iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Thea F. Rogers

Women in Biology, University of Vienna @wobio-ubb.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

Join us for a special screening of the award-winning documentary Second Nature and a panel discussion afterwards! ✨ When: 24. 11. 2026, 17:15 h 📍 Where: Hörsaal 2, UBB 🎙Panelists: @jasmineloveland.bsky.social @ideaspermatheca.bsky.social @asthebaultg.bsky.social

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Reposted by Thea F. Rogers

Universität Wien / University of Vienna @univie.ac.at · 09/10/2026

Why are octopuses, squid & cuttlefish so smart? 🐙 New study from the University of Vienna: it’s not just the genes, but how the genome folds in 3D. An ancient reorganisation brought distant #DNA regions together and rewired gene regulation. 🧬#Genomics Out now in @natcomms.nature.com ⤵️

univie.ac.at

3D structure of DNA may explain how cephalopods evolved complex brains

Study suggests that the 3D "entanglement" of DNA may help drive evolutionary innovation

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Thanks Simone for all your work and helpful feedback 🫶😊

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Thanks so much to all my co-authors: @jsscstck.bsky.social, Grace Schulz, Gözde Yalçin, @simonerencken.bsky.social, Anton Weissenbacher, Tereza Clarence, @dts.bsky.social, Cliff Ragsdale, Carrie Albertin, and Oleg Simakov. Thanks also to @univie.ac.at and @mblscience.bsky.social! 🥳

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

We also used CRISPR in Euprymna berryi to delete a conserved ~1 kb intronic sequence in a coleoid-specific loop containing neural genes. Many knockout embryos had smaller neural tissues, and genes linked to the loop several Mb away were downregulated, consistent with very long-range regulation.

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Our data also support the idea of 'regulatory entanglement': as rearrangements bring regions together, they build up interdependencies and become embedded in nested regulatory architectures, making them increasingly constrained.

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Our results point to a ‘hierarchy of regulatory constraint’ across the 3D genome. Some chromatin interactions are stable while others change more readily, so rearrangements selectively retain, rewire or eliminate them depending on their underlying level of constraint.

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Surprisingly, octopus has the smallest genome but the largest loops. Many octopus loops connect genes that sit on different chromosomes in squid, so lineage-specific patterns of chromosomal fusion seem to drive loop size more than genome expansion.

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Chromatin loops showed different characteristics. Few loops were shared by all three species, and loops varied between tissues & developmental stages. Their anchors are enriched for conserved non-coding elements, TF motifs & open chromatin.

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Chromatin domains are often conserved. Pairs of genes that interact in all three species stay close together, are highly and broadly expressed across tissues, and carry out core cellular functions, maintained through hundreds of millions of years of rearrangements.

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

In the coleoid ancestor, chromosomes broke apart, fused and mixed, bringing previously distant genes and regulatory sequences together. Then the lineages diverged: squid & cuttlefish genomes expanded to >5 Gb, while octopus genomes went through many additional fusions.

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

🧵 Out today in Nature Communications! How did an ancient reshuffling of the genome shape 3D genome architecture and gene regulation in squid, cuttlefish & octopus? 🦑🐙 We combined Micro-C, RNA-seq & ATAC-seq across species, developmental stages & tissues. doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-77625-7

doi.org

Genome reorganisation and expansion shape 3D genome architecture and define a distinct regulatory landscape in coleoid cephalopods - Nature Communications

How genome organisation contributes to the evolution of biological complexity is poorly understood. This study shows evolutionary changes in 3D genome architecture rewires gene regulation in coleoid c...

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Reposted by Thea F. Rogers

Peter Price @petedp.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Very excited to see our work finally out in GBE. We explored the evolution of a sex-linked supergene finding evidence that recombination suppression may have led to relaxation of selection, suggesting that whilst adaptive, supergenes may bear molecular costs. doi.org/10.1093/gbe/...

doi.org

Molecular Evolution of a Sex-Linked Inversion Polymorphism in Zebra Finches

Abstract. Recent years have seen an explosion in examples of supergenes, where recombination is suppressed between haplotypes, often via inversion polymorp

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Reposted by Thea F. Rogers

Genome Biology and Evolution @genomebiolevol.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

@petedp.bsky.social et al. explore the molecular evolution of the A and B haplotypes of a large, sex-linked inversion polymorphism in the zebra finch responsible for most of the genetic variation in sperm morphology. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evag056 #genome #societyjournal

doi.org

Molecular Evolution of a Sex-Linked Inversion Polymorphism in Zebra Finches

Abstract. Recent years have seen an explosion in examples of supergenes, where recombination is suppressed between haplotypes, often via inversion polymorp

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

Having so much fun in Copenhagen already! 🤩 I will be speaking about genome rearrangements, 3D genome organisation, gene regulation and the evolution of cephalopod novel traits in Lumbye at 2.05pm tomorrow! #SMBE2026

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Reposted by Thea F. Rogers

Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution @official-smbe.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Talks (Part 2): Dominique Hicks @cbarragan.bsky.social @shaggyschrader.bsky.social @theafrogers.bsky.social Adamandia Kapopoulou Hend Abu-Elmakarem @astridboehne.bsky.social @devaropica.bsky.social Beatrice Sammarco Morteza Bajgiran Mario Santer @jannelrinke.bsky.social

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

It was so so fun to have @evodevogenomeub.bsky.social visiting!! 😄 Thanks so much for the fascinating talk and interesting discussions! 🧬

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Reposted by Thea F. Rogers

Genome Biology and Evolution @genomebiolevol.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Brasó-Vives et al. publish a new Perspective in GBE, highlighting underexplored dimensions of genomic variation that contribute to phenotypic diversity beyond the DNA sequence, contributing to our understanding of genome evolution. 🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf204 #genome #evolution

GBE | The Genomic Kaleidoscope: On the Hidden Dimensions of Within-Species Genomic Diversity

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Reposted by Thea F. Rogers

Juan Antonio Rodríguez @jrotwitguez.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

🔊New perspective piece out @genomebiolevol.bsky.social. "The Genomic Kaleidoscope: On the Hidden Dimensions of Within-Species Genomic Diversity" 💡🌀🌈 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/... Co-led with @mbrasovives.bsky.social and @diegoharta.bsky.social Check out our thread! 🧵👇 (1/n)

doi.org

Validate User

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Reposted by Thea F. Rogers

Szymek Drobniak @szymekdr.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

@eseb2025.bsky.social art corner goes well, it will be available throughout the conference. Join us, draw your science :) @evokeproject.bsky.social I get asked - what if I can’t draw? That’s even better! Trust me - your art will be more honest, and awesome. And we want to see it:)

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

This is incredible!!! 🥹 🐙🔶🔶🔶 Thank you @tillysscott.bsky.social!!

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Reposted by Thea F. Rogers

Tilly S Scott @tillysscott.bsky.social · 19/08/2025

A bunch of inspiring talks this morning! Chromatin loops (identified with Micro-C) in cephalopods; odorant receptors in slave ants; chromosome inversions in a beetle, the genetics of critically endangered bellinger river turtle +the importance of MHC; genetic load in the helmet honeyeater #eseb2025

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 17/08/2025

So excited to be in Barcelona for #eseb2025! If you’re interested in 3D genome evolution, gene regulation, and the evolution of cephalopod novel traits, come to my talk on Tuesday at 11.30 in room 117 🐙🦑🧬

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

Had a great time speaking at KU Leuven and at the University of Münster in the last week! Thank you @eveseuntjens.bsky.social and @jannelrinke.bsky.social for the invites, city tours and great company! And so nice to see @mendezaranda.bsky.social as well 😊

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Thea F. Rogers @theafrogers.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

Two weeks left to submit your abstract to the symposium we are organising at @eseb2025.bsky.social! 🧬

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Reposted by Thea F. Rogers

Women in Biology, University of Vienna @wobio-ubb.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

Today we celebrate International Day of Girls and Women in Science: 2025 marks it's 10th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, two significant milestones in the global effort to promote gender equality and women's #empowerment.

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Reposted by Thea F. Rogers

Juan Antonio Rodríguez @jrotwitguez.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Hello there! 👋 Sharing our last perspective piece 📄 👀: “Unlocking hidden dimensions of genomic diversity within species” doi.org/10.32942/X2Z... Co-ordinated together with @diegoharta.bsky.social and "not-on-bsky" Marina Brasó-Vives @mbv_marina.bsky.social

doi.org

Unlocking the hidden dimensions of genomic diversity within species

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