Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · 19d

🌟Fantastic day at the #EvolutionaryGenomics symposium🧬! So much inspiration from great talks & posters on #adaptation, #genomics, and more. Great to reconnect with colleagues old & new.

Grateful to @svbelleghem.bsky.social for organizing, let’s make this a yearly tradition in #Brussels!

Steven Van Belleghem @svbelleghem.bsky.social · 19d

Fantastic "first" #EvolutionaryGenomics day @naturalsciences-be.bsky.social with talks from Kerstin Johannesson, Felicity Jones, Alexander Suh, @wenjuanma84.bsky.social, @mariamadrid16.bsky.social, and many others 🐌🐦🐟🐞🐚🌱🧬

1

Reposted by Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟

KamilSJaron.bsky.social @kamilsjaron.bsky.social · Aug 24

We had productive 2 days of defining some hard bits of the database as well as figuring out the next steps forward. We will send around notes in the upcoming days. ToS folks are the best, thank you all for taking part and @aruizherrera.bsky.social and @sphaeromeria.bsky.social for organising!

Sònia Garcia @sphaeromeria.bsky.social · Aug 24

Family photo of the 2025 Workshop of the @treeofsex.bsky.social ! Thanks everyone for attending and see you soon!

5 16

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · 21d

Congrats Aga! Super cool one 👏

Reposted by Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟

Agnieszka (Aga) Lipinska @agalip.bsky.social · Aug 29

I'm very happy to share that our paper describing the evolution of sex chromosomes in brown algae is out!🎉 This project was a long journey, but it came together into a nice story 🧬 🌊 Grateful to everyone who helped along the way!

MPI for Biology Tübingen & Friedrich Miescher Laboratory @mpi-bio-fml.bsky.social · Aug 27

New research: With ancient origins & surprising flexibility, #BrownAlgae reveal a compelling story of sex chromosome evolution. This could rewrite how we view sex determination. Learn more: s.gwdg.de/YDoZ3L
Congrats to @agalip.bsky.social & Josue Barrera for their work in @natecoevo.nature.com

1 12 29

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · 26d

Lab new paper is out!🎉🧬

We investigate how master #SexDetermining genes evolve in #anurans🐸

👉 rarely by #GeneDuplication but allelic diversification
👉 #SexChromsometurnover is not driven by gene translocation
👉 strong purifying selection (not duplicated ones)

www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15...

#newPI

3

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · Aug 24

✨ Huge thanks to @eseb2025.bsky.social @eseb.bsky.social for an inspiring week of science in #Barcelona!

Grateful for the chance to connect with old friends and new colleagues: what a community 🌍

Already looking forward to the next #ESEB in 2027! 🙌

#ESEB2025 @academic-chatter.bsky.social

2 13

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · Aug 22

Thank you, Mike Ritchie, for the inspiring and entertaining presidential talk, and for all the work and contribution you have done for the #ESEB society @eseb.bsky.social . We look forward to your leadership in the coming years!

@eseb2025.bsky.social #eseb2025

4 13

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · Aug 21

Love the plenary talk, and love how @lovedalen.bsky.social
shared his success story including repeated rejection and take home message on 'Never give up'!

Flo Débarre @flodebarre.bsky.social · Aug 20

At the end of his #ESEB2025 plenary on deep-time palaeogenomes, Love Dalén shared his history of trying to obtain a big grant for his work. It eventually worked out!

Photo of the talk, showing 3+4 ERC logos crossed out and two Wallenberg foundation logos crossed out

Reposted by Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟

ESEB 2025 Congress @eseb2025.bsky.social · Aug 19

Time is flying at #ESEB2025! Can’t wait for the next days ahead! 🚀

5 23

Reposted by Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟

ESEB 2025 Congress @eseb2025.bsky.social · Aug 20

Learning, sharing, evolving together 💡 #ESEB2025

5 20

Reposted by Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟

Flo Débarre @flodebarre.bsky.social · Aug 18

This week, the capital of Evolution is Barcelona!
Over 1900 evolutionary biologists are gathering for the biennial meeting of the European Society for Evolutionary Biology, coorganised with its Spanish sister #ESEB2025.
Over 540 of us are on Bluesky! You can use these starter packs to connect: 1/n

Photo of the welcome address at ESEB2025

2 15 64

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · Aug 10

A bit late, but huge thanks to the wonderful organizers of @official-smbe.bsky.social in Beijing! Such an inspiring conference with many great discussions. Extra kudos for the amazing (and free!) on-site childcare service for all ages 👶 — truly a game changer for parents in science 👏!

1 4

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · Aug 10

Super great 'evolution of sex' conference in Roscoff, and glad that our study to be part of the fantastic special issue
@jevbio.bsky.social in the field 🧬

Journal of Evolutionary Biology @jevbio.bsky.social · Aug 4

NEW SPECIAL ISSUE JUST RELEASED!

Sex unfolded: sex, asex, sexes. Read the introductory editorial by Guest Editors D. Roze, S Glemin, @thomaslenormand.bsky.social & K. Van Doninck here: academic.oup.com/jeb/issue/38/7

Fantastic cover art by Caroline Blanc.

Volume 38 Issue 7 | Journal of Evolutionary Biology | Oxford Academic

Journal of Evolutionary Biology

academic.oup.com

3

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · Jul 7

🚀 Exciting PhD opening! Join an amazing team led by top-notch supervisors and dive into cutting‑edge research on #Daphnia evolution & melanization.

🌟 Apply by 31 July, don’t miss out! 👇

#PhDOpportunity #Adaptation #Genomics

Steven Van Belleghem @svbelleghem.bsky.social · Jul 7

Excited to advertise a shared PhD position at KU Leuven (Belgium) and Mondsee (Austria) with @markusmoest.bsky.social on the genetic basis, plasticity and evolution of melanization in Daphnia from alpine lakes. Apply here: www.kuleuven.be/personeel/jo...

1

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · Jul 5

📢 One week left to apply, by July 15!

We are hiring a PhD and teaching assistant in the Biology Department @vubrussel.bsky.social! Dutch proficiency is required. Topics on #FrogSexChromosomes #SexDetermination #Speciation🌎🐸🧬

Apply here: jobs.vub.be/job/Elsene-D...

@academic-chatter.bsky.social

2

Reposted by Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟

Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution @official-smbe.bsky.social · Jun 25

The third Keynote speech of #SMBE2025 will be given by Molly Przeworski (@mollyprz.bsky.social), Professor of Biological Sciences and of Systems Biology at Columbia University.

"Why do human germline mutation rates depend on sex and age?"

2025.07.22 | 09h00

1 1 6

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · Jun 17

🐸🧬Lab new preprint @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social👇

Gene duplication, translocation & molecular evolution of Dmrt1 and related sex-determining genes in anurans
➡️ doi.org/10.1101/2025...

Dive into #MasterSexDetermining genes evolution & sex chr. turnover in 🐸✨

Comments welcome!

#SexChromosomes

1

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · Jun 11

Very looking forward to this @official-smbe.bsky.social
symposium #EverythingAboutSexChromosomeEvolution #SexDetermination🧬👇

Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution @official-smbe.bsky.social · Jun 11

#SMBE2025 Symposium 2: Evolution and regulation of sex chromosomes and sex determination

🔗 smbe2025.scimeeting.cn/en/web/program/25070

1 4

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · Jun 3

🚨Fully-funded #PhD opportunity in #EvoBio at
@vubrussel.bsky.social

🧬 Genetics, evolution of frog #SexChromosomes across Eurasia & the Caribbean
🌍 Fieldwork + teaching in 🇧🇪
📢 Dutch fluency required

Apply👉: jobs.vub.be/job/Elsene-D...

ERC-lab: www.wmalab.com

#PhDposition @phdvoice.bsky.social

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · Jun 2

New paper is out in @natcomms.nature.com. I had only a tiny role, but still thrilled to be part of the ride. Huge kudos to E.A. Lucotte, @tatianagiraud.bsky.social & team for leading this great work 🧬🍄🎉

Check it out 👉
doi.org/10.1038/s414...

#SexChromosome #Genomics @academic-chatter.bsky.social

Repeated loss of function at HD mating-type genes and of recombination in anther-smut fungi - Nature Communications

Basidiomycete fungi typically have two mating-type loci located on different chromosomes. Here, Lucotte et al. report the convergent loss-of-function of mating-type genes across several species of phy...

doi.org

2 8

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · May 28

🙏Thank you, @eseb.bsky.social, for the prompt support for delegates with children under 3👶! It's a huge relief for scientists in similar situations who are juggling conference participation and family responsibilities with little ones

@academic-chatter.bsky.social #academics #ESEB2025 #Barcelona

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · May 23

Dear @eseb2025.bsky.social, as a dual-career couple with a 3 yo and 1 yo, we’d love to attend @eseb.bsky.social in #Barcelona! On-site care is only for ≥3 yo (300 €) & private care is €20/hr, hard to manage it. Any support or suggestions for childcare for under‑3yo? 💙👶

#ESEB2025 #Academiclife

2 4

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · May 28

Come join us for a great lineup of speakers and diverse topics on #Sexchromosome, #Sexdetermination, #evolution! 👇
Virtual participation is possible 👉
smbe2025.scimeeting.cn/en/web/index...

@official-smbe.bsky.social #smbe2025 @academic-chatter.bsky.social

3 6

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · May 28

Thanks so much for these thoughtful suggestions! We really appreciate them and look forward to exploring the optimal solutions to make our time at @eseb2025.bsky.social both scientifically fulfilling and family-enjoyable.

1

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · May 23

Dear @eseb2025.bsky.social, as a dual-career couple with a 3 yo and 1 yo, we’d love to attend @eseb.bsky.social in #Barcelona! On-site care is only for ≥3 yo (300 €) & private care is €20/hr, hard to manage it. Any support or suggestions for childcare for under‑3yo? 💙👶

#ESEB2025 #Academiclife

1 1

Dr. Wen-Juan Ma | 马文娟 @wenjuanma84.bsky.social · May 10

Lab's new paper is out @jevbio.bsky.social 👇

#Dmrt1 #SexDetermination #Gonadalsexdifferentiation

Journal of Evolutionary Biology @jevbio.bsky.social · May 9

How does Dmrt1 determine sex and gonadal sex differentiation across vertebrates? 🧬🐸🐢🐟🐭

We review Dmrt1's expression, splicing and function, epigenetic mechanism across GSD & ESD systems, revealing its evolutionary plasticity:

doi.org/10.1093/jeb/...

@wenjuanma84.bsky.social & B Augustenová

Decoding Dmrt1: insights into vertebrate sex determination and gonadal sex differentiation

Abstract. The Dmrt gene family is characterized by a conserved DM domain, and is crucial to sex determination and sexual differentiation. Dmrt1 is pivotal

doi.org

2 1