Arnaud Martin
@evolvwing.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Biology at the George Washington University
Interested in Pattern Formation, Evolutionary Tinkering, Genetics,
#lociofevolution #dnacrobatics #evodevo #lepidoptera
dnacrobatics.com
pubs: https://rb.gy/nfg8p
Interested in Pattern Formation, Evolutionary Tinkering, Genetics,
#lociofevolution #dnacrobatics #evodevo #lepidoptera
dnacrobatics.com
pubs: https://rb.gy/nfg8p
Anticarsia gemmatalis (aka Velvetbean Caterpillar)
#YearOfTheMoth
#YearOfTheMoth
January 26, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Anticarsia gemmatalis (aka Velvetbean Caterpillar)
#YearOfTheMoth
#YearOfTheMoth
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
Remember how I said it is YEAR OF THE MOTH!?
PL Weng put together an awesome list of Moths that you can celebrate each week from February until Moth Week! Think of it as a fun #SciArt Challenge!
Get ready to make this year Mothy!
#moth #teamMoth #YearOfTheMoth
PL Weng put together an awesome list of Moths that you can celebrate each week from February until Moth Week! Think of it as a fun #SciArt Challenge!
Get ready to make this year Mothy!
#moth #teamMoth #YearOfTheMoth
January 17, 2026 at 5:59 AM
Remember how I said it is YEAR OF THE MOTH!?
PL Weng put together an awesome list of Moths that you can celebrate each week from February until Moth Week! Think of it as a fun #SciArt Challenge!
Get ready to make this year Mothy!
#moth #teamMoth #YearOfTheMoth
PL Weng put together an awesome list of Moths that you can celebrate each week from February until Moth Week! Think of it as a fun #SciArt Challenge!
Get ready to make this year Mothy!
#moth #teamMoth #YearOfTheMoth
Incredible work, cell biology of cuticle nanopore formation. Check out the video summary (second post in this thread)
An extensive ER network develops in the olfactory hair cells of Drosophila. Inagaki et al. @riken-bdr.bsky.social report that the transmembrane protein Gore-tex controls a novel ER to the plasma membrane trafficking pathway essential for the cuticular nanopore formation. rupress.org/jcb/article/...
January 20, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Incredible work, cell biology of cuticle nanopore formation. Check out the video summary (second post in this thread)
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
Not A Cat
(Cuterebra buccata, a gorgeous botfly which apparently parasitizes bunnies? So large I thought she was a cicada when I first sighted her, in the last shot!)
🌿🪰
(Cuterebra buccata, a gorgeous botfly which apparently parasitizes bunnies? So large I thought she was a cicada when I first sighted her, in the last shot!)
🌿🪰
March 24, 2024 at 2:49 AM
Not A Cat
(Cuterebra buccata, a gorgeous botfly which apparently parasitizes bunnies? So large I thought she was a cicada when I first sighted her, in the last shot!)
🌿🪰
(Cuterebra buccata, a gorgeous botfly which apparently parasitizes bunnies? So large I thought she was a cicada when I first sighted her, in the last shot!)
🌿🪰
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
New paper out: “allopatric” Drosophila species aren’t so allopatric after all. We show that most currently allopatric species pairs probably overlapped in the past and exchanged genes at levels similar to sympatric pairs. @evolletters.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1093/evle... [1/6]
doi.org/10.1093/evle... [1/6]
Genomic analyses in Drosophila do not support the classic allopatric model of speciation
Abstract. The allopatric model of speciation has dominated our understanding of speciation biology and biogeography since the Modern Synthesis. It is uncon
doi.org
January 15, 2026 at 11:58 AM
New paper out: “allopatric” Drosophila species aren’t so allopatric after all. We show that most currently allopatric species pairs probably overlapped in the past and exchanged genes at levels similar to sympatric pairs. @evolletters.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1093/evle... [1/6]
doi.org/10.1093/evle... [1/6]
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
I started throwing together background research to share with folks who wanted more details on the U.S.-Venezuela-Guyana oil triangle I wrote about in @drilledmedia.bsky.social last week, and then figured I should make it public. Hope it helps! drilled.media/news/venezue...
Showing Our Work: The Real U.S. Oil Payoff in Venezuela, a Timeline
The U.S. invasion of Venezuela was at least partly driven by oil, but not in the ways most people are talking about.
drilled.media
January 15, 2026 at 8:40 PM
I started throwing together background research to share with folks who wanted more details on the U.S.-Venezuela-Guyana oil triangle I wrote about in @drilledmedia.bsky.social last week, and then figured I should make it public. Hope it helps! drilled.media/news/venezue...
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
📣First preprint of the lab📣 Did that really happen?😅
Enteric neurons, aka somatic postmitotic cells, must hold on to their sex identity tight, to deliver a tuned response to signals from the ovary that instruct the animal to engage sex-matched behavioural programmes.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Enteric neurons, aka somatic postmitotic cells, must hold on to their sex identity tight, to deliver a tuned response to signals from the ovary that instruct the animal to engage sex-matched behavioural programmes.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Genetic sex of enteric neurons enables ovarian relaxin to gate maternal gut plasticity
Animals must align intestinal plasticity and feeding with reproductive state, yet the checkpoint that gates these adaptations is unknown. Here we show that an ovary-to-enteric-neuron axis gates the on...
www.biorxiv.org
January 11, 2026 at 3:32 PM
📣First preprint of the lab📣 Did that really happen?😅
Enteric neurons, aka somatic postmitotic cells, must hold on to their sex identity tight, to deliver a tuned response to signals from the ovary that instruct the animal to engage sex-matched behavioural programmes.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Enteric neurons, aka somatic postmitotic cells, must hold on to their sex identity tight, to deliver a tuned response to signals from the ovary that instruct the animal to engage sex-matched behavioural programmes.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
Our follow up paper on Sex: Differential neuronal survival defines a novel axis of sexual dimorphism in the Drosophila brain: Cell Genomics www.cell.com/cell-genomic...
Differential neuronal survival defines a novel axis of sexual dimorphism in the Drosophila brain
Allen et al. leverage a high-resolution single-cell transcriptomic atlas of the adult
Drosophila central brain to map sexual dimorphism. They show that dimorphic neuronal
types correlate with the expr...
www.cell.com
January 12, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Our follow up paper on Sex: Differential neuronal survival defines a novel axis of sexual dimorphism in the Drosophila brain: Cell Genomics www.cell.com/cell-genomic...
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
While our updated paper is fast approaching book-length, the results remain the same: our method (reconcILS) is still highly accurate.
So if you want to reconcile gene trees and species trees--and you might have any ILS at all--this is the best method out there!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
So if you want to reconcile gene trees and species trees--and you might have any ILS at all--this is the best method out there!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
reconcILS: A gene tree-species tree reconciliation algorithm that allows for incomplete lineage sorting
Reconciliation algorithms infer the evolutionary history of individual gene trees given a species tree. Many reconciliation algorithms consider only duplication and loss events (and sometimes horizont...
www.biorxiv.org
January 7, 2026 at 11:22 AM
While our updated paper is fast approaching book-length, the results remain the same: our method (reconcILS) is still highly accurate.
So if you want to reconcile gene trees and species trees--and you might have any ILS at all--this is the best method out there!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
So if you want to reconcile gene trees and species trees--and you might have any ILS at all--this is the best method out there!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
SO EXCITED to be finally talking about some funky preliminary results on the eyes of this funky harvestman at #SICB2026 on Tuesday! Here are a few sneak peak pics :D
January 4, 2026 at 6:02 AM
SO EXCITED to be finally talking about some funky preliminary results on the eyes of this funky harvestman at #SICB2026 on Tuesday! Here are a few sneak peak pics :D
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
Just making sure that 2025 is definitely over
January 1, 2026 at 4:43 AM
Just making sure that 2025 is definitely over
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
Just in time for the New Year we have a new preprint up that focuses on white cells, often used as ornaments in fish.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
December 30, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Just in time for the New Year we have a new preprint up that focuses on white cells, often used as ornaments in fish.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
Not that long ago, in vivo mouse enhancer design was a dream. Today, it's a reality! Using transfer deep learning to design de novo synthetic embryonic enhancers active in the heart, limb, and CNS. Great collab with @alex-stark.bsky.social lab! @ucibiosci.bsky.social @impvienna.bsky.social
December 24, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Not that long ago, in vivo mouse enhancer design was a dream. Today, it's a reality! Using transfer deep learning to design de novo synthetic embryonic enhancers active in the heart, limb, and CNS. Great collab with @alex-stark.bsky.social lab! @ucibiosci.bsky.social @impvienna.bsky.social
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
Live thread of the NSF biology virtual office hour:
🧵
🧵
December 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Live thread of the NSF biology virtual office hour:
🧵
🧵
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
#WntA is a crucial marker of stripe elements early in development for the Nymphalidae butterfly family. @jasminealqassar.bsky.social & co explore if WntA has maintained its role in stripe elements over 95 million years of evolution in the Hesperiidae family of butterflies. doi.org/10.1242/bio....
December 17, 2025 at 8:09 PM
#WntA is a crucial marker of stripe elements early in development for the Nymphalidae butterfly family. @jasminealqassar.bsky.social & co explore if WntA has maintained its role in stripe elements over 95 million years of evolution in the Hesperiidae family of butterflies. doi.org/10.1242/bio....
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
New paper covering what we think is a pretty nice and comprehensive overview over tools suitable for neuroethology in butterflies and moths.
Also, check out the whole special issue if you're an insect neuroethologist.
@neuroethology.org @dzg-neurobiology.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1007/s003...
Also, check out the whole special issue if you're an insect neuroethologist.
@neuroethology.org @dzg-neurobiology.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1007/s003...
Emerging tools to advance neuroethology in butterflies and moths - Journal of Comparative Physiology A
Journal of Comparative Physiology A - Butterflies and moths have played historically important roles in developing our understanding of both ecology and evolutionary biology, and neuroethology. In...
doi.org
December 12, 2025 at 10:04 AM
New paper covering what we think is a pretty nice and comprehensive overview over tools suitable for neuroethology in butterflies and moths.
Also, check out the whole special issue if you're an insect neuroethologist.
@neuroethology.org @dzg-neurobiology.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1007/s003...
Also, check out the whole special issue if you're an insect neuroethologist.
@neuroethology.org @dzg-neurobiology.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1007/s003...
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
Our paper on ancestral conditions of caddisflies (described in the quoted post) is now out!
doi.org/10.3897/zook...
doi.org/10.3897/zook...
December 10, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Our paper on ancestral conditions of caddisflies (described in the quoted post) is now out!
doi.org/10.3897/zook...
doi.org/10.3897/zook...
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
I taught Genetics again this year. We need to include discussion of the problematic history of our field, especially as the claims of eugenics are once again centered in our political discourse. Last year I wrote this piece, explaining my reasoning and approach 🧪 1/n
www.cell.com/trends/genet...
www.cell.com/trends/genet...
December 8, 2025 at 12:37 PM
I taught Genetics again this year. We need to include discussion of the problematic history of our field, especially as the claims of eugenics are once again centered in our political discourse. Last year I wrote this piece, explaining my reasoning and approach 🧪 1/n
www.cell.com/trends/genet...
www.cell.com/trends/genet...
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
Applications are open for @dev-journal.bsky.social 2026 Pathway to Independence (PI) programme, supporting postdocs applying for group leader positions:
Mentoring
Profile raising
Leadership training
Network building
Spread the word...
www.biologists.com/grants/devel...
Mentoring
Profile raising
Leadership training
Network building
Spread the word...
www.biologists.com/grants/devel...
Development's Pathway to Independence Programme
Our grants support and encourage the sharing of knowledge throughout the community by facilitating international collaboration, event attendance and the organisation of scientific meetings, conference...
www.biologists.com
December 3, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Applications are open for @dev-journal.bsky.social 2026 Pathway to Independence (PI) programme, supporting postdocs applying for group leader positions:
Mentoring
Profile raising
Leadership training
Network building
Spread the word...
www.biologists.com/grants/devel...
Mentoring
Profile raising
Leadership training
Network building
Spread the word...
www.biologists.com/grants/devel...
This Gemini-image generated figure looks accurate and cosmetically good...yikes...scary.
Pretty sure this is ripping of the Biorender style, btw.
Pretty sure this is ripping of the Biorender style, btw.
The second was about drawing the EGF pathway. I also asked to create an SVG of the EGF pathway drawing which worked but with much lower quality.
November 30, 2025 at 7:42 PM
This Gemini-image generated figure looks accurate and cosmetically good...yikes...scary.
Pretty sure this is ripping of the Biorender style, btw.
Pretty sure this is ripping of the Biorender style, btw.
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
Here's the lad at the end of a 9-inch journey to a female. He's got wings but he just derpily ambles along the tree bark with the singular mission of finding the Source of those pheromones and then get scraped off as the lass crawls into a crevice for the winter
November 30, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Here's the lad at the end of a 9-inch journey to a female. He's got wings but he just derpily ambles along the tree bark with the singular mission of finding the Source of those pheromones and then get scraped off as the lass crawls into a crevice for the winter
🚨New paper! 🚨
@jasminealqassar.bsky.social led this work on the silk glands of the pantry moth.
These two long tubes inside the caterpillar continuously make a ton of silk
How does this special organ work?
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
@cp-iscience.bsky.social
🧵THREAD🧵
@jasminealqassar.bsky.social led this work on the silk glands of the pantry moth.
These two long tubes inside the caterpillar continuously make a ton of silk
How does this special organ work?
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
@cp-iscience.bsky.social
🧵THREAD🧵
November 16, 2025 at 2:06 AM
🚨New paper! 🚨
@jasminealqassar.bsky.social led this work on the silk glands of the pantry moth.
These two long tubes inside the caterpillar continuously make a ton of silk
How does this special organ work?
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
@cp-iscience.bsky.social
🧵THREAD🧵
@jasminealqassar.bsky.social led this work on the silk glands of the pantry moth.
These two long tubes inside the caterpillar continuously make a ton of silk
How does this special organ work?
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
@cp-iscience.bsky.social
🧵THREAD🧵
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
NEW pub in @science.org 🥳
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
November 13, 2025 at 8:34 PM
NEW pub in @science.org 🥳
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Is it sponges (panels A & B) or comb jellies (C & D) that root the animal tree of life?
For over 15 years, #phylogenomic studies have been divided.
We provide new evidence suggesting that...
🔗: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Arnaud Martin
I am so excited to share new work on a TE insertion that regulates iridescence in swordtails, led by fantastic grad student @nadiahaghani.bsky.social and with help from many coauthors! In a time that has been so difficult to navigate, this & other projects have kept my spirits up: shorturl.at/NE65A
Insertion of an invading retrovirus regulates a novel color trait in swordtail fish
For over a century, evolutionary biologists have been motivated to understand the mechanisms through which organisms adapt to their environments. Coloration and pigmentation are remarkably variable wi...
shorturl.at
November 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
I am so excited to share new work on a TE insertion that regulates iridescence in swordtails, led by fantastic grad student @nadiahaghani.bsky.social and with help from many coauthors! In a time that has been so difficult to navigate, this & other projects have kept my spirits up: shorturl.at/NE65A
It's out, Minos transgenesis in the pantry moth by
@donyaniyaz.bsky.social
@lucalivraghi.bsky.social
High efficient, glowing eye and silk gland markers
peerj.com/articles/202...
@peerj.bsky.social
@donyaniyaz.bsky.social
@lucalivraghi.bsky.social
High efficient, glowing eye and silk gland markers
peerj.com/articles/202...
@peerj.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 2:40 PM
It's out, Minos transgenesis in the pantry moth by
@donyaniyaz.bsky.social
@lucalivraghi.bsky.social
High efficient, glowing eye and silk gland markers
peerj.com/articles/202...
@peerj.bsky.social
@donyaniyaz.bsky.social
@lucalivraghi.bsky.social
High efficient, glowing eye and silk gland markers
peerj.com/articles/202...
@peerj.bsky.social