This Week in Evolution is a podcast on the biology of what makes us tick. Hosts Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello take you through the new evolution that has been revolutionized by the field of genomics and molecular biology.
The This Week in Evolution podcast is a captivating and informative exploration of the field of evolutionary biology. Hosted by Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello, this podcast offers a unique perspective on various research studies and topics within the realm of evolution. As a high school biology teacher with a background in molecular bio research, I have found this podcast to be incredibly rewarding. The hosts' ability to dissect complex studies and present them in an accessible way is commendable.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is the wide range of topics that are covered. From viral evolution to Neanderthal introgressions, the hosts delve into diverse areas of research in evolutionary biology. This allows listeners to gain a comprehensive understanding of the field and exposes them to fascinating and sometimes unusual subjects. Additionally, the hosts bring their own backgrounds and expertise to each episode, providing different perspectives that enhance the discussions.
Another notable aspect of This Week in Evolution is its ability to attract prominent experts in the field as guests. From Hopi Hoekstra to grad students, the hosts are able to bring in individuals who offer valuable insights into their respective areas of research. This not only adds depth to each episode but also highlights the passion that both hosts have for science and nature. Their enthusiasm is infectious and motivates listeners to further explore evolutionary science.
While there are many positive aspects of this podcast, one downfall is its irregular release schedule. Currently being part of the TWiX podcast empire, it would be beneficial for this podcast to have more consistent episodes rather than appearing sporadically. A more frequent release schedule would allow listeners like myself to dive deeper into evolutionary biology on a regular basis.
In conclusion, This Week in Evolution is an exceptional science podcast that provides an engaging monthly round-up of diverse research studies within evolutionary biology. The hosts' passion for science, coupled with their ability to present complex concepts clearly and concisely, makes this podcast highly recommended for both experts and laypeople alike. As someone who was initially hesitant about delving into discussions of evolutionary science, I am grateful to have been introduced to this podcast. It has opened my mind to a whole world of fascinating subjects that I now eagerly share with friends and colleagues.
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Nels 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 brought them to tears Vincent – FDA: Don't rush a move to change the Covid-19 vaccine composition Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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
Nels 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
Nels 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 and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Rich 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 (Claire Fahy, NYT 3/7/2023) Vincent – SXSW Session “From Adversary to Ally: Reimagining Viruses as Medicines“ Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
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 evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
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 and art – Nature Careers Podcast Vincent – Science's 2023 Breakthrough and Breakdown Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 Nels - Bluesky Vincent - Cancer Virus Hunters: A History of Tumor Virology Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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' Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 rethink Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 Science Picks Nels – Hellbent documentary and Insufficient evidence for natural selection associated with the Black Death Vincent – BioRender Listener Pick Walter – Oded Rechavi and interview Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nathan 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 – Local news coverage of Amanda, Maria, and Nathan's paper Vincent – Discovering Retroviruses by Anna Marie Skalka Nathan – Genomics of Secondarily Temperate Adaptation in the Only Non-Antarctic Icefish Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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-codon recoding in bacteriophages may regulate translation of lytic genes discussed on TWiM 277 Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 you are a fish Vincent – Smallpox and its eradication Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
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 Issue on Birds 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 intromittent organs as a sperm competition strategy: a race to be last Vincent – Malaria at the Bronx Zoo (TWiP 110) Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 and summary Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Louise 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 Vincent – 3rd International Symposium on Infectious Diseases of Bats and Program Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 the Side podcast by Morgan Nelson and Ty Chiaro Vincent – Richard Ernst Lecture 2022 Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Alex 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 Martha – Plagues Upon the Earth by Kyle Harper Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 Vincent – Foundations of Virology by Fred Murphy Listener Pick Sam – Saturday Morning Breakfast – Evolutionist Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Joe 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 Joe – Biology versus bias Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 – Slowed canonical progress in large fields of science Vincent – Virology Live Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Nels 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 evolutionary dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Listener Pick Thomas – The gene's-eye view of evolution by J. Arvid Ågren Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
Carl Zimmer joins Nels to talk about science writing, science communication, viruses, and his new book, On Life's Edge. Host: Nels Elde Guest: Carl Zimmer Subscribe (free): iTunes, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiEVO Links for this episode On Life's Edge by Carl Zimmer Time stamps by Jolene. Thanks! Science Picks Nels – Remembrance of Dick Lewontin Carl – From telomere to telomere: the transcriptional and epigenetic state of human repeat elements Music on TWiEVO is performed by Trampled by Turtles Send your evolution questions and comments to twievo@microbe.tv
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