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Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva

Guy Leonard @guyleonard.bsky.social · Jul 1

Early bird applications are now open! Go go go genomics!

Workshops @evomics.bsky.social · Jul 1

Applications are now open for the Workshop on Genomics 2026 (11-24 Jan) in Cesky Krumlov, Czechia. For the first time, we are offering Early Bird Registration discounts! 🐣 Do not miss the chance! 🤩 Help us spread the word among friends and colleagues! 🙆🏽‍♀️ #evomics2026
evomics.org/apply-worksh...

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Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 5d

Preprint Alert! 🦥
We produced complete genomes for 2 Xenarthra and placed them in a mammalian comparative framework. We found that Xenarthra harbour the largest number of retrocopies in mammals! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Retrocopy formation and domestication shape genome evolution in sloths and other xenarthrans

Xenarthrans, comprising sloths, anteaters, and armadillos, represent one of the most morphologically and physiologically specialised mammalian clades, yet the genomic basis of their adaptations remain...

www.biorxiv.org

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Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 5d

These findings reveal a link between LINE1s and retrocopies — and their impact on sloth biology — offering new insight into genome evolution in mammals with very low metabolic demands. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Retrocopy formation and domestication shape genome evolution in sloths and other xenarthrans

Xenarthrans, comprising sloths, anteaters, and armadillos, represent one of the most morphologically and physiologically specialised mammalian clades, yet the genomic basis of their adaptations remain...

www.biorxiv.org

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Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 5d

We also highlight the LINE1s–retrocopies relationship, showing thousands of active LINE1s in sloths shaping these mammalian genomes. Are LINE1s and retrocopies, after all, the makers of slothfulness? +

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Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 5d

Out of ~15,000 retrocopies in the 2-toed sloth (C. didactylus), 38 are sloth-only, expressed, retain ≥70% of parental ORF length, and show dN/dS < 0.5. Their functions? Many are linked to mitochondria and metabolism!+

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Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 5d

Were these inserted in the branch leading to the Xenarthran LCA? NO! Only ~14% are Xenarthra-wide. But in sloths — Choloepus and Bradypus — ~50% of retrocopies are sloth-specific, inserted ~30 Mya. This let us search for signs of domestication. +

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Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 5d

Preprint Alert! 🦥
We produced complete genomes for 2 Xenarthra and placed them in a mammalian comparative framework. We found that Xenarthra harbour the largest number of retrocopies in mammals! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Retrocopy formation and domestication shape genome evolution in sloths and other xenarthrans

Xenarthrans, comprising sloths, anteaters, and armadillos, represent one of the most morphologically and physiologically specialised mammalian clades, yet the genomic basis of their adaptations remain...

www.biorxiv.org

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Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva

Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · Sep 8

PhD opportunity in Bodø! You’ll sequence genomes from invasive and non-invasive slug (A. vulgaris) populations to uncover the molecular basis of invasion dynamics. Supervised by Prof. Les Noble & co-supervisor by me. Fully funded, cutting-edge science, great team. Apply by Sept 21: shorturl.at/zJT06

shorturl.at

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Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 26d

Fantastic and elegant! By the amazing @charlottewright.bsky.social et al!

Charlotte Wright @charlottewright.bsky.social · 27d

How many chromosomes can an animal have?

In our paper out now in @currentbiology.bsky.social we show that the Atlas blue butterfly has 229 chromosome pairs- the highest in diploid Metazoa! These arose by rapid autosome fragmentation while sex chromosomes stayed intact.
www.cell.com/current-biol...

Constraints on chromosome evolution revealed by the 229 chromosome pairs of the Atlas blue butterfly

The genome of the Atlas blue butterfly contains ten times more chromosomes than most butterflies, and more than any other known diploid animal. Wright et al. show that this extraordinary karyotype is ...

tinyurl.com

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Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · Sep 8

PhD opportunity in Bodø! You’ll sequence genomes from invasive and non-invasive slug (A. vulgaris) populations to uncover the molecular basis of invasion dynamics. Supervised by Prof. Les Noble & co-supervisor by me. Fully funded, cutting-edge science, great team. Apply by Sept 21: shorturl.at/zJT06

shorturl.at

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Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva

Christine Beck @christinebeck.bsky.social · Aug 1

This was both fun and terrifying to tape! Awesome to talk with @glennislogsdon.bsky.social and @aphillippy.bsky.social about our sequencing data / paper, the improvements to large-scale sequencing projects, and what this means for our understanding of our DNA!

Adam Phillippy @aphillippy.bsky.social · Aug 1

Complete genomes alert! @glennislogsdon.bsky.social, @christinebeck.bsky.social, and I were on @scifri.bsky.social today talking about "Complex genetic variation in nearly complete human genomes"
📄 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
📻 www.sciencefriday.com/segments/65-...

65 Genomes Expand Our Picture Of Human Genetics

Researchers closely examined the genomes of 65 individuals to paint a more complex, and more complete, picture of human genetic diversity.

www.sciencefriday.com

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The Guardian @theguardian.com · Jul 29

This Labour government has failed. People want real transformative politics – we will give it to them | Jeremy Corbyn

More than 500,000 people have signed up to our new party to help build a genuine alternative to poverty, inequality and war, says former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva

Tom Mathers @tom-mathers.bsky.social · May 16

Struggling to find the tiny microchromosomes in draft bird genome assemblies?

Our new #preprint introducing MicroFinder can help: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

🧵 below

(1/n)

@sangerinstitute.bsky.social

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Ore Francis @orefrancis.bsky.social · Jun 13

Proud to have authored this review with brilliant people. Hope we inspire more attempts to sequence the #protist genomes that are within reach! Huge thanks to Alexandra Schoenle for leading. #ProtistsOnSky
authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...

ScienceDirect.com | Science, health and medical journals, full text articles and books.

authors.elsevier.com

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Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · Jul 18

Among many things, we predicted 22 Ancestral Linkage Groups for cetaceans. Most species conserved them, while Balaenidae&Kogiidae independently fused the same two ALGs into their largest chrms. Ziphiidae shows specific fusions. Very glad to be part of this effort: www.frontiersin.org/journals/mar...

Frontiers | Genomic infrastructure for cetacean research and conservation: reference genomes for eight families spanning the cetacean tree of life

Reference genomes from representative species across families provide the critical infrastructure for research and conservation. The Cetacean Genomes Project...

www.frontiersin.org

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Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · Jul 18

Now out! Paper led by @philmor1964.bsky.social and the The Cetacean Genomes Project. An effort by many, we present 13 new, high-quality reference genomes for cetaceans 🐬🐋 following @vertebrategenomes.bsky.social and @ebpgenome.bsky.social standards for a group that is very hard to sample from.

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Physalia-courses@Online @physaliacourses.bsky.social · Jul 3

This course with @marcelauliano.bsky.social and @ferreiranunesjoao.bsky.social ‬will introduce the audience to a spectrum of methods which are present in a usual assembly workflow, starting from raw data and finishing with a fully assembled genome @pacbio.bsky.social

Check it out shorturl.at/UEmOH

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MBARI @mbarinews.bsky.social · Jun 27

Our newest unofficial video series—deep-sea animals that dance better than you 💃

Most sea cucumbers live a sedentary life on the bottom of the ocean, but some take a break from eating and pooping on the seafloor to go for a quick swim. They may do it as a defensive behavior or to find a mate.

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Physalia-courses@Online @physaliacourses.bsky.social · Apr 2

Interested in Genome Assembly? Do you want to learn how to assemble the genome of your species using @pacbio.bsky.social and HI-C data? Join us in November for the 6th edition of this course with @marcelauliano.bsky.social & @ferreiranunesjoao.bsky.social

🔗 www.physalia-courses.org/courses-work...

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mara lawniczak @marakat.bsky.social · Feb 24

if you have an interest in improving the genomic resources available for mosquitoes, please fill in our google form at tinyurl.com/MosquitoReferenceGenomes. please share this with colleagues who might be interested. thank you! [3/3]

Register your interest in participating in the Global Culicidae Reference Genomes Project

We are seeking mosquito biologists around the world who would be interested in collecting and contributing specimens of any vector species that currently lacks a reference genome. Aim: We are aiming ...

tinyurl.com

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mara lawniczak @marakat.bsky.social · Feb 25

please take this survey if you use Darwin Tree of Life genomes! we are really keen to understand impact of these genomes on your science and wider work. Thank you!

Joana Meier @joanameier.bsky.social · Feb 24

Do you use Darwin Tree of Life (DToL) genomes for your work or grant applications? If so, can you please fill out this form? docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... We are gathering info on how DToL genomes are used. It will help us raise money to continue producing publicly available high-quality genomes.