This Week in Evolution

Nels and Vincent examines the use of AI and genome language models to design novel derivatives of bacteriophage phiX174.
Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello
Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email
Become a patron of TWiEVO
Links for this episode
Join the MicrobeTV Discord server
AI design of bacteriophage phiX174 derivatives (bioRxiv)
Timestamps by Jolene
Science Picks
Nels – NIH official resigns after flap over risks of seasonal flu virus study and The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) requests input from all interested parties on Federal policy updates that aim to accelerate the American scientific enterprise, enable groundbreaking discoveries, and ensure that scientific progress and technological innovation benefit all Americans.
Vincent – One Plus One Equals One: Symbiosis and the evolution of complex life by John Archibald
Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles

Send your evolution questions and comments to [email protected]

Nels and Vincent explain research which shows that insertion of a retrovirus into the genome regulates a novel color trait in swordtail fish.
Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello
Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email
Become a patron of TWiEVO
Links for this episode
Join the MicrobeTV Discord server
Retrovirus and swordfish scale color (bioRxiv)
Timestamps by Jolene
Science Picks
Nels – Some like it hot! A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes and Kara Marshall's talk on history of science/science funding in the US, family connections to medical care, and her own lab's work at Baylor College of Medicine
Vincent – NIH shake-up to grant decision-making draws concerns of political meddling
Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles

Send your evolution questions and comments to [email protected]

Nels and Vincent explain research attempting to explain why among humans, females around the world live on average 5 years longer than males, but the trend is reversed in many birds, amphibians, and insects.
Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello
Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email
Become a patron of TWiEVO
Links for this episode
Join the MicrobeTV Discord server
Sexual selection drives sex difference in adult life expectancy (Sci Adv)
Timestamps by Jolene
Science Picks 1:37:00
Nels – NIH Leadership Is Failing Early Career Researchers
Vincent – Kennedy's Comments on Circumcision Are Only Going to Confuse and Shame Parents
Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles

Send your evolution questions and comments to [email protected]

Nels and Vincent discuss research which shows a shift from the rule that living organisms produce same-species offspring: an ant that produces individuals from two distinct species.
Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello
Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email
Become a patron of TWiEVO
Links for this episode
Join the MicrobeTV Discord server
David Baltimore interview (TWiV 100)
One mother for two species (Nature)
Timestamps by Jolene
Science Picks
Nels – Dr. Bill Rom, NYU canoes every lake connected by a portage trail in the Boundary Waters in Minnesota
Vincent – Google just made photography obsolete
Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles

Send your evolution questions and comments to [email protected]

Nels and Vincent discuss research on hidden evolutionary constraints that dictate the retention of coronavirus accessory gene, which was flagged by NIH as potentially dangerous gain-of-function research.
Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello
Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email
Become a patron of TWiEVO
Links for this episode
Join the MicrobeTV Discord server
Hidden evolutionary constraints and retention of coronavirus accessory genes (Curr Biol)
Timestamps by Jolene
Science Picks
Nels – NIH suspends dozens of pathogen studies over 'gain-of-function' concerns and Mentorship and acts of kindness
Vincent – Kennedy's case against mRNA vaccines collapses under his own evidence
Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles

Send your evolution questions and comments to [email protected]