Sandy Hetherington
@sandyheth.bsky.social
Dr Alexander J. Hetherington | Plant evolutionary biologist, University of Edinburgh UK | UKRI Future Leader Fellow |
Lab website: https://www.ed.ac.uk/biology/groups/hetherington
Lab website: https://www.ed.ac.uk/biology/groups/hetherington
The very first Dr from the group! Congratulations Laura @transitionalform.bsky.social @instmolplantsci.bsky.social for passing your viva yesterday!! 🎉🎉
Thanks so much @seanhmcmahon.bsky.social and Paul Kenrick for acting as examiners
Thanks so much @seanhmcmahon.bsky.social and Paul Kenrick for acting as examiners
January 27, 2026 at 11:24 AM
The very first Dr from the group! Congratulations Laura @transitionalform.bsky.social @instmolplantsci.bsky.social for passing your viva yesterday!! 🎉🎉
Thanks so much @seanhmcmahon.bsky.social and Paul Kenrick for acting as examiners
Thanks so much @seanhmcmahon.bsky.social and Paul Kenrick for acting as examiners
Excited to share our new investigation of Prototaxites!
We found no support for a fungal affinity and instead suggest it is best considered an entirely extinct complex eukaryotic lineage
Great team effort @transitionalform.bsky.social Corentin Loron, and many others!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We found no support for a fungal affinity and instead suggest it is best considered an entirely extinct complex eukaryotic lineage
Great team effort @transitionalform.bsky.social Corentin Loron, and many others!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
January 21, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Excited to share our new investigation of Prototaxites!
We found no support for a fungal affinity and instead suggest it is best considered an entirely extinct complex eukaryotic lineage
Great team effort @transitionalform.bsky.social Corentin Loron, and many others!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
We found no support for a fungal affinity and instead suggest it is best considered an entirely extinct complex eukaryotic lineage
Great team effort @transitionalform.bsky.social Corentin Loron, and many others!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Looking for a new 📕 to read about plants??
I highly recommend the brilliant book ‘Ferns, Lessons in survival from Earth’s most adaptable plants’
Written by @fernway.bsky.social and Jacob Suissa with amazing illustrations by Laura Silburn
🌿 #FernFriday 🌿
I highly recommend the brilliant book ‘Ferns, Lessons in survival from Earth’s most adaptable plants’
Written by @fernway.bsky.social and Jacob Suissa with amazing illustrations by Laura Silburn
🌿 #FernFriday 🌿
January 9, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Looking for a new 📕 to read about plants??
I highly recommend the brilliant book ‘Ferns, Lessons in survival from Earth’s most adaptable plants’
Written by @fernway.bsky.social and Jacob Suissa with amazing illustrations by Laura Silburn
🌿 #FernFriday 🌿
I highly recommend the brilliant book ‘Ferns, Lessons in survival from Earth’s most adaptable plants’
Written by @fernway.bsky.social and Jacob Suissa with amazing illustrations by Laura Silburn
🌿 #FernFriday 🌿
I had a great time writing this dispatch @currentbiology.bsky.social about Jacob Suissa's recent paper on the link between fern phyllotaxis and vascular architecture. "Evo–devo: Ferns flourished due to developmental covariance between leaves and vasculature"
authors.elsevier.com/a/1mH793QW8S...
authors.elsevier.com/a/1mH793QW8S...
December 15, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I had a great time writing this dispatch @currentbiology.bsky.social about Jacob Suissa's recent paper on the link between fern phyllotaxis and vascular architecture. "Evo–devo: Ferns flourished due to developmental covariance between leaves and vasculature"
authors.elsevier.com/a/1mH793QW8S...
authors.elsevier.com/a/1mH793QW8S...
Huge congratulations @jeremywyman.bsky.social @instmolplantsci.bsky.social for publishing the results of your masters thesis @annbot.bsky.social
The work includes a new reconstruction of the Carboniferous isoetalean Oxroadia by the brilliant @palaeojules.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/aob/advance-...
The work includes a new reconstruction of the Carboniferous isoetalean Oxroadia by the brilliant @palaeojules.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/aob/advance-...
November 5, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Huge congratulations @jeremywyman.bsky.social @instmolplantsci.bsky.social for publishing the results of your masters thesis @annbot.bsky.social
The work includes a new reconstruction of the Carboniferous isoetalean Oxroadia by the brilliant @palaeojules.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/aob/advance-...
The work includes a new reconstruction of the Carboniferous isoetalean Oxroadia by the brilliant @palaeojules.bsky.social
academic.oup.com/aob/advance-...
Thanks @wickellomics.bsky.social for the brilliant @instmolplantsci.bsky.social seminar! Fascinating study of CAM evolution and I’m always excited for all things Isoetes.
November 3, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Thanks @wickellomics.bsky.social for the brilliant @instmolplantsci.bsky.social seminar! Fascinating study of CAM evolution and I’m always excited for all things Isoetes.
Real pleasure to be invited to speak at the British Pteridological Society meeting today.
Brilliant mix of talks spanning evolution, conservation and botanical collections.
And always great to have a tour of the wonderful @thebotanics.bsky.social collections! 🌿
Brilliant mix of talks spanning evolution, conservation and botanical collections.
And always great to have a tour of the wonderful @thebotanics.bsky.social collections! 🌿
October 25, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Real pleasure to be invited to speak at the British Pteridological Society meeting today.
Brilliant mix of talks spanning evolution, conservation and botanical collections.
And always great to have a tour of the wonderful @thebotanics.bsky.social collections! 🌿
Brilliant mix of talks spanning evolution, conservation and botanical collections.
And always great to have a tour of the wonderful @thebotanics.bsky.social collections! 🌿
What a brilliant conference - thanks so much for the invitation to speak at Morph Up North, and for all the brilliant talks this afternoon!
October 15, 2025 at 4:13 PM
What a brilliant conference - thanks so much for the invitation to speak at Morph Up North, and for all the brilliant talks this afternoon!
Our recent paper @newphyt.bsky.social @anajusagasti.bsky.social @instmolplantsci.bsky.social is featured today in the Sunday Post!
Thanks Sally McDonald for your piece helping to promote and communicate Scotland’s rich fossil heritage
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Thanks Sally McDonald for your piece helping to promote and communicate Scotland’s rich fossil heritage
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
September 21, 2025 at 11:11 AM
Our recent paper @newphyt.bsky.social @anajusagasti.bsky.social @instmolplantsci.bsky.social is featured today in the Sunday Post!
Thanks Sally McDonald for your piece helping to promote and communicate Scotland’s rich fossil heritage
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Thanks Sally McDonald for your piece helping to promote and communicate Scotland’s rich fossil heritage
nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
This decaying conifer wood preserves evidence of white pocket rot; two types of arthropod boring, likely by beetles and mites; and colonisation by small roots. It therefore preserved evidence of a rich ecosystem occurring on the floor of a Jurassic forest 4/6
September 21, 2025 at 10:48 AM
This decaying conifer wood preserves evidence of white pocket rot; two types of arthropod boring, likely by beetles and mites; and colonisation by small roots. It therefore preserved evidence of a rich ecosystem occurring on the floor of a Jurassic forest 4/6
To investigate the prevalence of this strategy we searched for new fossil nurse logs and reviewed existing literature. We discovered the first nurse log from Scotland, and only the second known from the Jurassic Period 3/6
September 21, 2025 at 10:48 AM
To investigate the prevalence of this strategy we searched for new fossil nurse logs and reviewed existing literature. We discovered the first nurse log from Scotland, and only the second known from the Jurassic Period 3/6
Seedling establishment on the forest floor is a challenging process. Plants have therefore adapted to make use of dead wood as a seed bed. This decaying wood can act as a nursery for seedlings and is termed a nurse log.
In conifer forests today nurse logs support >90% of germinating seedlings 2/6
In conifer forests today nurse logs support >90% of germinating seedlings 2/6
September 21, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Seedling establishment on the forest floor is a challenging process. Plants have therefore adapted to make use of dead wood as a seed bed. This decaying wood can act as a nursery for seedlings and is termed a nurse log.
In conifer forests today nurse logs support >90% of germinating seedlings 2/6
In conifer forests today nurse logs support >90% of germinating seedlings 2/6
So great having @isabelmonte.bsky.social visiting Edinburgh. Thanks for a wonderful seminar and some great discussions. Really pleased the rain held off for a lovely walk round the Botanics - including the obligatory stop to see the Lycopodium clavatum 🪴 🌿 🍄 🦠
September 13, 2025 at 10:37 AM
So great having @isabelmonte.bsky.social visiting Edinburgh. Thanks for a wonderful seminar and some great discussions. Really pleased the rain held off for a lovely walk round the Botanics - including the obligatory stop to see the Lycopodium clavatum 🪴 🌿 🍄 🦠
The visit to #PDevSrC via Boston wouldn’t be complete without seeing the glass flowers in Havard.
Great to see Onoclea 🌿 in glass and out in the field!
Some unusual development in this frond as it seems to be half fertile and half vegetative rather than a typical sporophyll #FernFriday
Great to see Onoclea 🌿 in glass and out in the field!
Some unusual development in this frond as it seems to be half fertile and half vegetative rather than a typical sporophyll #FernFriday
August 29, 2025 at 1:35 PM
The visit to #PDevSrC via Boston wouldn’t be complete without seeing the glass flowers in Havard.
Great to see Onoclea 🌿 in glass and out in the field!
Some unusual development in this frond as it seems to be half fertile and half vegetative rather than a typical sporophyll #FernFriday
Great to see Onoclea 🌿 in glass and out in the field!
Some unusual development in this frond as it seems to be half fertile and half vegetative rather than a typical sporophyll #FernFriday
The final morning #PDevSRC has included a series of great talks about leaf development and evolution spanning dicots, moss @coudertlab.bsky.social and now grasses @drannisr.bsky.social @instmolplantsci.bsky.social
August 27, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The final morning #PDevSRC has included a series of great talks about leaf development and evolution spanning dicots, moss @coudertlab.bsky.social and now grasses @drannisr.bsky.social @instmolplantsci.bsky.social
Another great morning #PDevSRC
I can see why so many people say this is one of their favourite meetings!
Really enjoyed hearing @zoenv.bsky.social talking about the ongoing work on RAB-A5c and mechanical cues in root development @ckirchhelle.bsky.social
I can see why so many people say this is one of their favourite meetings!
Really enjoyed hearing @zoenv.bsky.social talking about the ongoing work on RAB-A5c and mechanical cues in root development @ckirchhelle.bsky.social
August 26, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Another great morning #PDevSRC
I can see why so many people say this is one of their favourite meetings!
Really enjoyed hearing @zoenv.bsky.social talking about the ongoing work on RAB-A5c and mechanical cues in root development @ckirchhelle.bsky.social
I can see why so many people say this is one of their favourite meetings!
Really enjoyed hearing @zoenv.bsky.social talking about the ongoing work on RAB-A5c and mechanical cues in root development @ckirchhelle.bsky.social
Sticking with roots after the break with great talks about the cambium @apmahonen.bsky.social, root regeneration and xylem maturation @hazaklab.bsky.social #PDevSRC
August 25, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Sticking with roots after the break with great talks about the cambium @apmahonen.bsky.social, root regeneration and xylem maturation @hazaklab.bsky.social #PDevSRC
Great morning session with talks on stomata @stanfordstomata.bsky.social xylem development @bertderybel.bsky.social regeneration @bas-bargmann.bsky.social and root cel elongation from Flor Ercoli #PDevSRC 🌱 🌿
August 25, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Great morning session with talks on stomata @stanfordstomata.bsky.social xylem development @bertderybel.bsky.social regeneration @bas-bargmann.bsky.social and root cel elongation from Flor Ercoli #PDevSRC 🌱 🌿
Great start to FASEB Mechanisms in Plant Development with the Benfey Memorial Lecture presented by @bradylabs.bsky.social
#PDevSRC
#PDevSRC
August 25, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Great start to FASEB Mechanisms in Plant Development with the Benfey Memorial Lecture presented by @bradylabs.bsky.social
#PDevSRC
#PDevSRC
End of era in the lab @instmolplantsci.bsky.social
as we say goodbye to @rafadscruz.bsky.social and @jeremywyman.bsky.social.
It’s been a pleasure having you both in the team. Wishing you both the best for your next steps in Australia 🇦🇺 and Brazil 🇧🇷 🌿
as we say goodbye to @rafadscruz.bsky.social and @jeremywyman.bsky.social.
It’s been a pleasure having you both in the team. Wishing you both the best for your next steps in Australia 🇦🇺 and Brazil 🇧🇷 🌿
August 8, 2025 at 12:44 PM
End of era in the lab @instmolplantsci.bsky.social
as we say goodbye to @rafadscruz.bsky.social and @jeremywyman.bsky.social.
It’s been a pleasure having you both in the team. Wishing you both the best for your next steps in Australia 🇦🇺 and Brazil 🇧🇷 🌿
as we say goodbye to @rafadscruz.bsky.social and @jeremywyman.bsky.social.
It’s been a pleasure having you both in the team. Wishing you both the best for your next steps in Australia 🇦🇺 and Brazil 🇧🇷 🌿
Such a pleasure having @baptistebio.bsky.social visit the lab! Wonderful talk and great to hear about lots of exciting fern work! #FernFriday 🌿
June 13, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Such a pleasure having @baptistebio.bsky.social visit the lab! Wonderful talk and great to hear about lots of exciting fern work! #FernFriday 🌿
Amazing talk today by @noelponte.bsky.social it’s been brilliant having you visit the lab!
May 9, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Amazing talk today by @noelponte.bsky.social it’s been brilliant having you visit the lab!
Great to be at the Chengdu NHM for the Chinese Paleontological Society palaeobotany conference, and to have had such interesting visits to Shanghai and Nanjing on the way! Congratulations Sannie on a great presentation today!
April 14, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Great to be at the Chengdu NHM for the Chinese Paleontological Society palaeobotany conference, and to have had such interesting visits to Shanghai and Nanjing on the way! Congratulations Sannie on a great presentation today!
It’s been fun to welcome the most recent visitor to the lab this week! Kicking off the data collection from fossil stomata in the Rhynie chert as part of a @leverhulme.bsky.social project to investigate stomatal evolution #fossilfriday
February 14, 2025 at 12:12 PM
It’s been fun to welcome the most recent visitor to the lab this week! Kicking off the data collection from fossil stomata in the Rhynie chert as part of a @leverhulme.bsky.social project to investigate stomatal evolution #fossilfriday
It’s been a pleasure hosting Haru Nishida, Aya Kubota, Nao Kawagoe and Andrew Scott in the lab this week. Thanks for some brilliant palaeobotanical discussions!
Topped off with a great #FossilFriday trip to see the Early Carboniferous rocks by Oxroad Bay!
Topped off with a great #FossilFriday trip to see the Early Carboniferous rocks by Oxroad Bay!
February 7, 2025 at 4:06 PM
It’s been a pleasure hosting Haru Nishida, Aya Kubota, Nao Kawagoe and Andrew Scott in the lab this week. Thanks for some brilliant palaeobotanical discussions!
Topped off with a great #FossilFriday trip to see the Early Carboniferous rocks by Oxroad Bay!
Topped off with a great #FossilFriday trip to see the Early Carboniferous rocks by Oxroad Bay!