Predicting phenotype from genotype in extant organisms is increasingly tractable through the accumulation of genome sequences and the development of machine-learning algorithms. Here we show that mach...

A new study reveals that horizontal gene transfer contributed to the repeated evolution of fungi-like, absorption-feeding life across eukaryotes.

Abstract. Significant advances have been made in resolving the tree of life, but many nodes remain debated. The last two decades saw the emergence of mixtu

Abstract. Ants, Formicidae, are a group of small social insects that inhabit nearly all terrestrial environments. Three competing hypotheses of ant relatio

New evolutionary mapping suggests deep sea origins and mass extinction triggered diversification of modern squid and cuttlefish.

Sequencing of marine sediments finds 136 newly identified Heimdallarchaeia and several novel lineages, and indicates that Heimdallarchaeia evolved distinct metabolic capabilities from other Asgardarchaeota, in conditions that may have given rise to early eukaryotes.

ALT: a man walking in a field with an umbrella

Are you just as excited as we are about the fascinating world of microorganisms? Do you want to contribute to exploring and genomically characterize novel prokaryotic lineages? Do you have a PhD degre...

Termite study provides researchers with template to solve ancient evolutionary mysteries.

New study maps the strange genomes of Asia-Pacific Balanophora species, giving new insights into the evolution of parasitic plants and an unconventional role of plastids.

Abstract. Profile mixture models capture distinct biochemical constraints on the amino acid substitution process at different sites in proteins. These mode

Analysis of eukaryotic gene sequences using a relaxed molecular clock methodology indicate that eukaryotes emerged 3.0–2.25 billion years ago as a result of mitochondrial endosymbiosis with complex archaea that already possessed an elaborated cytoskeleton, membrane trafficking, endomembrane, phagocytotic machinery and a nucleus.

New evidence-based evolutionary model provides access to the beginning of complex life with unprecedented accuracy.

Analysis of eukaryotic gene sequences using a relaxed molecular clock methodology indicate that eukaryotes emerged 3.0–2.25 billion years ago as a result of mitochondrial endosymbiosis with complex ar...

Analysis of eukaryotic gene sequences using a relaxed molecular clock methodology indicate that eukaryotes emerged 3.0–2.25 billion years ago as a result of mitochondrial endosymbiosis with complex ar...

The phylogeny of the Archaea continues to be revisited and revised as new groups are discovered and phylogenetic methods improve, but key questions about their early evolution remain. It has been sugg...

Combining fossil-based and molecular calibrations with data on horizontal gene transfer events, the authors develop a time-calibrated phylogeny of Fungi. This timescale, which integrates analytic uncertainties, suggests an older age of crown Fungi (1,401–896 million years ago), as well as a minimum age for ancient interactions involving fungi and the algal ancestors of embryophytes in terrestrial ecosystems (1,253–797 Ma).

From fossils and rare genetic ‘gene-swap’ clues, researchers reconstruct fungi’s deep timeline and reveal how they helped shape early Earth ecosystems.

Combining fossil-based and molecular calibrations with data on horizontal gene transfer events, the authors develop a time-calibrated phylogeny of Fungi. This timescale, which integrates analytic uncertainties, suggests an older age of crown Fungi (1,401–896 million years ago), as well as a minimum age for ancient interactions involving fungi and the algal ancestors of embryophytes in terrestrial ecosystems (1,253–797 Ma).

79% of endemic species show signs of decline, highlighting the vulnerability of island biodiversity to ecosystem changes.

Structural insights into ultrafast Ca2+ transport by plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPases are provided, highlighting an essential role for PtdIns(4,5)P2 dynamics.

Insect populations have declined worldwide, but the extent and drivers of these declines are debated. Most studies rely on field surveys performed in the past century, leaving gaps in our understandin...

Comparison of symbiotic bacteria to free-living relatives shows the genomic effects of host adaptation.

We investigate the evolution of microbial metabolisms from the last universal common ancestor to the extant biota through comparative phylogenomics, reconciling the evolution of the genes that underpi...

Research Assistant (Fixed Term) in the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge.

FIMM-EMBL Group Leaders in Molecular Medicine

Paola Laurino from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, National Champion for Japan, reveals groundbreaking insights into SAR11 bacteria, the most abundant microbes on Earth. Her study unc...

ATP, the ‘fuel’ of our cells, has been found to make the cytosol in axons more liquid, stopping proteins from clustering and causing harm.