.org/10.1093/molb...
doi.org/10.1093/molb...
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
Application deadline in less than a week! Apply to join the Uppsala Human Evolution team!
We are recruiting an associate professor (senior lecturer) at our program in Human #Paleogenomics and #PopulationGenetics. Come and join the Uppsala team! Please see the ad for more information. Application deadline: Sept 30st.
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...
Associate Professor in Human Paleo- and Population Genomics - Uppsala University
Associate Professor in Human Paleo- and Population Genomics, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Faculty of Biology, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University
www.uu.se
September 24, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Application deadline in less than a week! Apply to join the Uppsala Human Evolution team!
Reposted by Evan Irving-Pease
I have funding for a 2-year dry-lab postdoc to join our team @humanevouu.bsky.social 🧪 (Deadline Oct 21st)
The project will utilize modern and #aDNA data from humans and sheep to study environmental adaptation (including method development and simulations).
Please share!
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...
The project will utilize modern and #aDNA data from humans and sheep to study environmental adaptation (including method development and simulations).
Please share!
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...
Postdoctoral position in Population Genomics - Uppsala University
Postdoctoral position in Population Genomics, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University
www.uu.se
September 17, 2025 at 9:15 AM
I have funding for a 2-year dry-lab postdoc to join our team @humanevouu.bsky.social 🧪 (Deadline Oct 21st)
The project will utilize modern and #aDNA data from humans and sheep to study environmental adaptation (including method development and simulations).
Please share!
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...
The project will utilize modern and #aDNA data from humans and sheep to study environmental adaptation (including method development and simulations).
Please share!
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...