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This Week in EvolutionGenes that don't leaveNels 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...
2025-08-201h 38This Week in EvolutionAn ant and two fungi walk into a bar and meet a naked mole ratNels and Vincent review research on how neuropeptides influence the behavior of leafcutter ants, and regulate the different caste behaviors such as defenders, leaf foragers, brood care, and fungus farming. 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 Neuropeptides and behavior of leaf cutter ants (Cell) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – My academic job offer was rescinded. I’ll keep going—but U.S. researchers are running out of road Vincent – The...
2025-07-2357 minThis Week in EvolutionEven the archaea are going viralNels and Vincent discuss an ultra reduced archaeal genome, the closest cellular entity to date that approaches a viral strategy of existence. 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 Ultra-reduced archaeal genome (bioRxiv) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – The Bethesda Declaration Vincent – US to Drop Guidance to Limit Alcohol to One or Two Drinks Per Day, Sources Say Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles ...
2025-06-181h 28This Week in EvolutionThe best experiments ever doneNels and Vincent review the properties of Mendel’s pea genes through the lens of modern genetic analysis. 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 Insights into Mendel’s pea genes (Nature) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – Evolution related game Vincent – Should Unvaccinated Patients Get Organ Transplants? Ethicist Weighs In Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@micro
2025-05-211h 31This Week in EvolutionA wolf in wolf's clothingNels and Vincent explain the ancestry and evolution of the extinct dire wolf. 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 Evolution and ancestry of dire wolf (bioRxiv) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – Navigating to the forefront of innovation: A celebration of immigrant scientists Vincent – Exclusive: a Nature analysis signals the beginnings of a US science brain drain Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send yo...
2025-04-231h 27This Week in EvolutionSex-Z cephalopodsNels and Vincent explain the ancient evolutionary origin of sex in cephalopods. 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 Evolution of sex in cephalopods (Current Biol) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – Speaking into a microphone? Your audio quality can impact the way people view you Vincent – Remedy Supported by Kennedy Leaves Some Measles Patients More Ill Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evol...
2025-03-261h 27This Week in EvolutionCopy that, genomeNels and Vincent explain how template switching during DNA replication is a widespread source of adaptive gene amplification. 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 Template switching and gene amplification (eLife) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – Jeremy Berg on Bluesky – jeremymberg.bsky.social Vincent – Dickson Despommier, 84 Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
2025-02-261h 26This Week in EvolutionAnts go from carpenters to surgeonsNels and Vincent reveal that worker ants amputate their colleagues injured leg to prevent infections. 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 Wound-dependent leg amputation in ants (Curr Biol) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – The Science Bridge Vincent – US withdraws from WHO Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
2025-01-221h 23This Week in EvolutionOn the origins of orangeNels and Vincent discuss the molecular and genetic origins of sex-linked orange coat color in cats. 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 Orange coat color in cats (bioRxiv) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – AI takes up science podcasting Vincent – Humans evolved for distance running – but ancestor ‘Lucy’ didn’t go far or fast Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions an...
2024-12-311h 16This Week in EvolutionTWiEVO 108: A virus in every parasiteNels and Vincent review the identification of a novel virus associated with the pathogen Plasmodium knowlsei and which is part part of a diverse and unclassified viral taxon. 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 Virus associated with P. knowlsei (bioRxiv) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – The peace of wild things, poem by Wendell Berry Vincent – All Life on Earth Today Descended From a Single Cell. Meet LUCA Music on TWiEVO...
2024-11-201h 18This Week in EvolutionOne small step for cells, one giant step for cell kindNels and Vincent discuss the origins of eukaryotes, with contributions from at least 3 bacteria (alphaproteobacteria) and a large contribution from DNA viruses with large genomes. 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 Complex symbiotic interactions during eukaryogenesis (bioRxiv) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – Pathoplexus.org Vincent – Can science cure its addiction to plastic? Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions...
2024-10-301h 32This Week in EvolutionWhat's old immunity is new againNels and Vincent explain how homology searches of anti-phage systems in eukaryotic genomes can be used to discover proteins of the human immune system. 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 Human antiviral effectors from antiphage systems (Cell Host Micro) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – Pathoplexus.org Vincent – Can science cure its addiction to plastic? Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution...
2024-09-301h 28This Week in EvolutionNot every rose has its thornNels and Vincent look at how plant prickles, sharp epidermal projections that provide defense from predators and other advantages, arose by convergent evolution, the emergence of analogous traits in distantly related species. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Convergent evolution of plant prickles (Science) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – Trees as a metaphor to understand relationships in biology Vincent – Project 2025 vs. The Public’s Health Music on TWiEVO...
2024-09-301h 31This Week in EvolutionWooly mammoth prosciuttoNels and Vincent discuss the genome sequence of an ancient wooly mammoth, which shows that the three-dimensional architecture of the DNA can persist after 50,000 years. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Three dimensional architecture of 50,000 year old wooly mammoth genome (Cell) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – Mysterious SARS-CoV-2 variants showing up in sewer samples Vincent – ‘Cocaine sharks’ found in waters off Brazil Music on TWiEVO is performed by...
2024-07-311h 17This Week in EvolutionChange the world by duplicating yourselfNels and Vincent explore a direct experimental test of Ohno’s Hypothesis, which states that gene duplication can help genes tolerate new mutations and thus facilitates the evolution of new phenotypes. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Direct test of Ohno’s Hypothesis (eLive) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – Experimental Evolution and the Nature of Biodiversity Vincent – Is science’s dominant funding model broken? Music on TWiEVO is perfor...
2024-07-091h 38This Week in EvolutionKelp gets some viral helpNels and Vincent explain how deep genomics of macroalgae illuminate multiple paths to aquatic, photosynthetic multicellularity. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Paths to aquatic, photosynthetic multicellularity (Mol Plant) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – 12-sided Roman relic baffles archaeologists, spawns countless theories Vincent – TWiEVO 11: Microbial accomplices in multicellularity and the follow up Synergistic Cues from Diverse Bacteria Enhance Multicellular Development in a Choanoflagellate Music on TWiEVO is perf...
2024-05-091h 30This Week in Evolution99 problems but a tail ain't oneNels and Vincent review the genetic basis for tail-loss evolution in humans and apes. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Genetic basis of tail loss evolution in apes (Nature) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – Will Brie and Camembert Cheeses Go Extinct? Vincent – A True Human Tail in a Neonate: Case report and literature review Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your...
2024-05-091h 34This Week in EvolutionA shocking means to move genesNels and Vincent reveal how electric organ discharge from the electric eel facilitates the introduction of DNA into teleost larvae. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Electric eel discharge moves DNA into cells (Peer J) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – “The Jump” quilt by Cristina Arcenegui Bono Vincent – T4 bacteriophage art object and Gwenbeads Etsy shop Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Se...
2024-05-081h 12This Week in EvolutionSpaces that celebrate scienceRich Condit joins Nels and Vincent at the Science Mill in Johnson City, Texas, where Director of STEM Education Jeehyun Park talks about the goals of the childrens’ museum. Hosts: Nels Elde, Vincent Racaniello, and Rich Condit Guest: Jeehyun Park Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server The Science Mill Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – Science Mill: More Than a Museum and Elde Lab Video Rich – The Moon May Get Its Own Time Zone (Clair...
2024-03-101h 31This Week in EvolutionThe worms strike back!Nels and Vincent discuss how behavioural individuality determines infection risk in clonal ant colonies. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Infection risk in clonal ant colonies (Nat Comm) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – Fungi (lichens) in Space Vincent – Polar bear energetic and behavioral strategies on land with implications for surviving the ice-free period Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evoluti...
2024-02-271h 19This Week in EvolutionGerms trapping wormsNels and Vincent review a study of the key processes required for the different stages of fungal carnivory by a nematode-trapping fungus. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Fungal carnivory by a nematode-trapping fungus (Plos Biol) Timestamps by Jolene Science Picks Nels – Openly available illustrations as tools to describe eukaryotic microbial diversity Vincent – Dana-Farber retractions: meet the blogger who spotted problems in dozens of cancer papers ...
2024-02-271h 17This Week in EvolutionGoing bananas over the origins of corn Nels and Vincent discuss the origins of two modern day agriculturally important plants: a role for two different wild teosintes in making modern maize, and the origin and evolution of the triploid cultivated banana genome. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Two teosintes made modern maize (Science) Teosinte (Native Seeds) Evolution of triploid banana genome (Nature) Science Picks Nels – Why we need an academic career path that combines science...
2023-12-261h 29This Week in EvolutionWatering the viruses until they bloomNels and Vincent discuss how the rewetting of seasonally dried soils, a critical event in Mediterranean grasslands that reactivates dormant soil microorganisms, leading to pulses of carbon and nitrogen mineralization, and is accompanied by a bloom of viral diversity, followed by extensive viral community turnover. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Viral but not bacterial community successional patterns reflect extreme turnover shortly after rewetting dry soils Science Picks
2023-11-151h 01This Week in EvolutionA bacteria, a phage, and a selfish element walk into a cryptomonadNels and Vincent take apart an amazing symbiosis consisting of two bacteria, one bacteriophage, and seven different genomes all within a single-celled alga. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode •Join the MicrobeTV Discord server •A single crowded cryptomonad cell (Curr Biol) •Letters read on TWiEVO 94 Science Picks Nels – What happened at NIH during the last government shutdown Vincent – Geneticist J. Craig Venter: ‘I consider retirement tantamount to death’ ...
2023-09-291h 37This Week in EvolutionFaster than a speeding bacteriaNels and Vincent review a collision of synthetic biology and experimental evolution, using a minimal synthetic bacterial cell with only 473 genes, the smallest genome of any known organism that can be grown in lab culture. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode •Join the MicrobeTV Discord server • Evolution of a minimal cell (Nature) Science Picks Nels – Life magnified stamp collection Vincent – Matters Microbial Music on TWiEVO is performed...
2023-08-251h 30This Week in EvolutionThere's algae in the jarNels and Vincent explain a study of how interspecies competition between two algae influences evolution of metabolism and size. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode •Join the MicrobeTV Discord server • Metabolic evolution during competition (Curr Biol) Science Picks Nels – How amino acids got their names (Source) Vincent – EVs Fix One Pollution Problem—And Worsen Another Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send y...
2023-07-211h 35This Week in EvolutionMeet your very distant cousinsNels and Vincent discuss new findings using phylogenetic approaches about how complex eukaryotic cells emerged from prokaryotic ancestors, which firmly place eukaryotes as a clade nested within the Asgard archaea. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent RacanielloS Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode •Join the MicrobeTV Discord server •Heimdallarchaeial ancestry of eukaryotes (Nature) Science Picks Nels – Juneteenth issue of Cell – collection of essays from black and brown scientists Vincent – Tara Oceans Music on TWiEVO is perf...
2023-07-171h 31This Week in EvolutionThe mystery of the mouse mummiesNels and Vincent provide insights into the mystery of mouse mummies on the summits of >6000 m Andean volcanoes, including whether they were living there and if so why? Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode •Join the MicrobeTV Discord server •Mystery of mouse mummies (bioRxiv) Science Picks Nels – Zoonomia Vincent – SeaPhages Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and com...
2023-05-121h 27This Week in EvolutionOn the outer rim of tumor evolutionNels and Vincent discuss the observation that cells on a boundary of a solid tumor have higher growth rates compared to those in the center and how to model this difference using genome sequencing data. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode •Join the MicrobeTV Discord server •Evolutionary models of solid tumor growth (Nat Ecol Evol) Science Picks Nels – TWiV 1000 Vincent – The dream of wiping out polio might need a re...
2023-04-251h 40This Week in EvolutionDog days of evolution in the shadows of ChernobylNels and Vincent review a study of the dogs of Chernobyl which reveals that genetically distinct populations with different amounts of western breed contributions to their genomes, the first step in assessing the effects of exposure to long-term ionizing radiation. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode •Join the MicrobeTV Discord server •The dogs of Chernobyl (Science Adv) •What the dogs of Chernobyl can teach us (Stat) •Letters read on TWiEVO 88 Sc...
2023-03-261h 15This Week in EvolutionNathan Clark's revolutionary hair care adviceNathan joins Nels and Vincent to discuss his approach to understanding how species adopt novel traits to overcome challenges, and its application to identifying coding and noncoding sequence changes that underlie mammalian hairlessness. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Nathan Clark Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode •Join the MicrobeTV Discord server •Gene loss in marine mammals (TWiEVO 34) •Gene change underlying mammalian hair loss (eLife) •Letters read on TWiEVO 87 Science Picks Nels – ...
2023-02-211h 34This Week in EvolutionTWiEVO 86: Pulling out the stops in genetic code evolutionNels and Vincent discuss how evolution of changes in stop codon assignment might occur, and a novel mechanism for altering the meaning of translation stop codons discovered in a trypanosomatid with the apropos name, Blastocrithidia nonstop. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode •Join the MicrobeTV Discord server •Novel stop codon reassignment mechanisms (Nature) Science Picks Nels – Protein Synthesis: An epic on the cellular level Vincent – Widespread stop-c...
2023-02-051h 45This Week in EvolutionTeaching old dogs new genetic tricksNels and Vincent discuss the use of genome sequence data for over 4,000 domestic, semi-feral, and wild canids to understand the genetic drivers of canine behavior. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Genetic drivers of canine diversification (Cell) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Ghosts of Science Past Still Haunt Us by C. Brandon Ogbunu Vincent – The Biggest Ideas in the Universe by Sean Carroll Music on TWiEVO is performed...
2022-12-211h 37This Week in EvolutionDecoding our defenses to the Black DeathNels and Vincent review the use of ancient DNA to identify loci that may have been under selection during the Black Death by studying populations before, during, and after the pandemic. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Evolution of immune genes associated with Black Death (Nature) ERAP2 and respiratory disease (medRxiv) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Interview with Paul Turner in Current Biology and Map of the World if yo...
2022-11-081h 31This Week in EvolutionEvolution spreads its wings (and then loses them)Florian Maderspacher from Current Biology joins Nels and Vincent to discuss a special issue of the journal on birds. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Florian Maderspacher Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Current Biology Birds Special Issue Scott Edwards bikes across the US (Audubon) Support Diversity Issues in Evolution (Go Fund Me) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Florian – Favorite birds of authors/contributors in Birds issue Nels –Loss of avian intromi...
2022-10-241h 32This Week in EvolutionA genetic hack for the human brainNels and Vincent consider evidence that a single amino acid change in the TKTL1 gene might have led to greater neurogenesis in the frontal cortex of modern humans compared with Neanderthals. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Human TKTL1 implies greater neurogenesis (Science) Everyone’s a little bit Neanderthal (TWiEVO 8) Tragic gene flow from Neanderthals (TWiV 676) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Unusual display of elements Vincent – Sykdomspulsen a...
2022-09-251h 32This Week in EvolutionEvolution's new and improved slime moldsNels and Vincent discuss how duplication of a gene encoding a transcription factor led to evolution of a novel cell type in the slime mold Dictyostelium. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Gene duplication leads to novel cell type (Current Biol) Evolution of multicellularity (TWiEVO 11) Letters read on TWiEVO 81 Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Dall-E artificial intelligence meets art Vincent – John Bonner’s slime mold movies Music on...
2022-08-241h 26This Week in EvolutionViruses of a feather bottleneck togetherLouise Moncla joins Nels and Vincent to review her use of genomics to understand emergence, evolution, and transmission of respiratory viruses including influenza virus H5N1, mumps virus, and SARS-CoV-2. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Louise Moncla Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Within-host diversity of influenza virus H5N1 (PLoS Path) Mumps virus outbreak in Washington (eLive) SARS-CoV-2 tight transmission bottlenecks (PLoS Path) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – JWST Images...
2022-08-011h 24This Week in EvolutionWhen the immune system is away, SARS-CoV-2 will playNels and Vincent discuss an analysis of the drivers of evolution of SARS-CoV-2 during chronic infections, indicating that a tradeoff exists between antibody evasion and fitness. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Click arrow to play Download TWiEVO 79 (103 MB .mp3, 86 min) Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode SARS-CoV-2 evolution during chronic infection (Nat Med) Letters read on TWiEVO 79 Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – NASA scientists say images from the Webb telescope nearly brough...
2022-07-021h 38This Week in EvolutionThe virus daily doubleNels and Vincent provide an update on cases of monkeypox, and summarize a biochemical view of three changes in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein that may balance positive and negative selection. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode ECDC monkeypox risk assessment (pdf) Monkeypox virus genomes (Nextstrain) Discussion of monkeypox virus genome sequencing (virological.org) Balancing positive and negative selection in spike protein (Biochem) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Science on...
2022-05-261h 21This Week in EvolutionThe mutations of our livesAlex joins Nels and Vincent to discuss his work which demonstrates that somatic mutation rates scale with lifespan in mammals. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Alex Cagan Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Somatic mutation and age (Nature) Zombie gene in elephants (TWiEVO 26) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Alex – Paper.app Nels – Fifty years since Lewontin’s apportionment of human diversity Vincent – An Exceptional Village Listener Pick Mart...
2022-04-261h 19This Week in EvolutionOne-step symbiosisNels and Vincent describe how a single amino acid change can allow E. coli to replace the essential gut symbiont of the stinkbug Plautia stali. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Click arrow to play Download TWiEVO 75 (103 MB .mp3, 86 min) Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Making E. coli an insect mutualist (bioRxiv) Letters read on TWiEVo 76 Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Inequality in science and the case for a new agenda...
2022-03-221h 25This Week in EvolutionEven the BANAL coronaviruses are interestingNels and Vincent review isolation of SARS-CoV-2-like viruses from bats in Laos that can replicate in human cells. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode SARS-CoV-2 like viruses in bats in Laos (Nature) Vampire vax (TWiV 809) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Erich Jarvis on scientists and public engagement Vincent – Polio type 1 in Africa Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evol...
2022-02-241h 38
This Week in VirologyRough draft of Omicron originsNels joins TWiV to discuss hypotheses for the origins of Omicron, including that it came from mice or arose during chronic infection of an immunocompromised patient. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, Kathy Spindler, and Brianne Barker Guest: Nels Elde Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Vaccine Town Hall (ASV) Columbia University BSL-3 Manager position Did Omicron come from mice? (J Genet Genomics) Persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection (SSRN) Letters read on TWiV 861 Timestamps by Jolene. Thanks! Weekly Picks B...
2022-02-041h 54This Week in EvolutionOn racism, not race with Joe GravesJoe Graves joins Nels and Vincent to discuss his career in evolutionary biology and his recent book that answers questions about race and racism. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Joe Graves Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode On Racism, Not Race (Amazon) African Americans in evolutionary science (Behav Ecol Sociobiol) Biological variation and the normal (Am J Hum Biol) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Where is Webb? Vincent – Black Microbiologists Association
2022-02-031h 25This Week in EvolutionWith a little help from your hostsNels and Vincent review three aspects of SARS-CoV-2: phylogenetics of Omicron, a two-step fitness selection for variants, and putative RNA insertions from host genomes. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Two-step fitness selection for SARS-CoV-2 variants (Cell Rep) Host origins of SARS-CoV-2 genome insertions (Virological) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Plant virus satellite accelerates wing formation in insect Vincent – A plant virus that switched to vertebrates Music on TW...
2021-12-281h 36This Week in EvolutionEchoes of evolution both shallow and deepNels and Vincent discuss evolutionary evidence for an epidemic of coronavirus infection over 20,000 years ago in East Asia, and reconstruction of the membrane differences between bacteria and Archaea reveals unexpected differences in permeability. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Ancient coronavirus epidemic in East Asia (Curr Biol) Gene-culture coevolution and human evolutionary transition (Proc Roy Soc B) Membrane permeability at the lipid divide (bioRxiv) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Sl...
2021-10-261h 15This Week in EvolutionFaster than a speeding coronavirusNels and Vincent explain a method to calculate the mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2, and the role of a single amino acid change in spike in enhancing fitness of the delta variant and enabling it to out-compete the alpha variant. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode SARS-CoV-2 mutation rate (Genome Biology Evolution) Delta spike change enhances fitness (bioRxiv) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Leading Edge Symposium Vincent – Epidemiological and evolution...
2021-09-271h 27This Week in EvolutionSwimming in SARS-CoV-2 sequencesNels and Vincent discuss the identification of novel bat coronaviruses that shed light on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, dating the first cases of COVID-19 to mid-November 2019, and recovery of deleted genome sequences from early in the Wuhan outbreak. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Identification of novel bat coronaviruses (Cell) Dating first cases of COVID-19 (PLoS Path) Recovery of deleted SARS-CoV-2 sequences (bioRxiv) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – The Last—An...
2021-06-301h 30This Week in EvolutionStepping through time with SARS-CoV-2Nels and Vincent explain a new method for calculating the most recent common ancestor of SARS-CoV-2, which concludes that the ancestral virus was circulating in October/November 2019, before its first detection in China. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Evolutionary portrait of SARS-CoV-2 (Mol Biol Evolution) Letters read on TWiEVO 68 Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Ed Yong pandemic trauma and We’re Not Ready for the Next Pandemic Vincent...
2021-05-291h 33This Week in EvolutionCorona chameleonNels and Vincent review evidence for recombinant SARS-CoV-2 genomes arising in the B.1.1.7 lineage within the United Kingdom. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Recombination in B.1.1.7 lineage (Virological) CoVariants Letters read on TWiEVO 67 Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Mars rover helicopter flight! Vincent – TWiN 17: Worms see the light with Michael Nitabach Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution ques...
2021-04-221h 36This Week in EvolutionSARS-2-mouseNels and Vincent review a preprint demonstrating that changes in the genomes of the SARS-CoV-2 variants B1.351 and P.1 allow the viruses to reproduce in mouse cells in culture and in laboratory mice. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Tony Schountz on TWiV 668 SARS-CoV-2 variants infect mice (bioRxiv) CoVariants Letters read on TWiEVO 66 Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Billion years of plate tectonics Vincent – Sapiens a Graphic History by Yu...
2021-03-251h 33This Week in EvolutionVariants in the mistNels and Vincent review evidence that a single amino acid change in the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein has driven adaptation to humans, followed by an update on the status of variants of concern. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Selective sweep drove SARS-CoV-2 adaptation (bioRxiv) Novel coronavirus haplotypes Letters read on TWiEVO 65 Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Radio Garden Vincent – Our World in Data – Coronavirus Music on TWiEVO is pe...
2021-02-251h 26This Week in EvolutionSeeing the lineages for the variantsNels and Vincent consider evolution of antibody immunity to SARS-CoV-2, and update the situation on novel virus variants of concern with potentially altered fitness and reactivity with antibodies. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (Nature) mRNA vaccine-elicited antibodies to variants (bioRxiv) Scott Hensley thread (Twitter) Analysis of B.1.17 lineage (virological) Trevor Bedford thread (Twitter) Andrew Rambaut on variant naming (Twitter) Letters read on TWiEVO 64 Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science P...
2021-01-221h 48This Week in EvolutionYear of the coronavirus Nels and Vincent wrap up 2020 with a discussion of novel variants of SARS-CoV-2 that have emerged in the United Kingdom and South Africa, how to interpret the rapidly emerging genome sequence data and what to look for in the coming weeks as these variants spread across the globe. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Preliminary genomic characterization of UK variant (virological) Clinical outcomes of infection with Orf8 variants (Lancet) Global Report Investigating Novel Coronavirus Haplotyp...
2020-12-311h 30This Week in EvolutionArmy ants with Daniel KronauerDaniel joins Nels and Vincent to discuss his new book on army ants, the wickedest insects ever to roam the planet, and his research on them and clonal raider ants. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Daniel Kronauer Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode This Week in Ants (TWiEVO 13) Raiders of the Lost Orco (TWiEVO 18) Army Ants by Daniel Kronauer Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Daniel – Desert Navigator by Rüdiger Wehner and Insects...
2020-12-071h 36This Week in VirologyFishing for viruses with Nels EldeNels joins TWiV to reveal the discovery of a picornavirus of zebrafish by measuring immune responses in the host, genome sequence analysis of the White House COVID-19 outbreak, and a six-fold higher SARS-CoV-2 exposure rate than reported cases in German children. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Guest: Nels Elde Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Zebrafish virus discovery by visualization (Curr Biol) Viral genome sequencing of White House COVID-19 outbreak (medRxiv) Genetic signature of virus that may...
2020-11-051h 51This Week in EvolutionFive years of TWiEVO on the future of our pastOn the fifth anniversary of TWiEVO, Nels and Vincent invite 12 evolutionary biologists to describe exciting future directions for the field and their laboratory in the next five years. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guests: Lillian Fritz Laylin, Talia Karasov, Andrew Kern, Sarah Tishkoff, Dmitri Petrov, Nancy Chen, Amanda Larracuente, John McCutcheon, Ambika Kamath, Chip Aquadro, Rebekah Rogers, Yaniv Braindvain, and Harmit Malik Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Science Picks Nels - Science Mill Virtual Tour and Benefit Vincent - Das Co...
2020-09-251h 50This Week in EvolutionThe hypothesis giving treeNels and Vincent answer listener questions and discuss a newly discovered virus of amoeba with a nearly complete ORFan genome: none of the proteins encoded in the viral genome look like any other proteins. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Yaravirus (PNAS) Letters read on TWiEVO 59 Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels - Blog by Ambika Kamath Vincent - TWiVerse Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled...
2020-08-281h 27This Week in EvolutionSARS-CoV-2 receptor binding evolution bloomsJessie, Allie and Tyler join Nels and Vincent to describe their work on deep mutational scanning of the SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guests: Jesse Bloom, Allie Greaney, and Tyler Starr Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode Bloom Laboratory Deep mutational scanning of SARS-CoV-2 RBD (bioRxiv) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
2020-06-241h 24This Week in EvolutionRevising the drafts of coronavirus evolutionNels and Vincent continue their discussion of SARS-CoV-2 evolution, including understanding recurrent mutations in the viral genome, and the potential for re-emergence of the virus from an animal reservoir. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO SARS-CoV-2 genomic diversity (Inf, Genet, Evol) Re-emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (bioRxiv) Tackling SARS-CoV-2 rumors (virological.org) Letters read on TWiEVO 56 Image credit Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels - The Cell in Evolution Vincent - Visual Science Music on TWiEV...
2020-05-201h 28This Week in EvolutionCoronavirus evolution from soup to nutsNels and Vincent continue their discussion of SARS-CoV-2 evolution, with a report that the coronavirus proofreading enzyme stimulates RNA recombination, and debunking the conclusion that a change in the viral spike glycoprotein is associated with increased human to human transmission. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO CoV proofreading enzyme stimulates recombination (bioRxiv) CoV spike mutation pipeline (bioRxiv) Issues with CoV sequencing data (virological.org) Bill Hanage on selection vs bottleneck (threader.app) Image credit Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science...
2020-05-061h 13This Week in EvolutionRough drafts of SARS-CoV-2 scienceNels and Vincent continue their discussion of SARS-CoV-2 from an evolutionary viewpoint, including function of the furin cleavage site, whether Vervet cells are an informative system, another bat isolate, and a nomenclature to assist genomic epidemiology. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO SARS-CoV-2 in Vero cells (bioRxiv) More related SARSr virus from bat (bioRxiv) Patient isolates in Vero cells (medRxiv) Nomenclature for genomic epidemiology (bioRxiv) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels - EvoEco seminars Vincent...
2020-04-251h 17This Week in EvolutionVirus evolution by land and by sea and by CoV, part IINels and Vincent continue their discussion of SARS-CoV-2 from an evolutionary viewpoint, focusing on what the genome sequences tell us about the virus. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Clement Chow with COVID-19 (Salt Lake Trib) Scientists exposed to coronavirus (Nature) CoV by Britt Glaunsinger (YouTube) Genetic epidemiology of novel coronavirus (nextstrain.org) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels - Science Mill Explorer Zone Vincent - COVID-19 treatment and therapy tracker Music on TWiEV...
2020-04-041h 31This Week in EvolutionVirus evolution by land and by sea and by CoVNels and Vincent examine SARS-CoV-2 from an evolutionary viewpoint, examining what the spike glycoprotein sequence informs us about the origin of the virus. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Distinct CoV name needed (Lancet) Proximal origin of SARS-COV-2 (virological) CoV spillovers not rare (Goats and Soda) SARS-CoV-2 phylodynamics analysis (virological) Bat CoV surveillance in China (PLoS Path) Image credit Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels - Alejandro Sanchez TED Talk Vincent - WHO SARS-CoV-2 Sitrep
2020-02-261h 22This Week in EvolutionThe starting point paradoxNels and Vincent dive deep into evolution and consider how new proteins emerged billions of years ago, when there were no other proteins to serve as starting material. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Primordial emergence of a nucleic acid binding protein (bioRxiv) Tawfik laboratory Image credit Letters read on TWiEVO 51 Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels - Universal principled review Vincent - Hostile Planet by National Geographic Listener Pick Courtney...
2020-01-221h 10This Week in EvolutionI'm dreaming of a Y chromosomeNels and Vincent discuss signatures of sex chromosome evolution revealed by assembly of a young vertebrate Y chromosome from 3-spined stickleback fish. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Assembly of a young vertebrate Y chromosome (bioRxiv) Image credit Letters read on TWiEVO 50 Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels - Genome from a 5,700-Year-Old Wad of Chewed Gum Vincent - NJ Sea-Level Rise Reports Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Sen...
2019-12-241h 42This Week in EvolutionA giant podcast on giant virusesRich joins Nels and Vincent for a debriefing on the 4th Ringberg Symposium on Giant Virus Biology in Tegernsee, Germany. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Rich Condit Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Endless giant virus forms most beautiful (TWiV 575) 4th Ringberg Giant Virus Meeting Program (pdf) Photographs by Matthias Fischer Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Rich - Flightradar24 Nels - Deutsches Museum Munich Vincent - Diversify Microbiology Music on TWiEVO is performed by Tramp...
2019-11-291h 53This Week in EvolutionFlipping out with choanos on caffeineNels and Vincent reveal a new choanoflagellate that forms multicellular cup shaped colonies that respond to light to alternate between feeding and swimming behavior. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Microbial accomplices in multicellularity (TWiEVO 11) Light regulated collective contractility (Science) Image credit Letters read on TWiEVO 48 Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels - How to write a great science paper by Cormac McCarthy Vincent - Natural Selection Store Music on TWiEVO is performe...
2019-10-311h 34This Week in EvolutionOn the origin of beer speciesNels and Vincent trace the origins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains used to make beer, and find that ales and lagers are made with yeasts that were derived from those used to make European grape wine and Asian rice wine. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Origins of beer yeasts (PLoS Biol) Chateau Jiahu beer Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels - Population fluctuations in 10 biggest cities Vincent - 1.7 million year old rhino tooth (original Nature pape...
2019-09-191h 31This Week in EvolutionCan an old tumor teach us new tricks?Nels and Vincent analyze the genomes of canine transmissible tumors to provide insight into the worldwide spread of the disease from its origin in a single dog 4000-8500 years ago, and its diversity, mutation, and evolution. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Evolution and mutation of canine transmissible cancer (Science) Clam cancers (TWiEVO 17) Sixth modality of infectious disease (PLoS Path) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels - Vasa Museum in Stockholm Vincent - Nobel Museum in S...
2019-08-311h 32This Week in EvolutionMicrobial secrets of mouse-ear cressAt ASM Microbe in San Francisco, Nels and Vincent meet up with Talia Karasov who reveals that in contrast to agriculture, wild plants are colonized by multiple lineages of pathogenic bacteria. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Talia Karasov Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Talia Karasov in the Bergelson lab Arabidopsis thaliana and Pseudomonas (Cell Host Micr) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
2019-07-291h 02This Week in EvolutionThe enemy of my enemy is my phageAt ASM Microbe in San Francisco, Nels and Vincent meet up with Paul Turner to talk about evolutionary considerations in using bacteriophages to treat infections with antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Paul Taylor Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Turner Lab at Yale Phage therapy: A renewed approach (Cell Host Microbe) Phage treatment of aortic graft (Evol Med Pub Health) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels- Science Glass Vincent- Phage therapy for disseminated Mycobacte...
2019-06-271h 04This Week in EvolutionSocial evolution with a side of shrimpDustin Rubinstein joins Nels and Vincent to discuss coevolution of genome architecture and social behavior, and studying social transitions in sponge-dwelling snapping shrimp. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Dustin Rubinstein Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Co-evolution of genome architecture and social behavior (Trend Ecol Evol) Social transitions in snapping shrimp (Curr Op Insect Sci) Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Dustin- Genesis: The Deep Origin of Societies 1 by E.O. Wilson, and The Human Swarm by Mark O. Moffett...
2019-05-251h 20This Week in EvolutionWho's who in your genomeNels and Vincent review the contribution of multiple Denisovan lineages to the modern Papuan genome. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Denisovan ancestries in Papuans (Cell) Prof Murray Cox Image credit Letters read on TWiEVO 42 Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels- Sydney Brenner - What Genomes Can Tell Us About the PastVincent- Scientific Communication in a Post-Truth Society Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution ...
2019-04-241h 18This Week in EvolutionWhere do baby genes come from?Nels and Vincent explore the evolution of new protein-coding genes de novo from nocoding DNA sequences, using the antifreeze protein of northern codfish as a model. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Evolution of antifreeze protein gene in codfish (PNAS) Codfish diversity (Cheng lab) Frankentomatoes (Huff Post) Image credit Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels- Science at Sundance reviews Vincent- The Rise and Fall of Scientific Authority Music on TWiEVO is performed...
2019-03-201h 24This Week in EvolutionEau de beeNels and Vincent move back to reproductive isolation - this time, pre-zygotic, in the charismatic orchid bee where the males make chemically distinct perfumes to attract mates of the same species. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Olfactory receptor gene underlies reproductive isolation (biorXiv) Image credit Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels- Nature Zen: Orchid Bees Are Shiny Vincent- What You Believe About Science Denial May Be All Wrong Music on TWiEVO is perfor...
2019-02-151h 11This Week in EvolutionIn a Legionella of their ownNels and Vincent look at the intracellular bacteria Legionella from an evolutionary perspective: the role of gene acquisition and reshuffling from plants, animals, fungi, and archaea in the emergence of human pathogens. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Over 18,000 effectors in Legionella genome (PNAS) Carmen Buchrieser lab Howard Shuman Science Picks Nels - Science in Film (twitter) Vincent - Lunar Eclipse 101 Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to...
2019-01-261h 17This Week in EvolutionEvolving to evolveNels and Vincent reveal a highly conserved protein that acts as an evolvability factor, increasing mutation and the ability of bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Inhibiting evolution of antibiotic resistance (Mol Cell) Pushing viruses over the error threshold (virology blog) Image credit Letters read on TWiEVO 38 Science Picks Nels- Science/nature illustrator/artist Rachel Ignotofsky (website, Etsy shop) Vincent- Life Ascending by Nick Lane Music on TWiEVO is performe...
2018-12-241h 20This Week in EvolutionAll's not quiet on the telomeric frontMia joins Nels and Vincent to unravel their finding that the transposons that maintain the ends of chromosomes in Drosophilahave evolved in conflict with the genome. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Mia Levine Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Levine Lab at U Penn Telomere elongation without telomerase (bioRxiv) Letters read on TWiEVO 36 Science Picks Nels - Cinema Science podcast Vincent - Mastodon bones unearthed (Instagram, Grand Rapids News) Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles
2018-10-241h 15This Week in EvolutionStrawberry sex chromosomes foreverNels and Vincent reveal that female-specific DNA associated with sex in strawberries has repeatedly changed its genomic location, possibly linking new genes with sex. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Become a patron of TWiEVO Jumping sex genes in strawberries (PLoS Biol) Red Queen by Matt Ridley Image credit Letters read on TWiEVO 35 Science Picks Nels - New snailfish and Cloned crayfish Vincent - A PhD Lab Coat Ceremony Listener Picks Steve - Diversity in simple blobs Justin - On Growth and Forms by D'Arcy Wentworth Thom...
2018-09-211h 36This Week in EvolutionYou don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s PONNels and Vincent discuss how the loss of an enzyme in marine mammals millions of years ago now makes them at risk for neurotoxicity caused by human-made organophosphorous pesticides. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Become a patron of TWiEVO Ancient lossesof paraoxonase I (Science) Big Yellow Taxi (YouTube) Image credit Letters read on TWiEVO 34 Hey farmer farmer put away the chlor-pyri-fus I don’t care about spots on my apples Leave me the manatee and walruses Science Picks Nels - New dinosaur discovered in Utah Vincent ...
2018-08-161h 22This Week in EvolutionFly by virusNels and Vincent are astounded by the finding of an insect-derived virus in a fungus that manipulates the behavior of flies. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Become a patron of TWiEVO Virus in fungus in fly (bioRxiv) On a leaf, no one can hear you scream (TWiV 443) Nels gives Benzer Lecture (YouTube) Domestication of fungal fly pathogen (bioRxiv) Sequencing E. muscae genome (10X genomics) Eisen's twitter stream on new iflavirus (Twitter) Science Picks Nels - Mindsuckers; getting photos; Anand Varma photos Vincent - Happy Birthday Gregor Mendel Music on T...
2018-07-251h 20This Week in EvolutionNever not neutralMatt joins Nels and Vincent to discuss the neutral theory of evolution and its rejection in light of genome-scale data. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Matt Hahn Become a patron of TWiEVO Hahn Lab Molecular Population Genetics by Matt Hahn Neutral theoryin light of natural selection (Mol Biol Evol) Neutral Sequence Fallacy(Assembly of Fragments) Splendor and miseryof adaptation (BMC Biol) Image credit Letters readon TWiEVO 32 Science Picks Nels - Inaugural Transposon Day Vincent - How many human genes? Listener Pick Anne- Plants r...
2018-06-201h 19This Week in EvolutionVirus archaeology, or when the human genome is the junkNels and Vincent present ancient hepatitis B virus genome sequences from Bronze Age to Medieval period human remains. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Become a patron of TWiEVO Ancient hepatitis B virus genomes(Nature) Even more ancient HBV genomes(bioRxiv) Image credit Letters readon TWiEVO 31 Science Picks Nels - Sampling whale breathwith drones (Preprint) Vincent - Verge Science Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
2018-05-201h 21This Week in EvolutionDriving Miss Maize-yNels and Vincent reveal how a motor protein in corn causes preferential transmission of chromosomes to egg cells, leading to non-Mendelian inheritance. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Become a patron of TWiEVO Molecular Evolution and the Cellmeeting Selfishcorn chromosomes (Cell) Dawe Lab- neocentromeres and meiotic drive Image credit Letters readon TWiEVO 30 Science Picks Nels - Craypot stinkhorn mushroom (Colus pusilus) Vincent -Doubts raised over plan to release herpesvirus to wipe out carp Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and commen...
2018-04-211h 15This Week in EvolutionEvolution on the wingNels and Vincent discuss the evolution of blood feeding to nonbiting in a mosquito, and evolution of bacterial virulence in the house finch caused by incomplete host immunity. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Become a patron of TWiEVO Molecular Evolution and the Cell meeting Mosquito evolution from blood feeding to nonbiting (PNAS) Mosquito blood feeding is not a free lunch (virology blog) Incomplete immunity and evolution of virulence (Science) Image credit Letters read on TWiEVO 29 Science Picks Nels - IDEA and Impossible Foods Vincent - it is NOT junk Mu...
2018-03-211h 42This Week in EvolutionGenetics of skin pigmentation in AfricaSarah Tishkoff joins Nels and Vincent to explain work from her laboratory on the genetic basis of skin pigmentation in Africans. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Sarah Tishkoff Become a patron of TWiEVO Molecular Evolution and the Cell meeting Sarah AMA on Reddit Genetics of African skin pigmentation (Science) Image credit Science Picks Nels - In Defense of Plants (Shrew Loo) Vincent - Contribution of NIH funding to new drug approvals Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution...
2018-02-281h 19This Week in VirologyIn ACOD1 we trustNels joins the TWiV team to talk about his work on genomic accordions in vaccinia virus, hepatitis B virus in a 439 year old mummy, and viral induction of energy synthesis by a long noncoding RNA. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, Rich Condit, and Kathy Spindler Guest: Nels Elde Click arrow to play Download TWiV 476 (63 MB .mp3, 105 min) Subscribe (free): iTunes, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode ASV 2018: asv.org, asv2018.umd.edu TWiV is a must-listen (WaPo) More on poxvirus accordions (bioRxiv) HBV from a 439...
2018-01-141h 44This Week in EvolutionColdevoTaking a cue from the recent frigid weather, Nels and Vincent explore how modifications of a neuronal cold-sensing channel regulate diminished cold sensitivity in hibernating mammals. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Become a patron of TWiEVO Why ground squirrels and hamsters don't mind the cold (Cell Rep) Image credit Letters read on TWiEVO 27 Science Picks Nels - Undergrad podcasters from Stonehill College Vincent - Viruses at Target Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
2018-01-131h 18This Week in EvolutionMy Scientist VinnyVinny Lynch joins Nels and Vincent to discuss how a zombie gene in elephants protects these large, long lived animals from cancer. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Vinny Lynch Become a patron of TWiEVO Lynch Lab Elephant zombie LIF gene induces apoptosis (bioRxiv) Image credit Science Picks Nels - Animalism Vincent - Voyager I fires up thrusters after 37 years Vinny - Rollin' Wild Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@mic...
2017-12-071h 13This Week in EvolutionPigeons show the wayNels and Vincent discuss a genomic analysis of the passenger pigeon, which shows that species with large and stable populations may be at risk of extinction after a sudden environmental change. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Become a patron of TWiEVO Passenger pigeon genomic diversity (Science) Image credit Letters read on TWiEVO 25 Science Picks Nels - Video of nematophagous fungi Vincent - How should novelty be valued in science? John - Evo-Devo (Despacito Biology Parody) Melanie - What's in John's Freezer Music on TWiEVO is performed...
2017-11-231h 38This Week in EvolutionGood viruses visiting bad neighborhoodsMarco Vignuzzi joins Nels and Vincent to discuss recent work from his laboratory on redirecting RNA virus evolution in sequence space. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Marco Vignuzzi Become a patron of TWiEVO Vignuzzi Laboratory Redirecting evolution of RNA viruses in sequence space (Nat Micro) Is quasispecies concept relevant to RNA viruses? (J Virol) This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. Get $30 off your first order and free shipping by going to blueapron.com/twie.
2017-10-261h 33This Week in EvolutionThe Alus are going to be alrightNels and Vincent reveal how the protein DHX9 suppresses RNA processing defects caused by invasion of the Alu retroelement into the human genome. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Become a patron of TWiEVO DHX9 suppresses Alu defects (Nature) Asifa Akhtar on The Latest Thinking This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the menu this week and get your first 3 meals free with your first purchase – WITH FREE SHIPPING – by going to blueapron.com/twie.
2017-09-201h 14This Week in EvolutionE pluribus cerevisiaeMaitreya Dunham joins Nels and Vincent to explain how her laboratory uses experimental evolution to study yeast flocculation, the community-building cell aggregation trait. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Maitreya Dunham Become a patron of TWiEVO Dunham Laboratory Adaptive Routes to Cell Aggregation in Yeast (Genetics) Making the best of a sticky situation (SGD) Yeast Genetics and Genomic Course (Cold Spring Harbor) Genetic basis of biofilm formation (Beacon) 2017 CSH Plate Race (YouTube) Image credit This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe...
2017-08-301h 21This Week in EvolutionTWiEVO 21: A virus with a green thumbRich Condit joins Nels and Vincent to explain how a vaccinia virus protein customizes ribosomes to favor the translation of viral mRNAs with a stretch of A residues in the 5'-untranslated region. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Become a patron of TWiEVO Rich Condit with Harry Noller (scroll down) Trans-Kingdom mimicry? (Nature) More on RACK1 (Nat Struct Mol Biol) Image credit Letters read on TWiEVO 21 This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1 fresh ingredient and recipe delivery service in the country. See what’s on the me...
2017-07-131h 45This Week in EvolutionTWiEVO 20: In the company of cnidariansNels and Vincent explore the role of TSR proteins during colonization of cnidarians by dinoflagellates. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Become a patron of TWiEVO TSR domain proteins in cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis A. elegantissima image credit Letters read on TWiEVO 20 Science Picks Nels - CRISPR 5 ways Vincent - The Vital Question by Nick Lane Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
2017-06-201h 42This Week in EvolutionTWiEVO 19: The beauty of the storyJonathan Weiner, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Beak of the Finch, joins Nels and Vincent to talk about his career and his writing. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guest: Jonathan Weiner Become a patron of TWiEVO Jonathan's Columbia University page Jonathan's author page Science Picks Nels - The Gap by Ira Glass Vincent - EPA removes climate science site Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
2017-05-241h 24This Week in EvolutionTWiEVO 18: Raiders of the lost orcoHosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Guests: Ni-Chen 'Sylvia' Chang, Waring 'Buck' Trible, and Sean K. McKenzie Buck and Sean join Vincent in New York, while Sylvia is with Nels in Salt Lake City to discuss the first mutant ant ever made: disruption of orco, a gene required for function of odorant receptors, show defects in social behavior and fitness. Become a patron of TWiEVO First ant mutants link odorant receptors and social behavior (bioRxiv) Kronauer Lab This episode is brought to you by Blue Apron. Blue Apron is the #1...
2017-04-101h 32
This Week in VirologyTWiV 382: Everyone's a little bit viralHosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove and Kathy Spindler
Guests: Nels Elde and Edward Chuong
Nels and Ed join the TWiV team to talk about their observation that regulation of the human interferon response depends on regulatory sequences that were co-opted millions of years ago from endogenous retroviruses.
Links for this episode
Endogenous retroviruses and regulation of innate immunity (Science)
Placenta is viral (Nature)
An ERV that maintains pluripotency of human embryonic stem cells (TWiV 279)
Letters read on TWiV 382
This episode is sponsored by ASM Agar Art Contest and ASV 2...
2016-03-271h 53