Sign in

Marcela Uliano-Silva

@marcelauliano.bsky.social
266 followers 220 following 24 posts

Genome Scientist | Tree of Life Wellcome Sanger

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Wellcome Sanger Institute @sangerinstitute.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Senior bioinformatician and TED Fellow @marcelauliano.bsky.social is an expert in genomics and keeping science accessible. Read the blog to learn more ⤵️ sangerinstitute.blog/2026/09/15/s...
sangerinstitute.blog
Sloths, sequencing and South America - Wellcome Sanger Institute Blog
From invasive mussels to sloths, Dr Marcela Uliano da Silva at the Wellcome Sanger Institute shares her varied career journey, with a consistent focus on inclusive research and effective scientific co...
182
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Carmen, you are very generous and a great writer! Thank you so much for this piece!
140
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
scienceartnews.bsky.social @scienceartnews.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
@marcelauliano.bsky.social et al. identify at least 38 sloth-specific retrocopies with strong signs of domestication, several of which are functionally linked to metabolism. These may contribute to the characteristic phenotype observed in this highly specialized group of mammals. 1/2
bit.ly
Elevated retrocopy burden and sloth-specific expansions illuminate mammalian genome evolution - BMC Biology
Background Xenarthrans, comprising sloths, anteaters, and armadillos, represent one of the most morphologically and physiologically specialized mammalian clades, yet the genomic basis of their adaptat...
121
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Ian Henderson @hendersi.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
CRISPR-mediated centromere fission generates neochromosomes with distorted meiotic inheritance in Arabidopsis biorxiv.org/content/10.6... new preprint from us - includes changing the Arabidopsis karyotype from 5 -> 6 chromosomes using Cas9 & outcomes of 5/6 chromosome hybrid meiosis
06430
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
KamilSJaron.bsky.social @kamilsjaron.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
New preprint: 338 coleopteran genomes reveal exceptional rearrangement variation compared to other insect orders. Big congrats to @arf-mln.bsky.social, for getting this giant piece together. Big collaboration of @joanameier.bsky.social's and my groups. 🧵👇 doi.org/10.64898/202...
Phylogeny of 338 species with tips painted by the chromosomal ancestry of their contemporary genomes (well separated colours indicate only few changes, while blending indicates rearrangements). Colouring of the branches is by the number of rearrangements. The ring between paints and phylogeny indicates wether the chromosomal rearrangement was fusion dominated (brown) or fission dominated (teal) process.  
Photo credits: Udo Schmidt, Lech Borowiec, JL Tachet, David Navrátil, Fred Chevaillot, Siga, Cosmin Manci, John Hallmén, Igor Souza-Gonçalves, Alex Hyde, H. Coiffait, David Ignace, Yves Bousquet.
17440
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
European Society for Evolutionary Biology @eseb.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Excited to launch the first call for proposals focusing on policy and/or societal impact of evolutionary biology research. Activities might include: ✅ local meetings on policy and/or societal impact ✅ actions to influence policy 💰€500-2K available Read more here and apply: shorturl.at/ixlby
01812
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Global Invertebrate Genomics Alliance @invertebrates.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
GIGA VI was a great success! Thank you to everyone who joined us, our keynote speakers, and all of our sponsors. We are already looking forward to the next GIGA meeting!
A photo of all of the attendees of the GIGA VI meeting held in Boracay, Philippines standing behind a pool.
071
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Thank you Scott! GIGA has been a blast! WHAT a conference! Its the wonderland for many of us working on (marine) invertebrate genomics! #GIGA2026 @ebpgenome.bsky.social @sangerinstitute.bsky.social #DarwinTreeOfLife
010
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
After a blast at #SMBE2026, soon off to #GIGA2026 to speak on our Atlas of Mollusca Genomes. A unprecedented dataset of high-quality molluscan genomes and a wonderful group of collaborators together to unravel genomic features and mechanisms of the second largest animal phyla. Hope to see you there!
051
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Evolution of genomes drives me. So does social justice. Had a blast speaking on LINE1s creating novelty in sloths genomes and Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Challenges to sequence all life on Earth with and for the benefit of all at #SMBE2026 Paper at: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
0306
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Clues to the sloth’s sloth found in its genome www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Clues to the sloth’s sloth found in its genome
Sequencing shows duplication of genes that affect mitochondria, the organelles that provide energy for cells.
032
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
We don't always get it right, but building a more equitable and inclusive global biodiversity genomics community is work worth doing. The Earth BioGenome Project JEDI Committee is recruiting new members. Join us: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
EBP Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Nomination Form
Miyari, Hola, Olá, Salut, Nǐn hǎo, Zdravstvuyte, Guten Tag, Konnichiwa, Asalaam alaikum, Goddag, Shikamoo, Yassas, Selamat siang, Namaste, Shalom, Merhaba, Dzień dobry... in whichever language you pre...
012
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
We don't always get it right, but building a more equitable and inclusive global biodiversity genomics community is work worth doing. The Earth BioGenome Project JEDI Committee is recruiting new members. Join us: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
EBP Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee Nomination Form
Miyari, Hola, Olá, Salut, Nǐn hǎo, Zdravstvuyte, Guten Tag, Konnichiwa, Asalaam alaikum, Goddag, Shikamoo, Yassas, Selamat siang, Namaste, Shalom, Merhaba, Dzień dobry... in whichever language you pre...
012
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
High quality genomes for sloths and anteaters and great mammalian biology findings alert! 🦥🧬 @sangerinstitute.bsky.social @ebpgenome.bsky.social @vertebrategenomes.bsky.social link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Elevated retrocopy burden and sloth-specific expansions illuminate mammalian genome evolution - BMC Biology
Background Xenarthrans, comprising sloths, anteaters, and armadillos, represent one of the most morphologically and physiologically specialized mammalian clades, yet the genomic basis of their adaptat...
11811
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Por qué el ADN del perezoso de dos dedos cambió lo que se sabía sobre el metabolismo mamífero www.infobae.com/america/cien... Paper here: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
infobae.com
Por qué el ADN del perezoso de dos dedos cambió lo que se sabía sobre el metabolismo mamífero
La investigación internacional identifica mecanismos evolutivos que abren nuevas vías en la búsqueda de terapias médicas y el análisis de la eficiencia biológica humana
010
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Wellcome Sanger Institute @sangerinstitute.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Sloths are the slowest mammals on the planet and now we know why. Scientists have sequenced the two-toed sloth genome and found ‘jumping genes’ linked to their extremely slow metabolism 🦥 Read more here ⤵️ www.sanger.ac.uk/news_item/why-are-…
Photo: Linnaeus's two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus). Photo courtesy of Berlin Zoo.
14714
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Charlotte Wright @charlottewright.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
An excellent two day @royalsociety.org meeting packed with discussion about how pangenomics is revolutionising evolutionary biology. Thank you to all the amazing speakers and attendees who contributed to the rich discussions and @henrylnorth.bsky.social & @joanameier.bsky.social for co-organising!
0141
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Our sloth genomics paper made it to the BBC: www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/ar...
bbc.co.uk
Could sloths help astronauts on long space trips?
Scientists have found genes in sloths that may help explain how their bodies save energy and how that help humans on future long space journeys.
0102
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
KamilSJaron.bsky.social @kamilsjaron.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
The word on the street is, that someone might be organising a virtual biannual Diptera Comparative Genomics symposium to facilitate knowledge exchange and foster collaborations. Let me know, if you would you be interested in joining the community and possibly contribute to papers such the one below.
031
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
High quality genomes for sloths and anteaters and great mammalian biology findings alert! 🦥🧬 @sangerinstitute.bsky.social @ebpgenome.bsky.social @vertebrategenomes.bsky.social link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Elevated retrocopy burden and sloth-specific expansions illuminate mammalian genome evolution - BMC Biology
Background Xenarthrans, comprising sloths, anteaters, and armadillos, represent one of the most morphologically and physiologically specialized mammalian clades, yet the genomic basis of their adaptat...
11811
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
KamilSJaron.bsky.social @kamilsjaron.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
A big preprint from my group! Muller Elements are considered to be conserved in flies. We tested it by reconstructing the ancestral dipteran karyotype using 340 chromosomal genomes and suprise suprise, they're not... Led by @juliagries.bsky.social and Sam Ebdon. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... 🧵👇
Schema of three major chromosomal rearrangements leading to Muller Elements of Drosophila melanogaster since the common ancestor of Diptera.
14835
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Earth BioGenome Project 🌍 @ebpgenome.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
The Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee is seeking 4-6 new members. This year, priorities include developing an EBP demographic survey and expanding outreach, education, and storytelling in biodiversity genomics.
1112
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Heng Li @lh3lh3.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Jeremy Wang developed rammap, a minimap2 rewrite in Rust. It achieves comparable or better performance than minimap2 and produces identical output to minimap2. During rewrite, Jeremy found two long-existing bugs in minimap2 which are fixed in v2.31. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
biorxiv.org
310944
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Physalia-courses@ONLINE @physaliacourses.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Excited to announce this September we’ll runa 3-day course at the @nhm-london.bsky.social 🤩with @marcelauliano.bsky.social @sangerinstitute.bsky.social and Sean Stankowski @ucl.ac.uk Big thanks to @kaplipa.bsky.social for the invitation and for making this possible❤️
062
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
tomate 🍅 @jascha.ohai.social.ap.brid.gy · 03/03/2026
When someone says „Scientists do not want you to know“ you can dismiss everything from there on. Scientists want you to know. They are desperate that you know. They can’t shut up about what they found out and want you to know.
7495874076
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
It was fun! Talked about all the experience we have at the Tree of Life as we produce and release thousands of genomes! #sangerInstitute #TreeOfLife www.sanger.ac.uk/programme/tr...
sanger.ac.uk
Tree of Life
We generate and use high-quality genome sequences to explore the evolution of life, provide the raw materials for new biotechnology and deliver tools for biodiversity monitoring and conservation.
060
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Heng Li @lh3lh3.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
I am looking for a postdoc to develop high-performance algorithms in computational genomics. Email or DM me if interested. For more information, see hlilab.github.io/vacancies. RTs appreciated!
hlilab.github.io
HLi Lab - Vacancies
Openings
14363
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Charlotte Wright @charlottewright.bsky.social · 26/11/2025
We need your help! If you have a few minutes, please fill out a very short survey about your preferences on butterflies and art - all responses are welcome! www.unveiling.eu This is part of a project that aims to understand how the beauty of butterflies influences conservation: Unveiling (1/2)
unveiling.eu
Unveiling - Home
1146
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
mara lawniczak @marakat.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
final week to apply for @sangerinstitute.bsky.social PhD programme (due Nov 27th) -- free to apply, open to anyone anywhere, and a superb training opportunity for students interested in genomic approaches applied to biodiversity, pathogens, vectors, and of course us pesky humans.
1810
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Physalia-courses@ONLINE @physaliacourses.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
We’ve just started our 5-day course with @marcelauliano.bsky.social & Joao on assembling eukaryotic genomes with @pacbio.bsky.social long reads and Hi-C! Attendees are learning how to handle raw data, run assemblies, scaffold chromosomes & assess quality.
041
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Physalia-courses@ONLINE @physaliacourses.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
Join our 5-day online course: “Eukaryotic Genome Assembly Using @pacbio.bsky.social and Hi-C” with @marcelauliano.bsky.social l & Joao and get hands-on experience with long-read sequencing and Hi-C scaffolding. Last seats left: www.physalia-courses.org/courses-work...
031
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Aureliano Bombarely @bombarelya.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Amanda Gardiner follows at the #biodiversity25 with a presentation about #genetic_diversity in sharks, rays and other vertebrates. She analyzed ROH, homozygous regions in vertebrates genomes produced by the VGP. Critically endangered species have more frequently long ROH than other species.
052
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Aureliano Bombarely @bombarelya.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Elisa Ramos brings us a presentation about #gulls at the #biodiversity25. The large white-headed gulls lineage has one of the faster #radiation processes of the birds of the northern hemisphere. LarOmics project aims to elucidate the genetic base of the gull #evolution.
032
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Ewan Birney @ewanbirney.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
I am genuinely impressed by large language models - they can absorb disparate components of text into some consolidated view, they can produce extremely good language and - with the right model - translate pretty well between languages and they are an excellent text based UI for humans to use. But..
27322
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Joana Meier @joanameier.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
Celebrating the first 1000 genomes of Lepidoptera in Europe, sequenced at @sangerinstitute.bsky.social in collaboration with sampling hubs across the UK via the DToL project www.darwintreeoflife.org & across Europe via @projectpsyche.bsky.social www.projectpsyche.org & @10klepgenomes.bsky.social
19217
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
ERGA - European Reference Genome Atlas @ergabiodiv.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
🏙️ Last week, #ERGA joined the @vertebrategenomes.bsky.social #VGP Conference in NYC, a great chance to connect with @ebpgenome.bsky.social projects and share progress on #FAIR genome assemblies & reporting under @biogeneurope.bsky.social www.erga-biodiversity.eu/post/erga-me... #genomes #conference
erga-biodiversity.eu
ERGA meets VGP in New York City
Last week, ERGA was present at the Vertebrate Genomes Project 2025 Conference, held at The Rockefeller University in New York City from September 30 and October 1. ERGA and VGP share a long-standing c...
0119
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Guy Leonard @guyleonard.eurosky.social · 01/07/2025
Early bird applications are now open! Go go go genomics!
085
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Preprint Alert! 🦥 We produced complete genomes for 2 Xenarthra and placed them in a mammalian comparative framework. We found that Xenarthra harbour the largest number of retrocopies in mammals! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
Retrocopy formation and domestication shape genome evolution in sloths and other xenarthrans
Xenarthrans, comprising sloths, anteaters, and armadillos, represent one of the most morphologically and physiologically specialised mammalian clades, yet the genomic basis of their adaptations remain...
11915
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Preprint Alert! 🦥 We produced complete genomes for 2 Xenarthra and placed them in a mammalian comparative framework. We found that Xenarthra harbour the largest number of retrocopies in mammals! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
biorxiv.org
Retrocopy formation and domestication shape genome evolution in sloths and other xenarthrans
Xenarthrans, comprising sloths, anteaters, and armadillos, represent one of the most morphologically and physiologically specialised mammalian clades, yet the genomic basis of their adaptations remain...
11915
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
PhD opportunity in Bodø! You’ll sequence genomes from invasive and non-invasive slug (A. vulgaris) populations to uncover the molecular basis of invasion dynamics. Supervised by Prof. Les Noble & co-supervisor by me. Fully funded, cutting-edge science, great team. Apply by Sept 21: shorturl.at/zJT06
shorturl.at
038
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Fantastic and elegant! By the amazing @charlottewright.bsky.social et al!
020
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
PhD opportunity in Bodø! You’ll sequence genomes from invasive and non-invasive slug (A. vulgaris) populations to uncover the molecular basis of invasion dynamics. Supervised by Prof. Les Noble & co-supervisor by me. Fully funded, cutting-edge science, great team. Apply by Sept 21: shorturl.at/zJT06
shorturl.at
038
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Christine Beck @christinebeck.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
This was both fun and terrifying to tape! Awesome to talk with @glennislogsdon.bsky.social and @aphillippy.bsky.social about our sequencing data / paper, the improvements to large-scale sequencing projects, and what this means for our understanding of our DNA!
23411
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 29/07/2025
This Labour government has failed. People want real transformative politics – we will give it to them | Jeremy Corbyn
theguardian.com
This Labour government has failed. People want real transformative politics – we will give it to them | Jeremy Corbyn
More than 500,000 people have signed up to our new party to help build a genuine alternative to poverty, inequality and war, says former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
3413839
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Tom Mathers @tom-mathers.bsky.social · 16/05/2025
Struggling to find the tiny microchromosomes in draft bird genome assemblies? Our new #preprint introducing MicroFinder can help: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... 🧵 below (1/n) @sangerinstitute.bsky.social
44224
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Ore Francis @orefrancis.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Proud to have authored this review with brilliant people. Hope we inspire more attempts to sequence the #protist genomes that are within reach! Huge thanks to Alexandra Schoenle for leading. #ProtistsOnSky authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
authors.elsevier.com
ScienceDirect.com | Science, health and medical journals, full text articles and books.
0127
Marcela Uliano-Silva @marcelauliano.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
Now out! Paper led by @philmor1964.bsky.social and the The Cetacean Genomes Project. An effort by many, we present 13 new, high-quality reference genomes for cetaceans 🐬🐋 following @vertebrategenomes.bsky.social and @ebpgenome.bsky.social standards for a group that is very hard to sample from.
1105
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Physalia-courses@ONLINE @physaliacourses.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
This course with @marcelauliano.bsky.social and @ferreiranunesjoao.bsky.social ‬will introduce the audience to a spectrum of methods which are present in a usual assembly workflow, starting from raw data and finishing with a fully assembled genome @pacbio.bsky.social Check it out shorturl.at/UEmOH
053
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
MBARI @mbarinews.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
Our newest unofficial video series—deep-sea animals that dance better than you 💃 Most sea cucumbers live a sedentary life on the bottom of the ocean, but some take a break from eating and pooping on the seafloor to go for a quick swim. They may do it as a defensive behavior or to find a mate.
319474
Reposted by Marcela Uliano-Silva
Physalia-courses@ONLINE @physaliacourses.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Interested in Genome Assembly? Do you want to learn how to assemble the genome of your species using @pacbio.bsky.social and HI-C data? Join us in November for the 6th edition of this course with @marcelauliano.bsky.social & @ferreiranunesjoao.bsky.social 🔗 www.physalia-courses.org/courses-work...
053