Our study comparing promoter existence and emergence in random vs genomic DNA is finally published!!!
TLDR: the E. coli genome has more promoters than random DNA (even in intergenic regions), and promoters emerge ~3x more readily from random DNA than genomic DNA. (1/2)
Very excited with the online publication of our modeling work on the evolution of sexual reproduction during obligate endosymbiosis: doi.org/10.1098/rstb.... The first publication of Alkmini Zania 🎉; together with Paulien Hogeweg.
Sexual reproduction of host cells mixes their symbiont populations in the next generation. Symbiont mixing is dangerous because it drives selection for selfish, fast-growing symbionts which overwhelm their host and cause extinction (see x's; Fig. 3a, x-axis represents evolutionary time).
When we allow communication to evolve between host and symbionts (passive leakage or active signaling), hosts evolve to take control over symbiont replication, reducing the evolutionary conflict. Yet the battle between hosts and symbionts continues, and the risk of extinction remains (Fig. 3c).
Thrilled that our paper "Eco-evolutionary dynamics of massive, parallel bacteriophage outbreaks in compost communities" is out! 🎉🦠🧬
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
w/ @paulbrainey.bsky.social, Petros Skiadas, Paulien Hogeweg, @bedutilh.bsky.social
Our preprint on the 'Origins of Eukaryotic Metabolism' is out! Take a look at some of the new findings on the origin of eukaryotic membranes, metabolic integrations between archaeal and bacterial ancestors, and other fascinating prokaryotic interactions during eukaryogenesis.
doi.org/10.64898/202...
@shrylishreekar.bsky.social and me wrote a commentary on Chunhui Hao's and @stuwest.bsky.social et al.'s recent paper
"Cooperation and the evolution of bacterial niche breadth"
in PNAS.
Please find our commentary here:
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
I'm looking for an enthusiastic student to join my team as a PhD candidate on archaeal genome evolution 🦠💻
Work in beautiful Utrecht, at @binfutrecht.bsky.social, an international group full of caring, amazing scientists, and with frequent cake breaks!
www.uu.nl/en/organisat...
Please share! 🙏
Promoters emerge three times more readily from random DNA than from genomic DNA.
www.science.org
In case you missed it: our review titled "Spatial structure: shaping the ecology and evolution of microbial communities" is out! 🚨
Let me hit you with some highlights on why spatial structure matters. (and why you should care!)
Sharing is appreciated 🙏 🧵👇
doi.org/10.1093/fems...
Space is the place (for microbes 🦠)!
Delighted to have contributed to this review on spatial structure in microbial communities by @marcelbaecker.bsky.social @simonvanvliet.bsky.social @bedutilh.bsky.social @bramvandijk.bsky.social and others.
Most microbes don't live in shaking flasks; spatial structure shapes how microbes interact and evolve at every scale, as we discuss in our recent review @jeroenmeijer.bsky.social @simonvanvliet.bsky.social @bedutilh.bsky.social @bramvandijk.bsky.social and others
academic.oup.com/femsre/artic... 🧵👇
Spatial structure naturally emerges in microbial communities, shaping growth, interactions, and evolution, and revealing how microscale processes scale up
