Gert Wörheide
@gwoerhe.bsky.social
Professor (Chair) of Paleontology & Geobiology @ LMU Munich.
Evolution, genomics and biomineralization of spineless organisms. 🪸
Coral reef & Stoner/Doom aficionado. 🤘
Views are my own.
www.geobiology.eu
Evolution, genomics and biomineralization of spineless organisms. 🪸
Coral reef & Stoner/Doom aficionado. 🤘
Views are my own.
www.geobiology.eu
Pinned
Gert Wörheide
@gwoerhe.bsky.social
· Sep 9
Genetic parallels in biomineralization of the calcareous sponge Sycon ciliatum and stony corals
Discovery of calcarins in calcareous sponges highlights gene duplication and neofunctionalization as drivers of parallel biomineralization, offering insight into the independent evolution of calcifica...
elifesciences.org
🧪Discovery of calcarins in @elife.bsky.social, a protein family in the sponge Sycon ciliatum, clarifies spicule formation and suggests parallel evolution of carbonate biomineralization in sponges & corals—key for animals as ecosystem engineers of reefs.
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
Reposted by Gert Wörheide
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 Gert Wörheide
Excited to share our work using #aDNA to reconstruct #Symbiodiniaceae dynamics from #coral cores. Led by José Grillo, @jessireichert.bsky.social, @nessatir.bsky.social part of #TaraPacific expedition & supported by #SPP2299 @climatereefs.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1111/gcb....
doi.org/10.1111/gcb....
November 7, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Excited to share our work using #aDNA to reconstruct #Symbiodiniaceae dynamics from #coral cores. Led by José Grillo, @jessireichert.bsky.social, @nessatir.bsky.social part of #TaraPacific expedition & supported by #SPP2299 @climatereefs.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1111/gcb....
doi.org/10.1111/gcb....
Reposted by Gert Wörheide
Out now in Biology Letters, my latest paper tackles an apparently simple question: how many characters are needed to reconstruct a phylogeny? TL;DR: in most cases between 100 and 500, more than a substantial portion of morphological datasets, but the story is more complex... doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
October 15, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Out now in Biology Letters, my latest paper tackles an apparently simple question: how many characters are needed to reconstruct a phylogeny? TL;DR: in most cases between 100 and 500, more than a substantial portion of morphological datasets, but the story is more complex... doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
Reposted by Gert Wörheide
We are happy to share our latest work in @nature.com . We study the genomic and cellular basis of facultative symbiosis in Oculina patagonica - a Mediterranean coral remarkable for its ability to survive long periods without algal symbionts. Led by Shani Levy and @xgrau.bsky.social
rdcu.be/eLbaZ
rdcu.be/eLbaZ
October 15, 2025 at 7:58 PM
We are happy to share our latest work in @nature.com . We study the genomic and cellular basis of facultative symbiosis in Oculina patagonica - a Mediterranean coral remarkable for its ability to survive long periods without algal symbionts. Led by Shani Levy and @xgrau.bsky.social
rdcu.be/eLbaZ
rdcu.be/eLbaZ
🧪Discovery of calcarins in @elife.bsky.social, a protein family in the sponge Sycon ciliatum, clarifies spicule formation and suggests parallel evolution of carbonate biomineralization in sponges & corals—key for animals as ecosystem engineers of reefs.
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
Genetic parallels in biomineralization of the calcareous sponge Sycon ciliatum and stony corals
Discovery of calcarins in calcareous sponges highlights gene duplication and neofunctionalization as drivers of parallel biomineralization, offering insight into the independent evolution of calcifica...
elifesciences.org
September 9, 2025 at 11:07 AM
🧪Discovery of calcarins in @elife.bsky.social, a protein family in the sponge Sycon ciliatum, clarifies spicule formation and suggests parallel evolution of carbonate biomineralization in sponges & corals—key for animals as ecosystem engineers of reefs.
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
🧪 Unravelling sponge evolution: we used Clade-Specific Elements to probe 199 Haplosclerida specimens (22/28 genera, 105 types, 42 holotypes) spanning 200+ years of collections — incl. treasures from the legendary HMS Challenger Expedition.
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
out of @SPP_TaxonOmics
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
out of @SPP_TaxonOmics
Moving Beyond Morphology: Genomic Insights Into Evolutionary Histories of Haplosclerid Sponges
Accurate taxonomic identification is essential for defining species boundaries and understanding biodiversity. However, this remains challenging for groups where morphological character evolution is ...
doi.org
August 29, 2025 at 10:41 AM
🧪 Unravelling sponge evolution: we used Clade-Specific Elements to probe 199 Haplosclerida specimens (22/28 genera, 105 types, 42 holotypes) spanning 200+ years of collections — incl. treasures from the legendary HMS Challenger Expedition.
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
out of @SPP_TaxonOmics
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
out of @SPP_TaxonOmics
We just published our first paper in the Peer Community Journal - diamond open access, no APCs!
Awesome experience, with less than a week from submission after receommendation by #pcigenomics.
Highly recommended!
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
@peercommunityin.bsky.social
Awesome experience, with less than a week from submission after receommendation by #pcigenomics.
Highly recommended!
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
@peercommunityin.bsky.social
Genomic changes are varied across congeneric species pairs of animals
peercommunityjournal.org
May 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM
We just published our first paper in the Peer Community Journal - diamond open access, no APCs!
Awesome experience, with less than a week from submission after receommendation by #pcigenomics.
Highly recommended!
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
@peercommunityin.bsky.social
Awesome experience, with less than a week from submission after receommendation by #pcigenomics.
Highly recommended!
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
@peercommunityin.bsky.social
Reposted by Gert Wörheide
A recommendation of the preprint "Genomic changes are varied across congeneric species pairs of animals" by Warren Francis, Sergio Vargas, and Gert Wörheide: tinyurl.com/y82japny
Genomic changes are varied across congeneric species pairs of animals
Synteny, the shared arrangement of genes on chromosomes between related species, is a marker of shared ancestry, and synteny-breaking events can result in genomic incompatibilities between…
tinyurl.com
May 15, 2025 at 6:00 AM
A recommendation of the preprint "Genomic changes are varied across congeneric species pairs of animals" by Warren Francis, Sergio Vargas, and Gert Wörheide: tinyurl.com/y82japny
New contribution in @elife.bsky.social: Genetic parallels in biomineralization of the calcareous sponge Sycon ciliatum and stony corals doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
Genetic parallels in biomineralization of the calcareous sponge Sycon ciliatum and stony corals
doi.org
May 10, 2025 at 4:07 AM
New contribution in @elife.bsky.social: Genetic parallels in biomineralization of the calcareous sponge Sycon ciliatum and stony corals doi.org/10.7554/eLif...
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
Reposted by Gert Wörheide
Junior faculty job alert in Germany - Marine Evolutionary Genomics @geomarkiel.bsky.social / University of Kiel www.geomar.de/en/karriere/... Marine study system of your choice (no microbes, sorry…), excellent infrastructure and ship access, moderate teaching requirements, closing date 6 June
April 26, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Junior faculty job alert in Germany - Marine Evolutionary Genomics @geomarkiel.bsky.social / University of Kiel www.geomar.de/en/karriere/... Marine study system of your choice (no microbes, sorry…), excellent infrastructure and ship access, moderate teaching requirements, closing date 6 June
New preprint version of
"rRNA depletion for holobiont metatranscriptome profiling across demosponges"
Project lead and pushed through by Sergio
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
"rRNA depletion for holobiont metatranscriptome profiling across demosponges"
Project lead and pushed through by Sergio
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
rRNA depletion for holobiont metatranscriptome profiling across demosponges
Despite the extensive knowledge of sponge microbiome diversity, a critical knowledge gap persists concerning the molecular mechanisms that govern host-symbiont interactions. Deciphering these mechanis...
www.biorxiv.org
March 6, 2025 at 2:55 AM
New preprint version of
"rRNA depletion for holobiont metatranscriptome profiling across demosponges"
Project lead and pushed through by Sergio
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
"rRNA depletion for holobiont metatranscriptome profiling across demosponges"
Project lead and pushed through by Sergio
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
Reposted by Gert Wörheide
in case you are into sponge research and paleobiodiversity, checkout our latest preprint www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Decoding Demosponge Diversity: Bayesian Analysis of Biodiversity, Extinction Events and Environmental Influences throughout the Phanerozoic
Sponges (phylum Porifera) have been essential to marine ecosystems for over 600 million years, contributing to nutrient cycling, reef building, and ecological stability. Despite their evolutionary imp...
www.biorxiv.org
January 28, 2025 at 5:45 AM
in case you are into sponge research and paleobiodiversity, checkout our latest preprint www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
🧪 🧬 New preprint alert:
The largest molecular biodiversity study of sponges to date across the Indo-Pacific (>1900 samples) reveals high levels of regional demosponge endemism.
A long time in the making, w/ many lovely international collaborators 😀
doi.org/10.1101/2024...
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
The largest molecular biodiversity study of sponges to date across the Indo-Pacific (>1900 samples) reveals high levels of regional demosponge endemism.
A long time in the making, w/ many lovely international collaborators 😀
doi.org/10.1101/2024...
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
January 12, 2025 at 4:33 PM
🧪 🧬 New preprint alert:
The largest molecular biodiversity study of sponges to date across the Indo-Pacific (>1900 samples) reveals high levels of regional demosponge endemism.
A long time in the making, w/ many lovely international collaborators 😀
doi.org/10.1101/2024...
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
The largest molecular biodiversity study of sponges to date across the Indo-Pacific (>1900 samples) reveals high levels of regional demosponge endemism.
A long time in the making, w/ many lovely international collaborators 😀
doi.org/10.1101/2024...
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
Revised version of our preprint
«Genomic changes are varied across congeneric species pairs»
published - enjoy 😀
🧪
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
«Genomic changes are varied across congeneric species pairs»
published - enjoy 😀
🧪
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
Genomic changes are varied across congeneric species pairs
Synteny, the shared arrangement of genes on chromosomes between related species, is a marker of shared ancestry, and synteny-breaking events can result in genomic incompatibilities between populations...
www.biorxiv.org
December 27, 2024 at 3:33 PM
Revised version of our preprint
«Genomic changes are varied across congeneric species pairs»
published - enjoy 😀
🧪
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
«Genomic changes are varied across congeneric species pairs»
published - enjoy 😀
🧪
#molpalmuc
@lmumuenchen.bsky.social
the foundation of biodiversity research - natural history collections
#biodiversity
#biodiversity
December 9, 2024 at 8:23 PM
the foundation of biodiversity research - natural history collections
#biodiversity
#biodiversity
Open position in my lab at LMU München – please distribute widely to potential applicants.
Application deadline 30 November 2024.
#molpalmuc
#lmumunich
Application deadline 30 November 2024.
#molpalmuc
#lmumunich
Scientific Assistant (Wissenschaftlicher Assistent/Akademischer Rat auf Zeit) (m/f/x)
job-portal.lmu.de
November 10, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Open position in my lab at LMU München – please distribute widely to potential applicants.
Application deadline 30 November 2024.
#molpalmuc
#lmumunich
Application deadline 30 November 2024.
#molpalmuc
#lmumunich
Genomic changes are varied across congeneric species pairs
biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
great collab with Warren Francis and @sevragorgia.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
great collab with Warren Francis and @sevragorgia.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
Genomic changes are varied across congeneric species pairs
bioRxiv - the preprint server for biology, operated by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, a research and educational institution
biorxiv.org
September 6, 2024 at 3:47 PM
Genomic changes are varied across congeneric species pairs
biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
great collab with Warren Francis and @sevragorgia.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
great collab with Warren Francis and @sevragorgia.bsky.social
#molpalmuc
Reposted by Gert Wörheide
📣 Excited to share our new Editorial led by James Reimer and @reefgenomics.bsky.social!
"The Fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event: Where do we go from here?"
Open access: shorturl.at/BCYU9
@icrs.bsky.social
@daviesswphd.bsky.social
@markeakin.bsky.social
@gwoerhe.bsky.social and many others
🦑🧪
"The Fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event: Where do we go from here?"
Open access: shorturl.at/BCYU9
@icrs.bsky.social
@daviesswphd.bsky.social
@markeakin.bsky.social
@gwoerhe.bsky.social and many others
🦑🧪
May 31, 2024 at 11:17 AM
📣 Excited to share our new Editorial led by James Reimer and @reefgenomics.bsky.social!
"The Fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event: Where do we go from here?"
Open access: shorturl.at/BCYU9
@icrs.bsky.social
@daviesswphd.bsky.social
@markeakin.bsky.social
@gwoerhe.bsky.social and many others
🦑🧪
"The Fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event: Where do we go from here?"
Open access: shorturl.at/BCYU9
@icrs.bsky.social
@daviesswphd.bsky.social
@markeakin.bsky.social
@gwoerhe.bsky.social and many others
🦑🧪
Beauty in the beast – Placozoan biodiversity explored through molluscan predator genomics
new paper
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
associated press release
www.lmu.de/en/newsroom/...
new paper
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
associated press release
www.lmu.de/en/newsroom/...
Beauty in the beast – Placozoan biodiversity explored through molluscan predator genomics
Ecology & Evolution is a broad open access journal welcoming research in ecology, evolution, and conservation science, and providing a forum for evidence-based views.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
April 11, 2024 at 10:58 AM
Beauty in the beast – Placozoan biodiversity explored through molluscan predator genomics
new paper
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
associated press release
www.lmu.de/en/newsroom/...
new paper
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
associated press release
www.lmu.de/en/newsroom/...
Molecular and mineral responses of corals grown under artificial Calcite Sea conditions
New paper out in Geobiology
doi.org/10.1111/gbi....
New paper out in Geobiology
doi.org/10.1111/gbi....
February 14, 2024 at 7:43 PM
Molecular and mineral responses of corals grown under artificial Calcite Sea conditions
New paper out in Geobiology
doi.org/10.1111/gbi....
New paper out in Geobiology
doi.org/10.1111/gbi....
Reposted by Gert Wörheide
Did neurons evolve twice? Our work on the ctenophore syncytial nerve net & the beautiful work from Darrin Schultz, Sebas Najle, Arnau Sebe-Pedros & many others covered in Scientific American.
With comments from Detlev Arendt, Max Telford & Leslie Babonis.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/did-...
With comments from Detlev Arendt, Max Telford & Leslie Babonis.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/did-...
January 5, 2024 at 6:46 PM
Did neurons evolve twice? Our work on the ctenophore syncytial nerve net & the beautiful work from Darrin Schultz, Sebas Najle, Arnau Sebe-Pedros & many others covered in Scientific American.
With comments from Detlev Arendt, Max Telford & Leslie Babonis.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/did-...
With comments from Detlev Arendt, Max Telford & Leslie Babonis.
www.scientificamerican.com/article/did-...
Just out (Open access), comprehensive review on CoTS:
"The crown-of-thorns seastar species complex: knowledge on the biology and ecology of five corallivorous Acanthaster species", great collaboration, spearheaded by Sven Uthicke.
"The crown-of-thorns seastar species complex: knowledge on the biology and ecology of five corallivorous Acanthaster species", great collaboration, spearheaded by Sven Uthicke.
The crown-of-thorns seastar species complex: knowledge on the biology and ecology of five corallivor...
Coral-eating crown-of-thorns seastars (CoTS, Acanthaster spp.) are major contributors to the coral reef crises across the Indo-Pacific region. Until recently, CoTS throughout the Indo-Pacific were reg...
link.springer.com
December 14, 2023 at 11:12 AM
Just out (Open access), comprehensive review on CoTS:
"The crown-of-thorns seastar species complex: knowledge on the biology and ecology of five corallivorous Acanthaster species", great collaboration, spearheaded by Sven Uthicke.
"The crown-of-thorns seastar species complex: knowledge on the biology and ecology of five corallivorous Acanthaster species", great collaboration, spearheaded by Sven Uthicke.