Nathan Clark
@nclark.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at University of Pittsburgh.
Adaptive and Convergent Evolution in response to extreme environments. Phylogenetics. Diving mammals. Subterranean life. Visual adaptations.
http://nclarklab.org
Adaptive and Convergent Evolution in response to extreme environments. Phylogenetics. Diving mammals. Subterranean life. Visual adaptations.
http://nclarklab.org
Reposted by Nathan Clark
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
“A lot of Americans are tired of being pitted against their neighbors and hunger to be brought together for a common purpose; they want common-sense solutions and to preserve our most cherished public institutions,” our columnist Thomas Friedman writes.
“A lot of Americans are tired of being pitted against their neighbors and hunger to be brought together for a common purpose; they want common-sense solutions and to preserve our most cherished public institutions,” our columnist Thomas Friedman writes.
Opinion | How a Conservative Texas District Rejected the Politics of Division
Many Americans are growing both exhausted and frightened by Trump’s scorched-earth, hyperpartisan, fire-ready-aim approach to the presidency.
nyti.ms
February 3, 2026 at 1:20 AM
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
“A lot of Americans are tired of being pitted against their neighbors and hunger to be brought together for a common purpose; they want common-sense solutions and to preserve our most cherished public institutions,” our columnist Thomas Friedman writes.
“A lot of Americans are tired of being pitted against their neighbors and hunger to be brought together for a common purpose; they want common-sense solutions and to preserve our most cherished public institutions,” our columnist Thomas Friedman writes.
Evolutionary Rate Covariation (ERC) analysis finds new Plasmodium protein involved in red blood cell invasion.
An online resource and study with @helenahopson.bsky.social and @ellenleffler.bsky.social Paul Sigala and Jordan Little
An online resource and study with @helenahopson.bsky.social and @ellenleffler.bsky.social Paul Sigala and Jordan Little
www.biorxiv.org
February 2, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Evolutionary Rate Covariation (ERC) analysis finds new Plasmodium protein involved in red blood cell invasion.
An online resource and study with @helenahopson.bsky.social and @ellenleffler.bsky.social Paul Sigala and Jordan Little
An online resource and study with @helenahopson.bsky.social and @ellenleffler.bsky.social Paul Sigala and Jordan Little
Testing for positive selection *specific* to a set of foreground branches. A purpose-made method with Sergei Pond, @averyselberg.bsky.social, and Maria Chikina.
BUSTED-PH: Isolating the genomic signatures of convergent phenotypes https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.29.702612v1
February 2, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Testing for positive selection *specific* to a set of foreground branches. A purpose-made method with Sergei Pond, @averyselberg.bsky.social, and Maria Chikina.
Such a cool study!
🚨NEW PAPER 🚨 #Caecilians maintain a functional long-wavelength-sensitive cone opsin gene despite signatures of relaxed selection and more than 200 million years of fossoriality, published in Evolution @sse-evolution.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/evolut/artic...
academic.oup.com/evolut/artic...
Caecilians maintain a functional long-wavelength-sensitive cone opsin gene despite signatures of relaxed selection and more than 200 million years of fossoriality
The colonization of low-light environments exerts selective pressure to enhance non-visual senses while relaxing selection on vision, often leading to opsi
academic.oup.com
January 26, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Such a cool study!
Reposted by Nathan Clark
Sigh. The #ColossalBio #DeExtinction #DisInformation campaign appears to be kicking into gear again — so too shall my truth telling. It’s a scam. 🧪 🐺 🦣
substack.com/@devoevomed/...
substack.com/@devoevomed/...
The Extinction of Truth
Or, a Colossal Pile of Bullshit
substack.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Sigh. The #ColossalBio #DeExtinction #DisInformation campaign appears to be kicking into gear again — so too shall my truth telling. It’s a scam. 🧪 🐺 🦣
substack.com/@devoevomed/...
substack.com/@devoevomed/...
Please find attached the annual progress report for our federal grant.
December 24, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Please find attached the annual progress report for our federal grant.
Wow A good explanation!
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 22, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Wow A good explanation!
Reposted by Nathan Clark
I’ve released a tool to sketch and edit phylogenetic trees!
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
PhyloWeaver – Interactive phylogenetic tree editor
Edit and visualize phylogenetic trees directly in your browser. PhyloWeaver lets you interactively rearrange tree topologies and export high-quality figures for publications and presentations.
yawak.jp
November 18, 2025 at 1:59 AM
I’ve released a tool to sketch and edit phylogenetic trees!
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
yawak.jp/PhyloWeaver/
Load a Newick file and intuitively add/remove/resize branches.
Useful for quick conceptual trees, extracting subtrees, or turning ideas into Newick.
Reposted by Nathan Clark
I confirmed with the organizer of the Evomics workshops that we will be *unable* to extend the registration date.
Please ensure your seat and register before November 15 :)
bsky.app/profile/jlst...
Please ensure your seat and register before November 15 :)
bsky.app/profile/jlst...
The full list of workshop instructors is available here.
Registration closes November 15 🥳🥳
bsky.app/profile/jlst...
Registration closes November 15 🥳🥳
bsky.app/profile/jlst...
November 7, 2025 at 2:47 AM
I confirmed with the organizer of the Evomics workshops that we will be *unable* to extend the registration date.
Please ensure your seat and register before November 15 :)
bsky.app/profile/jlst...
Please ensure your seat and register before November 15 :)
bsky.app/profile/jlst...
Looking forward to presenting but also learning from others!
At the workshop on #Phylogenomics and #Evolutionary Genomics, @nclark.bsky.social will be giving a lecture and lab on linking #genotype-to-phenotype in a #phylogenetic framework
Space is limited - register today to ensure your attendance!
Registration link: evomics.org/apply-worksh...
Space is limited - register today to ensure your attendance!
Registration link: evomics.org/apply-worksh...
November 1, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Looking forward to presenting but also learning from others!
Reposted by Nathan Clark
October 24, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Reposted by Nathan Clark
Excited to share this work, out today in MBE! In polar fishes, we found that antifreeze protein genes expanded in copy number at low temperatures and contracted in the deep sea, highlighting a role of depth and pressure in AFP evolution.
🔗 academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
🔗 academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
October 9, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Excited to share this work, out today in MBE! In polar fishes, we found that antifreeze protein genes expanded in copy number at low temperatures and contracted in the deep sea, highlighting a role of depth and pressure in AFP evolution.
🔗 academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
🔗 academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...
Exactly. Resist!
The most effective way to oppose this political takeover is collective action from the academic community. If the first universities that sign Trump contracts face strong academic boycotts- no talks, no manuscript reviews, no interviews of graduates- that should dissuade others from signing.
www.wsj.com/us-news/educ... UT Austin is one of the 9 schools offered a deal: accede to White House demands and get funding priority
October 2, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Exactly. Resist!
Our Annual Reviews article is finally out!
We aimed to capture a lot of comparative genomics in mammals, while pointing out challenges and new directions.
With @ekopania.bsky.social
We aimed to capture a lot of comparative genomics in mammals, while pointing out challenges and new directions.
With @ekopania.bsky.social
Phylogenomic Approaches to Study Adaptive Evolution in Mammals: From Aging to Aquatic Lifestyles | Annual Reviews
The natural world is full of valuable lessons about genetic adaptation as organisms respond to changing conditions around them. Deciphering these changes is a major goal of evolutionary genetics. Adva...
www.annualreviews.org
September 30, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Our Annual Reviews article is finally out!
We aimed to capture a lot of comparative genomics in mammals, while pointing out challenges and new directions.
With @ekopania.bsky.social
We aimed to capture a lot of comparative genomics in mammals, while pointing out challenges and new directions.
With @ekopania.bsky.social
When my out-of-office email hits your inbox and you have one set too, why doesn’t it result in an infinite out-of-office emailing loop?
a black laptop is floating in the air with clouds behind it
ALT: a black laptop is floating in the air with clouds behind it
media.tenor.com
September 28, 2025 at 5:12 PM
When my out-of-office email hits your inbox and you have one set too, why doesn’t it result in an infinite out-of-office emailing loop?
Grant writers of the NIH kind:
Did you know the grant guide asks for Letters of Support from *all* senior personnel, Co-Is, etc...?
I have never done this! Have you? I had no idea, just assumed they're funded on the grant and helped write it, so why?
Did you know the grant guide asks for Letters of Support from *all* senior personnel, Co-Is, etc...?
I have never done this! Have you? I had no idea, just assumed they're funded on the grant and helped write it, so why?
September 24, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Grant writers of the NIH kind:
Did you know the grant guide asks for Letters of Support from *all* senior personnel, Co-Is, etc...?
I have never done this! Have you? I had no idea, just assumed they're funded on the grant and helped write it, so why?
Did you know the grant guide asks for Letters of Support from *all* senior personnel, Co-Is, etc...?
I have never done this! Have you? I had no idea, just assumed they're funded on the grant and helped write it, so why?
Reposted by Nathan Clark
Reupping support for journalism outlets not beholden to corporate interests. When everything is a commodity, it's worth asking where your news is coming from.
What are your favorites? Mine are @apnews.com @propublica.org @theguardian.com @pbsnews.org @motherjones.com @haaretzcom.bsky.social
What are your favorites? Mine are @apnews.com @propublica.org @theguardian.com @pbsnews.org @motherjones.com @haaretzcom.bsky.social
September 19, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Reupping support for journalism outlets not beholden to corporate interests. When everything is a commodity, it's worth asking where your news is coming from.
What are your favorites? Mine are @apnews.com @propublica.org @theguardian.com @pbsnews.org @motherjones.com @haaretzcom.bsky.social
What are your favorites? Mine are @apnews.com @propublica.org @theguardian.com @pbsnews.org @motherjones.com @haaretzcom.bsky.social
Congrats to lab postdoc, Dr. Emily Kopania, on being selected for a Catalyst Award from the Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine! Her project will develop a Virtual Reality experience demonstrating to students how other species see the world through their differing visual systems.
September 18, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Congrats to lab postdoc, Dr. Emily Kopania, on being selected for a Catalyst Award from the Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine! Her project will develop a Virtual Reality experience demonstrating to students how other species see the world through their differing visual systems.
Nice interview to Katie Peichel @currentbiology.bsky.social
I completely agree with her claims for more funding for curiosity-driven research, basic Science... Science.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
I completely agree with her claims for more funding for curiosity-driven research, basic Science... Science.
www.cell.com/current-biol...
Catherine Peichel
Interview with Katie Peichel, who studies the evolutionary genetics of sticklebacks
at the University of Bern, Switzerland.
www.cell.com
September 10, 2025 at 1:42 PM
There's this great showdown between Gothic and Brutalism a block from work at Pitt.
Who will win?
Who will win?
September 9, 2025 at 7:03 PM
There's this great showdown between Gothic and Brutalism a block from work at Pitt.
Who will win?
Who will win?
New write up of our high altitude study by Dr. Allie Graham
www.post-gazette.com/news/health/...
www.post-gazette.com/news/health/...
A new study, with Pitt research, reveals surprising adaptations of high-altitude mammals
Scientific discoveries don’t always follow the expected path, Pitt associate professor and genomic researcher Nathan Clark points out.
www.post-gazette.com
September 3, 2025 at 8:27 PM
New write up of our high altitude study by Dr. Allie Graham
www.post-gazette.com/news/health/...
www.post-gazette.com/news/health/...
Reposted by Nathan Clark
NEW: "Long the envy of the world…the CDC finds itself no longer able to advocate for what its scientists believe the best available research shows….The agency has since January shed literally centuries' worth of collective experience through a combination of firings, retirements, and resignations."
This Is What—and Who—We’re Losing in RFK’s Purge
The story of one scientist, a career in public health, and the crisis at the CDC.
www.thebulwark.com
August 31, 2025 at 3:03 PM
NEW: "Long the envy of the world…the CDC finds itself no longer able to advocate for what its scientists believe the best available research shows….The agency has since January shed literally centuries' worth of collective experience through a combination of firings, retirements, and resignations."
Lab purchase for equipment made in Canada only.
Guess who’s paying the tariff?
Hint: it’s not the company!
Guess who’s paying the tariff?
Hint: it’s not the company!
July 29, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Lab purchase for equipment made in Canada only.
Guess who’s paying the tariff?
Hint: it’s not the company!
Guess who’s paying the tariff?
Hint: it’s not the company!
NOA has arrived. Research continues in our little corner of the scientific world.
Thanks to those NIH officials working hard to move things forward. We appreciate you.
Thanks to those NIH officials working hard to move things forward. We appreciate you.
July 23, 2025 at 8:36 PM
NOA has arrived. Research continues in our little corner of the scientific world.
Thanks to those NIH officials working hard to move things forward. We appreciate you.
Thanks to those NIH officials working hard to move things forward. We appreciate you.
railroad trestle in the Burgh
July 21, 2025 at 2:23 AM
railroad trestle in the Burgh