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Inês Miranda

@inesmiranda.bsky.social
153 followers 214 following 29 posts

Evolutionary biologist & researcher at @evochange.bsky.social lab, @biopolis-cibio.bsky.social, U. Porto. Evolution, adaptation, genomics, colouration, museum collections, science communication, weasels. 🐾🧬🏛️ inescmiranda.weebly.com

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Reposted by Inês Miranda
Jacquelyn Gill @jacquelyngill.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
In the last couple of years, we've seen multiple critical collections (museums, herbaria) close. The IUCN--the global authority on the status of biodiversity--recently published on how important these kinds of facilities are in conservation. Every day, the dead are working to protect the living.
iucn.org
From collections to conservation: the indispensable role of natural history museums
The IUCN Species Survival Commission has published a Position Statement on the vital role of biological collections in biodiversity conservation: a formal acknowledgement that natural history museums,...
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EVOCHANGE lab @evochange.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
📢 New preprint out on @biorxiv-evobio.bsky.social! In this work, we look at patterns of ancient mitochondrial and nuclear introgression among hare species in Europe! 🧬🐇 Read more here ⬇️ doi.org/10.64898/202...
doi.org
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
It was a lovely night, and we got to interact with many members of the public and colleagues from other institutes, share our work, and have fun! 😊
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Our activities focused on demonstrating the importance of seasonal camouflage for species' survival in environments with winter snow and how climate change is challenging the value of this adaptation. ❄️🐾
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Last Friday, the @evochange.bsky.social was part of the European Researchers' Night 2026 at the Ciência Viva Centre in Vila do Conde, to share some of the research on seasonal camouflage that we have been developing at @biopolis-cibio.bsky.social! 🧬 Photos: Diogo Moutinho // CCV Vila do Conde
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David Díez del Molino 🇪🇸🇸🇪🏳️‍🌈 @indianadiez.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
New research in @molecularecolup.bsky.social! Museum collections help us understand the genomic consequences of the insect biodiversity crisis 🐝🧬🏛️ We analyzed specimens spanning 150 years to track genomic diversity in the common carder bee in Sweden. OA onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Sampling details
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Current Biology @currentbiology.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Landed in Current Biology! www.cell.com/current-biol...
cell.com
Phylogenomics and museomics reveal five distinct species of tiger cats in South America
Lescroart, Nogales-Ascarrunz, et al. demonstrate that the contentious tiger cat species complex consists of five cryptic species. Based on analyses of 38 whole genomes from the Neotropical cat genus L...
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences @pnas.org · 18/09/2026
How local is local adaptation? Researchers transplanted more than 700 lab-raised stickleback fish among lake and stream environments, finding that adaptation to specific sites can outweigh adaptation to broader habitat differences. In PNAS: ow.ly/yTOk50ZP97o
Two threespine stickleback fish. Image credit: Marius Roesti.
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
A new piece of the puzzle on the evolution of seasonal camouflage polymorphism in weasels is out! 🐾
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Katie Abson @katieabson.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Our paper is out! 📣 we find that molecular measures of genetic variation do not predict heritable genetic variation across species - important implications for the application of genomic data for conservation! www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
pnas.org
Nucleotide diversity is a poor predictor of short-term adaptive potential | PNAS
The capacity to adapt is essential for a population to avoid extinction in a changing world and is recognized as a global conservation priority. Ad...
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Love Dalén @lovedalen.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
🦣🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦴🦣 What was the cause of all those mass accumulations of mammoth bones that have been found across Europe and Siberia??? Natural traps or humans? Answers here: www.cell.com/current-biol...
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Rob Waterhouse @rmwaterhouse.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
ERGA @ergabiodiv.bsky.social COST Action: CONSENSA Consensus Standards for Applied #Biodiversity #Genomics www.cost.eu/actions/CA25... Establishing standards for generating, analysing, interpreting, & applying genome-wide data, making evidence accurate, comparable, interoperable, & reusable
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Alexander Lees @alexanderlees.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Our new commentary rdcu.be/ftx6h in @natecoevo.nature.com written with folks from @inaturalist.bsky.social and @cornellbirds.bsky.social shows that use of AI to manipulate existing or create new wildlife images undermines the huge value of vast citizen science databases. 🌍🪰🪶 #Ornithology 🧵 1/10
rdcu.be
Citizen science platforms must mitigate against the threat of generative AI
Nature Ecology & Evolution - Citizen science platforms must mitigate against the threat of generative AI
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EVOCHANGE lab @evochange.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
📢New paper in @commsbio.nature.com! In our new work on seasonal camouflage in least weasels, we show the functional impact of an MC1R mutation underlying adaptive winter colour and dissect its origin & evolution. Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s42... See the thread by @inesmiranda.bsky.social! ⬇️
nature.com
Balanced polymorphism underlies long-standing adaptation for seasonal camouflage in the least weasel - Communications Biology
In vitro functional assays link alternative MC1R alleles to least weasels’ camouflage in environments with different winter snow, and population genomics sheds light on their evolutionary origin and b...
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EvoKE @evokeproject.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
A finch can't grow itself a bigger beak, not even when its life depends on it. So how did a whole population end up with bigger beaks in a single generation? 🐦🧪 (thread 👇) #EduSky #Evolution #EvoKe #DarwinsFinches
A graphic on turquoise-yellow background with a photo of a bird and an outline of an island. EvoKE logo is included
The text says: 
Individuals don't evolve.Populations do. 
Meet Darwin's finches, in the Daphne Major Island, and the Grant's exploration of this evolutionary phenomenon.
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Using forward-in-time simulations, we show that long-term maintenance of the polymorphism cannot be explained by population history. Spatially varying selection for adaptation to distinct snow conditions likely played a role in maintaining the mutation segregating across lineages. 6/6
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Using population genomics data, we found that this mutation segregates in two major genomic lineages within European populations of least weasels. Analyses of haplotype variation suggest that it likely first appeared in the common ancestor of these lineages. 5/6
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Using phylogenomics, we show that this mutation appeared de novo in least weasels after they diverged from closely related mustelid species. The mutation is not shared with other mustelids, including those with seasonal camouflage and winter colour polymorphism. 4/6
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
In this new work, we used in vitro cellular assays to show that this mutation alters the MC1R protein's function. The MC1R receptor - key for determining the type of pigment produced by melanocytes - shows reduced response to its ligands, functionally explaining alternative winter colours. 3/6
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
In a previous study, we had shown that alternative winter morphs - which allow camouflage in environments with distinct winter snow conditions - mapped to an amino acid substitution at the pigmentation gene MC1R. See more ➡️ doi.org/10.1093/molb... 2/6
doi.org
Museomics Dissects the Genetic Basis for Adaptive Seasonal Coloration in the Least Weasel
Abstract. Dissecting the link between genetic variation and adaptive phenotypes provides outstanding opportunities to understand fundamental evolutionary p
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
The biggest work of my PhD was recently published in @commsbio.nature.com! We looked at the origin and maintenance of alternative winter colour morphs (white and brown) in European least weasels during their evolution. OA paper ➡️ doi.org/10.1038/s420... 1/6
doi.org
Balanced polymorphism underlies long-standing adaptation for seasonal camouflage in the least weasel - Communications Biology
In vitro functional assays link alternative MC1R alleles to least weasels’ camouflage in environments with different winter snow, and population genomics sheds light on their evolutionary origin and b...
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Using forward-in-time simulations, we show that long-term maintenance of the polymorphism cannot be explained by population history. Spatially varying selection for adaptation to distinct conditions likely played a role in maintaining the mutation segregating across lineages. 6/6
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Using population genomics data, we found that this mutation segregates in two major genomic lineages within European populations of least weasels. Analyses of haplotype variation suggest that it likely first appeared in the common ancestor of these lineages. 5/6
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Using phylogenomics, we find that the mutation arose de novo in least weasels, after divergence from closely related mustelid species. The variant is not shared with other mustelids, including those with winter colour polymorphism. 4/6
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
In this new work, we used in vitro cellular assays to show that this mutation alters MC1R protein response to its ligands, functionally explaining alternative winter colours. 3/6
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
In a previous study, we had shown that alternative winter morphs - which allow camouflage in environments with distinct winter snow conditions - mapped to an amino acid substitution at the pigmentation gene MC1R. See more ➡️ doi.org/10.1093/molb... 2/6
doi.org
Validate User
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Communications Biology @commsbio.nature.com · 16/06/2026
🟤⚪❄️This article featured on our homepage shows how the long-standing adaptation in least #weasel protein MC1R allows #camouflage in diverse environments www.nature.com/commsbio/ www.nature.com/articles/s42... @evochange.bsky.social @inesmiranda.bsky.social @meloferreiraj.bsky.social
A least weasel with winter-brown coat on a green grass-covered plateau
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EVOCHANGE lab @evochange.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
📢New paper in @neobiota.pensoft.net! In our new study of the invasion of Drosophila suzukii in Portugal, we show how temporal genomics can uncover demographic recovery after a founding event and help assess the persistence of selective signals over time. OA paper ➡️ doi.org/10.3897/neob... 1/5
doi.org
Temporal genomics unravels demographic and selective invasion dynamics of Drosophila suzukii at a European range edge
Drosophila suzukii is a globally invasive fruit fly that causes significant economic impacts on soft-skinned fruit crops. While its invasion history has been studied on a global scale, regional-scale ...
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Kelsie Hunnicutt @kelsiehunnicutt.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Thrilled that our new review article on animal hybridization is now up on EcoEvoRxiv! 🎉 Working on this review with @mollyschumer.bsky.social was a blast, and it was such a wonderful opportunity to catch up on all the amazing work in animal hybridization over the last few years!
A world map showing the distribution of species studied in hybridization research
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Centre for Palaeogenetics @cpgsthlm.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
We present DNAharvester 🎉🦴🚜🧬 A pipeline to process highly degraded ancient DNA data that integrates metagenomic filtering, competitive mapping, multiple alignment strategies, reference bias evaluation and much more. GitHub: github.com/NBISweden/DN... Preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
DNAharvester's workflow.
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Pete Heintzman @palaeopete.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
Our new pipeline for analysing highly degraded genomic DNA data is now available at biorXiv! Study led by Bilal Sharif
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EvolDir @evoldir.bsky.social · 21/04/2026
📣 EvolDir is now managed by @eseb.bsky.social! We are delighted to be taking the reins and express our gratitude to both Brian Golding who began this service to the community in the mid-1980s and to @rdmpage.bsky.social who ran this account until now 👏 You can now find evoldir here: evoldir.net
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Centre for Palaeogenetics @cpgsthlm.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
New paper alert 🚨 A study led by #CPGSthlm researchers found DNA from a bear in 9.6k year old lake sediments. This potentially rewrites the history of brown bears in Scandinavia! 🧬🐻🐾🏔️🧊 Check @officialernst.bsky.social thread 👉 bsky.app/profile/offi... OA article 👉 www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
pnas.org
Ancient environmental genome reveals a migratory brown bear individual in Early Holocene Scandinavia | PNAS
After the last ice age, species migrated into a newly deglaciated Scandinavia. Brown bear recolonization is thought to have occurred from two direc...
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Genome Biology and Evolution @genomebiolevol.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Totikov et al. present a comparative and phylogenomic study of the Mustelinae, uncovering striking variation in genome-wide heterozygosity and genome size, marked homozygosity in some Asian lineages, and remarkable diversity in widespread species. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag014 #genome #evolution
GBE | Comparative Genomics and Phylogenomics of the Mustelinae Lineage (Mustelidae, Carnivora)
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Per Alström @peralstrom.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Congratulations to my former student Lei Wu who recently published "Parallel divergence with shared barriers and niche separation between two sympatric avian species groups" (dx.doi.org/10.1111/jse....) (Open Access). Willow Tit Poecile montanus and Marsh Tit P. palustris species groups in China
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John Lovell @jotlovell.bsky.social · 12/02/2026
I'm super excited to share that this article was published today in Science! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... All made possible by the fantastic group of donors, volunteers and scientists at The American Chestnut Foundation (tacf.org), HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, and our collaborators.
science.org
Genomic approaches to accelerate American chestnut restoration
More than a century after two introduced pathogens killed billions of American chestnut trees, introgression of resistance alleles from Chinese chestnuts has contributed to the recovery of self-sustai...
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Centre for Palaeogenetics @cpgsthlm.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Read our new paper in Genome Biology & Evolution to learn more about how sequencing the genome from a 14,000 year old wolf puppy's last meal yielded novel insights into the woolly rhino's extinction: academic.oup.com/gbe/article/... 📷 Mietje Germonpré
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Nicolas Dussex @nicolasdussex.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
one more week to apply for a 4-years PhD position with me to work on the macrogenomics of sea warming. Deadline: Jan 18th 2026 #MarineGenomics #EvolutionaryBiology #PopGen #Bioinformatics #conservationgenomics #consgen #conservationgenetics
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Joaquin Nunez @jcbnunez.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
New paper out in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. We identify regulatory variants shaping embryonic heat tolerance in Drosophila, linking lab selection to clinal and seasonal patterns in wild populations. Link: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
pnas.org
PNAS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a peer reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) - an authoritative source of high-impact, original research that broadly spans...
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Molecular Biology and Evolution @molbioevol.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Haller, Ralph & Messer present SLiM 5, a major extension of the SLiM simulation framework for simulating multiple chromosomes, enabling a heightened level of realism for full-genome simulations. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf313 #evobio #molbio #compbio
MBE | SLiM 5: Eco-evolutionary Simulations Across Multiple Chromosomes and Full Genomes
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Katie Abson @katieabson.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
I'm excited to share that our preprint is now available on bioRxiv! Our study challenges the widespread use of molecular genetic diversity as a predictor adaptive potential, with important implications for how genetic data is used to inform conservation decisions. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
Nucleotide diversity is a poor predictor of short-term adaptive potential
A capacity to adapt is essential for a population to avoid extinction in a changing world and is recognised as a global conservation priority. Adaptation requires additive (heritable) genetic variatio...
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Hugo Darras @hugodarras.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
New work from @miyapan.bsky.social and our team, bringing ant, bee, and wasp labs together. @chuanxinyu.bsky.social shows that the ANTSR locus we discovered in ants has determined sex for 150+ My across bees and stinging wasps 🐜🐝, despite virtually no sequence conservation 😮 doi.org/10.1073/pnas...
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Alan Le Moan @alan-ecotype.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
New results on Littorina fabalis ecotypes! 🐌 Inversions aren't just enabling parallel adaptation to wave exposure in France & Sweden, they're also hotspots for site-specific differences, including a striking color QTL associated with one inversion but only in France. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
Inversions support both parallel and location-specific adaptations in snail ecotypes
Replicated hybrid zones between ecotypes established over within shore environmental gradients provide an opportunity to study the genomic architecture of barriers to gene flow. The marine snail Litto...
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Inês Miranda @inesmiranda.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
Really interesting work, showing that animals with winter-white coats may be more in danger of predation under climate change, compared to those with winter-brown coats. #seasonalcamouflage
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Mafalda S Ferreira @mafaldaferreira.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
We have 🐟 herring pre print! Our new study reveals that ancient gene flow between Pacific and Atlantic herring played a key role in helping Atlantic herring adapt to the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
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Bioinformatics Advances @bioinfoadv.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
🧬 Just out in Bioinformatics Advances: “tskit arg visualizer: Interactive plotting of ancestral recombination graphs.”  Read the full paper here: doi.org/10.1093/bioadv/vbaf302 Authors include: @kitchensjn.bsky.social, @yanwong.bsky.social
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Nicolas Dussex @nicolasdussex.bsky.social · 19/12/2025
🌊 🐟🦭🐋🐧 I have a PhD position available (4 years, start Mid-2026) at NRM Stockholm to work on the macrogenomics of sea warming. Apply here: recruit.visma.com/spa/public/a... #PhD #MarineGenomics #ClimateChange #EvolutionaryBiology #PopGen #Bioinformatics #conservationgenomics
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Centre for Palaeogenetics @cpgsthlm.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
🦣 🤯 🦣 🤯 🦣 Video of woolly mammoth leg discovered in the Siberian permafrost! Researchers from #CpgSthlm and SciLifeLab have now, for the first time ever, identified signatures of gene activity in frozen mammoth remains! www.cell.com/cell/fulltex...
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Filip Ruzicka @filipruzicka.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Modestly, we decided to review a century's worth of theories of balancing selection :) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
A century of theories of balancing selection
Traits that affect organismal fitness are often highly genetically variable. This genetic variation is vital for populations to adapt to their environments, but it is also surprising given that natur...
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