Alexei Maklakov
@alexeimaklakov.bsky.social
Biology of Ageing and Life History Evolution, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Fast females, slow males: accelerated ageing and reproductive senescence in Drosophila melanogaster females across diverse social environments url: academic.oup.com/evlett/artic...
Fast females, slow males: accelerated ageing and reproductive senescence in Drosophila melanogaster females across diverse social environments
Abstract. Females and males typically differ in lifespan, patterns of ageing, and reproduction. General explanations for variation in the magnitude of this
academic.oup.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Fast females, slow males: accelerated ageing and reproductive senescence in Drosophila melanogaster females across diverse social environments url: academic.oup.com/evlett/artic...
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
A detIled account of all the characters involved. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What Rosalind Franklin truly contributed to the discovery of DNA’s structure
Franklin was no victim in how the DNA double helix was solved. An overlooked letter and an unpublished news article, both written in 1953, reveal that she was an equal player.
www.nature.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:27 PM
A detIled account of all the characters involved. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
The idea is to decouple the journals from the review step. They’ll still exist, but they’ll need to add other value. They’ll highlight, curate, add new perspectives. If they do a good job they can still be prestigious (like Scientific American or Wired) (1.2) 👇
November 8, 2025 at 6:02 AM
The idea is to decouple the journals from the review step. They’ll still exist, but they’ll need to add other value. They’ll highlight, curate, add new perspectives. If they do a good job they can still be prestigious (like Scientific American or Wired) (1.2) 👇
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
Let's go! Super excited to partner with @richardsever.bsky.social and the fantastic @openrxiv.bsky.social team - Preprints have been the best thing that happened to science publishing during my lifetime, and we're happy @qedscience.bsky.social can make preprints do more 👊
November 6, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Let's go! Super excited to partner with @richardsever.bsky.social and the fantastic @openrxiv.bsky.social team - Preprints have been the best thing that happened to science publishing during my lifetime, and we're happy @qedscience.bsky.social can make preprints do more 👊
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
IT'S HAPPENING! 💥 I'm psyched to launch the collaboration between @qedscience.bsky.social & @openrxiv.bsky.social @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social! Preprint + q.e.d = your science is out there, and anyone can appreciate it. Let's care about making discoveries, and not on “getting published” (1/3) 👇
November 6, 2025 at 2:49 PM
IT'S HAPPENING! 💥 I'm psyched to launch the collaboration between @qedscience.bsky.social & @openrxiv.bsky.social @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social! Preprint + q.e.d = your science is out there, and anyone can appreciate it. Let's care about making discoveries, and not on “getting published” (1/3) 👇
1/ Evolutionary trade-offs between intergenerational and transgenerational fitness effects
Transgenerational / intergeneration fitness effects can be adaptive, but they can also trade-off with each other:
New work led by Isaac Harris, preprint:
tinyurl.com/yp2b6tjm
Transgenerational / intergeneration fitness effects can be adaptive, but they can also trade-off with each other:
New work led by Isaac Harris, preprint:
tinyurl.com/yp2b6tjm
November 5, 2025 at 12:18 PM
1/ Evolutionary trade-offs between intergenerational and transgenerational fitness effects
Transgenerational / intergeneration fitness effects can be adaptive, but they can also trade-off with each other:
New work led by Isaac Harris, preprint:
tinyurl.com/yp2b6tjm
Transgenerational / intergeneration fitness effects can be adaptive, but they can also trade-off with each other:
New work led by Isaac Harris, preprint:
tinyurl.com/yp2b6tjm
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
Transposon Regulation in the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline and Soma
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Transposon Regulation in the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline and Soma
Transposons are parasitic nucleic acids present in most genomes. The ability of transposons to mobilize makes them a source of genetic diversity and a threat to genome integrity. Interestingly, mutati...
www.biorxiv.org
November 4, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Transposon Regulation in the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline and Soma
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
Very excited for the arrival of Oren Harman’s latest book.
Few combine deep knowledge of the history of biology with such compelling writing.
Few combine deep knowledge of the history of biology with such compelling writing.
November 3, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Very excited for the arrival of Oren Harman’s latest book.
Few combine deep knowledge of the history of biology with such compelling writing.
Few combine deep knowledge of the history of biology with such compelling writing.
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
What do the naked mole rat and bowhead whale (lives to ~200 years) have in common to explain their remarkable longevity?
Enhanced DNA repair
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
erictopol.substack.com/p/a-long-awa...
Enhanced DNA repair
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
erictopol.substack.com/p/a-long-awa...
Evidence for improved DNA repair in long-lived bowhead whale - Nature
Analysis of the longest-lived mammal, the bowhead whale, reveals an improved ability to repair DNA breaks, mediated by high levels of cold-inducible RNA-binding protein. &nbs...
www.nature.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:26 PM
What do the naked mole rat and bowhead whale (lives to ~200 years) have in common to explain their remarkable longevity?
Enhanced DNA repair
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
erictopol.substack.com/p/a-long-awa...
Enhanced DNA repair
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
erictopol.substack.com/p/a-long-awa...
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
Not everybody knows that B.B. King wrote The Thrill Is Gone during the 2nd round of revisions
October 26, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Not everybody knows that B.B. King wrote The Thrill Is Gone during the 2nd round of revisions
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
Certain goby fish species remain miniature by overexpressing genes that inhibit growth, a genetic mechanism conserved for over 50 million years and shared across diverse vertebrates. doi.org/g97pqp
They might not be giants: The genetics behind why some fish remain tiny
Imagine you are a kind of fish called a goby, part of a huge family of more than 2,000 species. Maybe you're of average size for a goby, about three to four inches long.
phys.org
October 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Certain goby fish species remain miniature by overexpressing genes that inhibit growth, a genetic mechanism conserved for over 50 million years and shared across diverse vertebrates. doi.org/g97pqp
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
📢🚨Please share! We’re hiring! 📢🚨Have a strong interests in wildlife ecology and gut microbiome bioinformatics? 3 year Senior Research Associate for NERC Pushing the Frontiers grant. Apply here: vacancies.uea.ac.uk/vacancies/18.... Informal enquiries welcome! drgldavidson.github.io/ACMEresearch
September 30, 2025 at 10:20 AM
📢🚨Please share! We’re hiring! 📢🚨Have a strong interests in wildlife ecology and gut microbiome bioinformatics? 3 year Senior Research Associate for NERC Pushing the Frontiers grant. Apply here: vacancies.uea.ac.uk/vacancies/18.... Informal enquiries welcome! drgldavidson.github.io/ACMEresearch
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
Does #SexualSelection fuel #Speciation?
Our new #meta-analysis of comparative studies finds support for a positive relationship, but the rather moderate global effect suggests it’s not necessarily a dominant force.
doi.org/10.1093/evle...
Our new #meta-analysis of comparative studies finds support for a positive relationship, but the rather moderate global effect suggests it’s not necessarily a dominant force.
doi.org/10.1093/evle...
Sexual selection and speciation: a meta-analysis of comparative studies
Abstract. Understanding the drivers of biodiversity is a central goal in evolutionary biology. In particular, sexual selection has long been proposed as a
doi.org
October 22, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Does #SexualSelection fuel #Speciation?
Our new #meta-analysis of comparative studies finds support for a positive relationship, but the rather moderate global effect suggests it’s not necessarily a dominant force.
doi.org/10.1093/evle...
Our new #meta-analysis of comparative studies finds support for a positive relationship, but the rather moderate global effect suggests it’s not necessarily a dominant force.
doi.org/10.1093/evle...
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
A gene that causes obesity is paradoxically linked to a reduced risk of having heart disease and high cholesterol
go.nature.com/4qgX9mz
go.nature.com/4qgX9mz
This gene causes obesity — and shields against heart disease
Nature - People with certain forms of the MC4R gene have lower cholesterol levels than do other individuals with a high body-mass index.
go.nature.com
October 18, 2025 at 3:29 PM
A gene that causes obesity is paradoxically linked to a reduced risk of having heart disease and high cholesterol
go.nature.com/4qgX9mz
go.nature.com/4qgX9mz
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
🚨🔊 Fully funded PhD!! 🚨🔊
Are you interested in wildlife gut microbiomes? Love birds, fieldwork and bioinformatics? Want to join a collaborative and supportive team? Looking for training to become an independent scientist?
Please apply!
Informal enquiries welcome!
www.uea.ac.uk/course/phd-d...
Are you interested in wildlife gut microbiomes? Love birds, fieldwork and bioinformatics? Want to join a collaborative and supportive team? Looking for training to become an independent scientist?
Please apply!
Informal enquiries welcome!
www.uea.ac.uk/course/phd-d...
October 10, 2025 at 10:16 AM
🚨🔊 Fully funded PhD!! 🚨🔊
Are you interested in wildlife gut microbiomes? Love birds, fieldwork and bioinformatics? Want to join a collaborative and supportive team? Looking for training to become an independent scientist?
Please apply!
Informal enquiries welcome!
www.uea.ac.uk/course/phd-d...
Are you interested in wildlife gut microbiomes? Love birds, fieldwork and bioinformatics? Want to join a collaborative and supportive team? Looking for training to become an independent scientist?
Please apply!
Informal enquiries welcome!
www.uea.ac.uk/course/phd-d...
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
🚀 🚀 🚀 Our latest paper is out now: Age Deceleration and Reversal Gene Patterns in Dauer Diapause. We can learn from nature how aging of a whole organism with completely differentiated tissues can be slowed and how that organism can be completely rejuvenated.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Age Deceleration and Reversal Gene Patterns in Dauer Diapause
The dauer diapause is a naturally occurring extraordinarily long-lived alternative C. elegans larval stage that, upon dauer exit, lives a normal adult life with full reproductive capacity. Here, we d...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:06 PM
🚀 🚀 🚀 Our latest paper is out now: Age Deceleration and Reversal Gene Patterns in Dauer Diapause. We can learn from nature how aging of a whole organism with completely differentiated tissues can be slowed and how that organism can be completely rejuvenated.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
🚨Fully-funded PhD opportunity in my group🚨
🧬How does parental ageing shape the next generation?🐾
Find out by studying meerkats!
🧪Epigenetic clocks
✨Bioinformatics
📊Long-term data
🌍Kalahari fieldwork
💡Big evolutionary questions
Get in touch or APPLY NOW
Please share!
www.uea.ac.uk/course/phd-d...
🧬How does parental ageing shape the next generation?🐾
Find out by studying meerkats!
🧪Epigenetic clocks
✨Bioinformatics
📊Long-term data
🌍Kalahari fieldwork
💡Big evolutionary questions
Get in touch or APPLY NOW
Please share!
www.uea.ac.uk/course/phd-d...
October 17, 2025 at 9:12 AM
🚨Fully-funded PhD opportunity in my group🚨
🧬How does parental ageing shape the next generation?🐾
Find out by studying meerkats!
🧪Epigenetic clocks
✨Bioinformatics
📊Long-term data
🌍Kalahari fieldwork
💡Big evolutionary questions
Get in touch or APPLY NOW
Please share!
www.uea.ac.uk/course/phd-d...
🧬How does parental ageing shape the next generation?🐾
Find out by studying meerkats!
🧪Epigenetic clocks
✨Bioinformatics
📊Long-term data
🌍Kalahari fieldwork
💡Big evolutionary questions
Get in touch or APPLY NOW
Please share!
www.uea.ac.uk/course/phd-d...
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
Please RT!
🚨 4-year PhD position in my lab (Oct 2026 start) 🚨
Molecular and genomic insights to sexually antagonistic genes
Application deadline: Dec 2, 2025
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/mol...
🚨 4-year PhD position in my lab (Oct 2026 start) 🚨
Molecular and genomic insights to sexually antagonistic genes
Application deadline: Dec 2, 2025
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/mol...
Molecular and genomic insights to sexually antagonistic genes (GRIESHOP_U26DTP) | Doctoral Training Partnership
Why do harmful genes persist in populations instead of being removed by natural selection? One answer lies in sexual antagonism: when a genetic variant benefits males but harms females, or vice versa.
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk
October 16, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Please RT!
🚨 4-year PhD position in my lab (Oct 2026 start) 🚨
Molecular and genomic insights to sexually antagonistic genes
Application deadline: Dec 2, 2025
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/mol...
🚨 4-year PhD position in my lab (Oct 2026 start) 🚨
Molecular and genomic insights to sexually antagonistic genes
Application deadline: Dec 2, 2025
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/projects/mol...
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT📣: I haven’t been this excited to be part of something new in 15 years… Thrilled to reveal the passion project I’ve been working on for the past year and a half!🙀🥳 (thread 👇)
October 15, 2025 at 12:22 PM
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT📣: I haven’t been this excited to be part of something new in 15 years… Thrilled to reveal the passion project I’ve been working on for the past year and a half!🙀🥳 (thread 👇)
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
Why does the naked mole rat have the longest lifespan of any rodent, nearly 40 years?
A 30-year long mystery unraveled @ScienceMagazine today!
Its cGAS enzyme in cells has 4 missense mutations that upends its function, promoting DNA repair and suppressing inflammation
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A 30-year long mystery unraveled @ScienceMagazine today!
Its cGAS enzyme in cells has 4 missense mutations that upends its function, promoting DNA repair and suppressing inflammation
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
October 9, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Why does the naked mole rat have the longest lifespan of any rodent, nearly 40 years?
A 30-year long mystery unraveled @ScienceMagazine today!
Its cGAS enzyme in cells has 4 missense mutations that upends its function, promoting DNA repair and suppressing inflammation
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
A 30-year long mystery unraveled @ScienceMagazine today!
Its cGAS enzyme in cells has 4 missense mutations that upends its function, promoting DNA repair and suppressing inflammation
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
The Crick is looking for new junior group leaders! Any postdocs or early career researchers wanting to be our colleagues should apply 👍
We're now recruiting early career group leaders at the Crick to lead ambitious research programmes and explore bold scientific questions.
Hear our Director, Edith Heard, explain why the Crick is a unique place for curiosity-driven research.
Apply now ➡️ www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
Hear our Director, Edith Heard, explain why the Crick is a unique place for curiosity-driven research.
Apply now ➡️ www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
October 9, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The Crick is looking for new junior group leaders! Any postdocs or early career researchers wanting to be our colleagues should apply 👍
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
super cool study found human artifacts in Bearded vulture nests, incl. "weaponry like a crossbow bolt and wooden lance, decorated sheep leather, and parts of a slingshot....a shoe made from twigs and grass is ~675-years-old." link to paper: doi.org/10.1002/ecy..... www.popsci.com/environment/... 🧪🌍🦉
Multi-generational vulture nests hold 700 years of human artifacts
Crossbow bolts, sandals, slingshots, and more.
www.popsci.com
October 3, 2025 at 1:06 PM
super cool study found human artifacts in Bearded vulture nests, incl. "weaponry like a crossbow bolt and wooden lance, decorated sheep leather, and parts of a slingshot....a shoe made from twigs and grass is ~675-years-old." link to paper: doi.org/10.1002/ecy..... www.popsci.com/environment/... 🧪🌍🦉
Reposted by Alexei Maklakov
The University of East Anglia seeks a Senior Research Associate in evolutionary ecology of animal behaviour and gut microbiome, with a salary of £38,784 to £46,049. Apply by 31 Oct 2025. Details: https://www.uea.ac.uk. #job
Find your place at UEA
The University of East Anglia is a home for everyone, a champion of interdisciplinarity that stands for equal opportunity in higher education. Join us at an Open Day.
www.uea.ac.uk
October 2, 2025 at 6:14 AM
The University of East Anglia seeks a Senior Research Associate in evolutionary ecology of animal behaviour and gut microbiome, with a salary of £38,784 to £46,049. Apply by 31 Oct 2025. Details: https://www.uea.ac.uk. #job