iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Caitlin E. McDonough-Goldstein @ideaspermatheca.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

If there is one thing we can agree on - it's that there are disagreements about the meaning and use of sex in biological research. Contribute to the @treeofsex.bsky.social research survey to let us know how you define sex in biology! univie.questionpro.eu/definitionsurvey

univie.questionpro.eu

ToS.DefinitionSurvey.QuestionPro

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Tree of Sex @treeofsex.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

New publication alert: Tree of Sex 2.0 members unpack the many, sometimes overlapping, sometimes conflicting uses of "sex" in biology. Lead author Caitlin McDonough-Goldstein @ideaspermatheca.bsky.social has an excellent explainer thread if you want a preview!

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Caitlin E. McDonough-Goldstein @ideaspermatheca.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

How do we navigate the semantic labyrinth of sex in biology? doi.org/10.1093/icb/icag093 In developing a @treeofsex.bsky.social 2.0 ontology, we have encountered many versions of sex. In this paper, we come together to explore places of contention and make connections across concepts of sex.

doi.org

Navigating the Semantic Labyrinth of “Sex” in the Study of Reproductive Trait Evolution

Synopsis. “Sex” is a compound of many different concepts that contribute to a multiplicity of meanings. As a result, “sex” appears in a wide range of scien

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Caitlin E. McDonough-Goldstein @ideaspermatheca.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Inside the body morphological and molecular interactions influence reproductive outcomes. Traumatic insemination may bypass barriers But in bed bugs, a new organ evolved to respond to mating and receipt of ejaculate! Find out more in a wonderful collaboration led by @martingarlovsky.bsky.social

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Martin Garlovsky @martingarlovsky.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Very happy to see our paper just published in @molbioevol.bsky.social highlighted: academic.oup.com/mbe/article/... Probably my favourite paper to be a part of and really fun working with some great people! Bedbugs are very gross but also very cool! Paper here: academic.oup.com/mbe/article/...

academic.oup.com

Highlight: Traumatic insemination and the molecular evolution of a novel reproductive organ in bed bugs

Sex can be complicated—just ask bed bugs. The bane of many conference goers, these blood-feeding parasitic insects mate via traumatic insemination, a repro

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Tree of Sex @treeofsex.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Yes of course sorry! univie.questionpro.eu/a/TakeSurvey...

univie.questionpro.eu

ToS.DefinitionSurvey.QuestionPro

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Tree of Sex @treeofsex.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

As everyone's winding down on #evol2026 we want to share our survey link with you again. Whether you work in reproductive biology specifically or not, please take a minute to help us understand how the scientific community uses reproductive terms in research! And hope to see you at #SMBE!

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Caitlin E. McDonough-Goldstein @ideaspermatheca.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

If the reproductive system of internal fertilisation could evolve anew would it be the same or different? This is the question we were able to investigate in bed bugs which inject sperm into a novel organ within the abdomen bypassing the reproductive tract.

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Tree of Sex @treeofsex.bsky.social · 22/06/2025

Good to see some of our US-based ToS members at #Evol2025! If you're at the meeting and interested or just curious about the project, say hi to @ajmongue.bsky.social @nicolevalenzuela.bsky.social @ideaspermatheca.bsky.social @emistasis.bsky.social, Mike White or Louise Heitzmann!

A non-random sample (spatially structured) of Tree of Sex 2.0 members at the SSE Evolution conference in Athens, Georgia.

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Pride in STEM @prideinstem.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

In a world filled with so many crucial challenges to humanity, transphobia is not just sad and anger-inducing. The demonisation and targeting of vulnerable minorities is simply pathetic. prideinstem.org/2025/04/26/s...

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simón(e) 🌑 @simonedsun.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

Scientists 🧪 then need to *DEFEND* research with animal models of gender affirming hormone therapy. If not for the unjust targeting of trans people, or for the fact such research benefits cis people too, then maybe for the continuation of their own damn research.

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Brandy Schillace @bschillace.brandyschillace.com · 21/01/2025

Good morning. It seems the right time to share that my book (preorder available) is about #scientists #transgender #LGBTQ #sexworkers and #women who fought against #Nazi fascism 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🧪🗃️ wwnorton.com/books/978132...

wwnorton.com

The Intermediaries

The fascinating history of a daring team of sexologists who built the first trans clinic in the shadow of the Third Reich., The Intermediaries, A Weimar Story, Brandy Schillace, 9781324036319

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Julia Serano @juliaserano.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

ICYMI

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Jess McLaughlin, PhD (they/them) @jfmclaughlin92.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

looking over the arguments also is a good (by which i mean viscerally horrifying) example of why there's a *specific* need for those of us who teach biology to be explicit in how we talk about sex and gender. so much transphobic rhetoric gains a foothold bc of misconceptions of biology + genetics

jfmclaughlin.org

Trans inclusion in the biology classroom — The McLaughlin Lab

One of my favorite parts of working at a university is getting to teach. I find biology utterly fascinating and magical, and getting to impart that to students is an incredible joy. Although I don’t c...

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simón(e) 🌑 @simonedsun.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

Progesterone, Estrogen, & Testosterone as molecules that act on biological systems engage in the same biological signaling pathways and mechanisms regardless of the sex chromosomes, gamete production, and other markers of sex. Arguments in favor Tennessee's ban on the basis of biology are lies.

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Tree of Sex @treeofsex.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Hi folks, this is the official Tree of Sex account. We are an open consortium of reproductive scientists with the aim to catalogue reproductive knowledge across Eukaryota. You can be part of it too: treeofsex.sanger.ac.uk

treeofsex.sanger.ac.uk

Tree of Sex

Web site created using create-react-app

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Leigh Senderowicz @lsenderowicz.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

The coolest postdoc I know is now accepting applications: 🧪🔬THE WITTIG POSTDOC IN FEMINIST BIOLOGY🧪🔬 Our interdisciplinary program @ UW Madison seeks to train the next generation of feminist scientists/scholars of science Please share widely and read more here: crgw.gws.wisc.edu/scholarships...

Purple and white flyer that contains the the following information:

One of the only opportunities of its kind, the Wittig Postdoctoral Fellows Program in Feminist Science offers a fellowship at the intersection of biological/biomedical sciences and feminist science studies. We aim to train the next generation of feminist scientists/feminist science scholars and cultivate an interdisciplinary community of thinkers, practitioners, and advocates. UW Madison has a distinguished history of excellence in these areas and continues to be a dynamic site of research and teaching in feminist science scholarship.

Applicants with a new or recent PhD are invited to apply for this two year, fully funded position. We welcome scholars working at the intersection of feminist scholarship and the sciences, including the life sciences, public health, history of science, science and technology studies, or medicine. Fellows will conduct original research mentored by a UW faculty member.

This research can be feminist topics within existing research programs in the life sciences (e.g., studies of sex and the variability of sex), implementing feminist methodologies in life science research, or historical, philosophical, artistic, and feminist engagements in life science research. Successful applicants will be paired with a mentor among the UW faculty who has agreed to provide guidance during the fellowship period. For a range of examples of stellar candidates, we’ve included some sample profiles below. The postdoc will also take primary responsibility for planning and executing a feminist science one-day conference.

The Wittig postdoc is administered through the Center for Research on Gender & Women (CRGW). For further information, contact the Director of the Center for Research on Gender and Women (CRGW), Christine Garlough, clgarlough@wisc.edu.

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Caitlin E. McDonough-Goldstein @ideaspermatheca.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

Unique postdoc opportunity at the intersection of biological/biomedical sciences and feminist science studies at UW Madison. Can propose research in any field as long as the fellow will explore connections with feminist scholarship. crgw.gws.wisc.edu/scholarships... Happy to answer questions!

One of the only opportunities of its kind, the Wittig Postdoctoral Fellows Program in Feminist Science offers a fellowship at the intersection of biological/biomedical sciences and feminist science studies. We aim to train the next generation of feminist scientists/feminist science scholars and cultivate an interdisciplinary community of thinkers, practitioners, and advocates. UW Madison has a distinguished history of excellence in these areas and continues to be a dynamic site of research and teaching in feminist science scholarship.

Applicants with a new or recent PhD are invited to apply for this two year, fully funded position. We welcome scholars working at the intersection of feminist scholarship and the sciences, including the life sciences, public health, history of science, science and technology studies, or medicine. Fellows will conduct original research mentored by a UW faculty member.

This research can be feminist topics within existing research programs in the life sciences (e.g., studies of sex and the variability of sex), implementing feminist methodologies in life science research, or historical, philosophical, artistic, and feminist engagements in life science research. Successful applicants will be paired with a mentor among the UW faculty who has agreed to provide guidance during the fellowship period. For a range of examples of stellar candidates, we’ve included some sample profiles below. The postdoc will also take primary responsibility for planning and executing a feminist science one-day conference. Other available resources for training and professional development during your time here include: the Delta Center for Training and Mentorship, grant writing workshops, the Holtz Center for Science and Technology Studies, the Feminist Science Reading Group, and more.

For further information, contact the Director of the Center for Research on Gender and Women (CRGW) at UW Madison

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