Ana Serra Silva
@anaserrasilva.bsky.social
Phylogeneticist and evolutionary biologist. Research fellow at UCL Biosciences | Communications Officer for @systassn.bsky.social
As someone who used to be in charge of the spinnaker, I confess to some unhealthy curiosity of how the all-spinnaker rig would behave (wind angle constraints aside).
Add to that, are they all symmetric, asymmetric, a combination? 🤔
I do doubt that a single bowman would suffice...
Add to that, are they all symmetric, asymmetric, a combination? 🤔
I do doubt that a single bowman would suffice...
![Comic: Common Sailing Rigs. [18 boats with different sail types, labeled.] Lateen; Bermuda rigged sloop; Ketch, Gaff rigged sloop; yawl; schooner; Ketch-rigged Gaff; Kloop-rigged sketch; bunkbed rig; Flettner rig; Oops, all Spinnakers; keel rig; kite rig; longsail rig; deckhand obliterator; offset rig; mastless rig; unclassifiable chaos rig.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreientc5tredyz4kyj4ifwiiu2diy5zkxze6pnlbtcyxlntwlkg43ku@jpeg)
January 14, 2026 at 9:33 AM
As someone who used to be in charge of the spinnaker, I confess to some unhealthy curiosity of how the all-spinnaker rig would behave (wind angle constraints aside).
Add to that, are they all symmetric, asymmetric, a combination? 🤔
I do doubt that a single bowman would suffice...
Add to that, are they all symmetric, asymmetric, a combination? 🤔
I do doubt that a single bowman would suffice...
Reposted by Ana Serra Silva
Lovely review by @adrianwoolfson.bsky.social of my book ‘The Tree of Life’ in the Wall Street Journal today. Free guest link if you’re interested. www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
‘The Tree of Life’ Review: The Ancestor at the Root of It All
Properly deciphering the branching pathways of evolution could unlock the history of every component of natural biology.
www.wsj.com
December 27, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Lovely review by @adrianwoolfson.bsky.social of my book ‘The Tree of Life’ in the Wall Street Journal today. Free guest link if you’re interested. www.wsj.com/arts-culture...
Interested in the @evojlinnsoc.bsky.social
special issue on phylogenomic discordance? tinyurl.com/v2eces3s 🧪
One more summary added, just in time for some holiday travel chaos! ☃️
We'll return as more articles come live.
Again, all and any oversimplications are entirely my fault!
special issue on phylogenomic discordance? tinyurl.com/v2eces3s 🧪
One more summary added, just in time for some holiday travel chaos! ☃️
We'll return as more articles come live.
Again, all and any oversimplications are entirely my fault!
December 19, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Interested in the @evojlinnsoc.bsky.social
special issue on phylogenomic discordance? tinyurl.com/v2eces3s 🧪
One more summary added, just in time for some holiday travel chaos! ☃️
We'll return as more articles come live.
Again, all and any oversimplications are entirely my fault!
special issue on phylogenomic discordance? tinyurl.com/v2eces3s 🧪
One more summary added, just in time for some holiday travel chaos! ☃️
We'll return as more articles come live.
Again, all and any oversimplications are entirely my fault!
Dang it! X-mas music has finally caught up with me. 🥴
December 18, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Dang it! X-mas music has finally caught up with me. 🥴
Huh, apparently it's been nine years since I got these feathery 'office' mates.
Yes, this was a taxidermy room.
Yes, I used a marble topped 19th lab bench as a desk for over half a year.
No, I was not the person that bubble/plastic wrapped the albatross(es).
Yes, this was a taxidermy room.
Yes, I used a marble topped 19th lab bench as a desk for over half a year.
No, I was not the person that bubble/plastic wrapped the albatross(es).
December 12, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Huh, apparently it's been nine years since I got these feathery 'office' mates.
Yes, this was a taxidermy room.
Yes, I used a marble topped 19th lab bench as a desk for over half a year.
No, I was not the person that bubble/plastic wrapped the albatross(es).
Yes, this was a taxidermy room.
Yes, I used a marble topped 19th lab bench as a desk for over half a year.
No, I was not the person that bubble/plastic wrapped the albatross(es).
Can't say I'm surprised these were my most used words here. I do wonder if I should be worried... 🤔
It is slightly less odd than randomly shouting 'paedomorphy' half and hour after blanking on it during a lecture... 🦎(imagine this is a salamander)
From: anisota.net/harvest
It is slightly less odd than randomly shouting 'paedomorphy' half and hour after blanking on it during a lecture... 🦎(imagine this is a salamander)
From: anisota.net/harvest
December 5, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Can't say I'm surprised these were my most used words here. I do wonder if I should be worried... 🤔
It is slightly less odd than randomly shouting 'paedomorphy' half and hour after blanking on it during a lecture... 🦎(imagine this is a salamander)
From: anisota.net/harvest
It is slightly less odd than randomly shouting 'paedomorphy' half and hour after blanking on it during a lecture... 🦎(imagine this is a salamander)
From: anisota.net/harvest
I didn't have 'freeze at my desk' on my bingo card for today...
Especially when the office was nice and toasty yesterday...
Especially when the office was nice and toasty yesterday...
a man wearing a hat and ear muffs is making a face
ALT: a man wearing a hat and ear muffs is making a face
media.tenor.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:21 AM
I didn't have 'freeze at my desk' on my bingo card for today...
Especially when the office was nice and toasty yesterday...
Especially when the office was nice and toasty yesterday...
Reposted by Ana Serra Silva
Our website is back!!! 🎉🎉🎉
Also, if you have yet to register for this Wednesday's Joy of Discovery lecture (online at 3PM GMT+0), do so here: tinyurl.com/bdu5xans
Prof. Mike Benton, University of Bristol, will be giving a talk on the origin of feathers.
Also, if you have yet to register for this Wednesday's Joy of Discovery lecture (online at 3PM GMT+0), do so here: tinyurl.com/bdu5xans
Prof. Mike Benton, University of Bristol, will be giving a talk on the origin of feathers.
November 24, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Our website is back!!! 🎉🎉🎉
Also, if you have yet to register for this Wednesday's Joy of Discovery lecture (online at 3PM GMT+0), do so here: tinyurl.com/bdu5xans
Prof. Mike Benton, University of Bristol, will be giving a talk on the origin of feathers.
Also, if you have yet to register for this Wednesday's Joy of Discovery lecture (online at 3PM GMT+0), do so here: tinyurl.com/bdu5xans
Prof. Mike Benton, University of Bristol, will be giving a talk on the origin of feathers.
Reposted by Ana Serra Silva
The online Joy of Discovery event is back! 🎉
This year the event is going to be a smidge different, with a single speaker. But what a speaker!
Prof. Mike Benton, University of Bristol, will be giving us a talk on the origin of feathers.
Join us NOV 26 AT 3PM GMT+0
REGISTER: tinyurl.com/bdu5xans
This year the event is going to be a smidge different, with a single speaker. But what a speaker!
Prof. Mike Benton, University of Bristol, will be giving us a talk on the origin of feathers.
Join us NOV 26 AT 3PM GMT+0
REGISTER: tinyurl.com/bdu5xans
November 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
The online Joy of Discovery event is back! 🎉
This year the event is going to be a smidge different, with a single speaker. But what a speaker!
Prof. Mike Benton, University of Bristol, will be giving us a talk on the origin of feathers.
Join us NOV 26 AT 3PM GMT+0
REGISTER: tinyurl.com/bdu5xans
This year the event is going to be a smidge different, with a single speaker. But what a speaker!
Prof. Mike Benton, University of Bristol, will be giving us a talk on the origin of feathers.
Join us NOV 26 AT 3PM GMT+0
REGISTER: tinyurl.com/bdu5xans
I give up...
I send out an email with detailed instructions about 'how to do X'
Just over 24hrs before deadline, bunch of emails asking 'how do I do X?'
Read the MFing instructions!
I'm going back to my trees, at least when they piss me off it's not their fault.
I send out an email with detailed instructions about 'how to do X'
Just over 24hrs before deadline, bunch of emails asking 'how do I do X?'
Read the MFing instructions!
I'm going back to my trees, at least when they piss me off it's not their fault.
kermit the frog from the muppet show is standing in front of a red curtain
ALT: kermit the frog from the muppet show is standing in front of a red curtain
media.tenor.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I give up...
I send out an email with detailed instructions about 'how to do X'
Just over 24hrs before deadline, bunch of emails asking 'how do I do X?'
Read the MFing instructions!
I'm going back to my trees, at least when they piss me off it's not their fault.
I send out an email with detailed instructions about 'how to do X'
Just over 24hrs before deadline, bunch of emails asking 'how do I do X?'
Read the MFing instructions!
I'm going back to my trees, at least when they piss me off it's not their fault.
Only wish this had been on the required reading list when I took molecular evolution as an undergrad... fairly sure that phylogenetics would have made a hell of a lot more sense (and I wouldn't have wasted time and money on MCATs, UKCATs and med schools applications...)
My book 'The Tree of Life' is published in the USA and Canada today.
Available as book, on kindle and as audio.
I would be really grateful for reposts.
www.amazon.com/Tree-Life-So...
www.amazon.ca/Tree-Life-So...
Available as book, on kindle and as audio.
I would be really grateful for reposts.
www.amazon.com/Tree-Life-So...
www.amazon.ca/Tree-Life-So...
November 11, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Only wish this had been on the required reading list when I took molecular evolution as an undergrad... fairly sure that phylogenetics would have made a hell of a lot more sense (and I wouldn't have wasted time and money on MCATs, UKCATs and med schools applications...)
Reposted by Ana Serra Silva
Reminder, registration for this year's Young Systematists' Forum (Friday, Nov 14th), closes tomorrow at 13:00 GMT+0.
Register: tinyurl.com/5n8mu5z9
Register: tinyurl.com/5n8mu5z9
YSF2025 Registration Form
Welcome to the YSF2025 Registration and Abstract Submission form.
This year the conference will be held online on Friday, November 14th 2025. We look forward to seeing old and new faces from across t...
tinyurl.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Reminder, registration for this year's Young Systematists' Forum (Friday, Nov 14th), closes tomorrow at 13:00 GMT+0.
Register: tinyurl.com/5n8mu5z9
Register: tinyurl.com/5n8mu5z9
Interested in the @evojlinnsoc.bsky.social
special issue on phylogenomic discordance? tinyurl.com/v2eces3s 🧪
Three more summaries added below!
We'll return when more articles come live.
Again, all and any oversimplications are entirely my fault!
special issue on phylogenomic discordance? tinyurl.com/v2eces3s 🧪
Three more summaries added below!
We'll return when more articles come live.
Again, all and any oversimplications are entirely my fault!
November 11, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Interested in the @evojlinnsoc.bsky.social
special issue on phylogenomic discordance? tinyurl.com/v2eces3s 🧪
Three more summaries added below!
We'll return when more articles come live.
Again, all and any oversimplications are entirely my fault!
special issue on phylogenomic discordance? tinyurl.com/v2eces3s 🧪
Three more summaries added below!
We'll return when more articles come live.
Again, all and any oversimplications are entirely my fault!
Reposted by Ana Serra Silva
Nice, intelligent review of my book "The Tree of Life" in Nature Ecology and Evolution by @bethanyjallen.bsky.social.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.amazon.co.uk/Tree-Life-So...
Out in USA next Tuesday!
www.amazon.com/Tree-Life-So...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.amazon.co.uk/Tree-Life-So...
Out in USA next Tuesday!
www.amazon.com/Tree-Life-So...
A beginner’s guide to tree thinking - Nature Ecology & Evolution
Nature Ecology & Evolution - A beginner’s guide to tree thinking
www.nature.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Nice, intelligent review of my book "The Tree of Life" in Nature Ecology and Evolution by @bethanyjallen.bsky.social.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.amazon.co.uk/Tree-Life-So...
Out in USA next Tuesday!
www.amazon.com/Tree-Life-So...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.amazon.co.uk/Tree-Life-So...
Out in USA next Tuesday!
www.amazon.com/Tree-Life-So...
I am happy to deal with a small number of stragglers but have to close the form at some point...
Ok, not happy per se, but in 5 years I haven't not had a straggler... 😑
Ok, not happy per se, but in 5 years I haven't not had a straggler... 😑
If you would like to attend the upcoming edition of the Young Systematists' Forum (Friday, Nov 14th), registration will remain open until Nov 12th, 13:00 GMT+0.
Register: tinyurl.com/5n8mu5z9
Register: tinyurl.com/5n8mu5z9
YSF2025 Registration Form
Welcome to the YSF2025 Registration and Abstract Submission form.
This year the conference will be held online on Friday, November 14th 2025. We look forward to seeing old and new faces from across t...
tinyurl.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I am happy to deal with a small number of stragglers but have to close the form at some point...
Ok, not happy per se, but in 5 years I haven't not had a straggler... 😑
Ok, not happy per se, but in 5 years I haven't not had a straggler... 😑
Anyone else's Windows Explorer freakishly slow since the last (forced!) update?
a loading bar with blue dots on a black background .
ALT: a loading bar with blue dots on a black background .
media.tenor.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Anyone else's Windows Explorer freakishly slow since the last (forced!) update?
Reposted by Ana Serra Silva
I've written a piece about great new article by @thibautbrunet.bsky.social, Chantal Combredet & Mylan Ansel. (www.cell.com/cell-reports... )
theconversation.com/how-the-firs...
theconversation.com/how-the-firs...
How the first animals evolved – a new clue from a tiny relative
Meet the choanoflagellates - the microscopic cousins of animals.
theconversation.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I've written a piece about great new article by @thibautbrunet.bsky.social, Chantal Combredet & Mylan Ansel. (www.cell.com/cell-reports... )
theconversation.com/how-the-firs...
theconversation.com/how-the-firs...
Reposted by Ana Serra Silva
📢📢📢 #YSF2025 ABSTRACT SUBMISSION CLOSES THIS SATURDAY OCT 25TH 11:59PM GMT+1 📢📢📢
If you are a student or early career researcher working on phylogenetics/taxonomy/systematics, join us online on Nov 14th for this year's (free!) Young Systematists' Forum!
REGISTER: tinyurl.com/2w5n3e8
If you are a student or early career researcher working on phylogenetics/taxonomy/systematics, join us online on Nov 14th for this year's (free!) Young Systematists' Forum!
REGISTER: tinyurl.com/2w5n3e8
YSF2025 Registration Form
Welcome to the YSF2025 Registration and Abstract Submission form.
This year the conference will be held online on Friday, November 14th 2025. We look forward to seeing old and new faces from across t...
tinyurl.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:54 AM
📢📢📢 #YSF2025 ABSTRACT SUBMISSION CLOSES THIS SATURDAY OCT 25TH 11:59PM GMT+1 📢📢📢
If you are a student or early career researcher working on phylogenetics/taxonomy/systematics, join us online on Nov 14th for this year's (free!) Young Systematists' Forum!
REGISTER: tinyurl.com/2w5n3e8
If you are a student or early career researcher working on phylogenetics/taxonomy/systematics, join us online on Nov 14th for this year's (free!) Young Systematists' Forum!
REGISTER: tinyurl.com/2w5n3e8
Reposted by Ana Serra Silva
Latest work out today in @currentbiology.bsky.social
We find the fly development gene bicoid is much older than previously thought (~20 million yrs older!) 🪰🧬
To pinpoint its origins we tackled the Diptera phylogeny, providing some resolution (many open questions remain).
🔗 tinyurl.com/2vyuevpy
We find the fly development gene bicoid is much older than previously thought (~20 million yrs older!) 🪰🧬
To pinpoint its origins we tackled the Diptera phylogeny, providing some resolution (many open questions remain).
🔗 tinyurl.com/2vyuevpy
Revised evolutionary relationships within Brachycera and the early origin of bicoid in flies
Mulhair et al. uncover a functional bicoid in non-cyclorrhaphan flies, pushing the
gene's origin back by ∼20 million years. Reassessing the Diptera phylogeny using the
largest dataset to date permits ...
www.cell.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Latest work out today in @currentbiology.bsky.social
We find the fly development gene bicoid is much older than previously thought (~20 million yrs older!) 🪰🧬
To pinpoint its origins we tackled the Diptera phylogeny, providing some resolution (many open questions remain).
🔗 tinyurl.com/2vyuevpy
We find the fly development gene bicoid is much older than previously thought (~20 million yrs older!) 🪰🧬
To pinpoint its origins we tackled the Diptera phylogeny, providing some resolution (many open questions remain).
🔗 tinyurl.com/2vyuevpy
Reposted by Ana Serra Silva
Students (and recent graduates) working on anything phylogenetics, systematics or taxonomy-related, the abstract submission deadline for this year's (FREE ONLINE) Young Systematists' Forum approaches!
Send us your abstracts by Saturday, OCTOBER 25 11:59PM GMT+1
tinyurl.com/2w5n3e8
Send us your abstracts by Saturday, OCTOBER 25 11:59PM GMT+1
tinyurl.com/2w5n3e8
YSF2025 Registration Form
Welcome to the YSF2025 Registration and Abstract Submission form.
This year the conference will be held online on Friday, November 14th 2025. We look forward to seeing old and new faces from across t...
tinyurl.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Students (and recent graduates) working on anything phylogenetics, systematics or taxonomy-related, the abstract submission deadline for this year's (FREE ONLINE) Young Systematists' Forum approaches!
Send us your abstracts by Saturday, OCTOBER 25 11:59PM GMT+1
tinyurl.com/2w5n3e8
Send us your abstracts by Saturday, OCTOBER 25 11:59PM GMT+1
tinyurl.com/2w5n3e8
Interested in the @evojlinnsoc.bsky.social special issue on phylogenomic discordance? tinyurl.com/v2eces3s
Two more summaries added below!
We'll return to our regularly scheduled one paper summary a week next Wednesday.
Again, all and any oversimplications are entirely my fault!
Two more summaries added below!
We'll return to our regularly scheduled one paper summary a week next Wednesday.
Again, all and any oversimplications are entirely my fault!
October 16, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Interested in the @evojlinnsoc.bsky.social special issue on phylogenomic discordance? tinyurl.com/v2eces3s
Two more summaries added below!
We'll return to our regularly scheduled one paper summary a week next Wednesday.
Again, all and any oversimplications are entirely my fault!
Two more summaries added below!
We'll return to our regularly scheduled one paper summary a week next Wednesday.
Again, all and any oversimplications are entirely my fault!
Reposted by Ana Serra Silva
Don't forget to register for our in-person Founders' Lecture, next Friday OCT 24 6PM at Burlington House, London.
Prof @emmateeling.bsky.social, UCD, will be talking to us on all things bat 🦇
This is a free event but it will help us gauge interest if you register. tinyurl.com/28u2u2z8
Prof @emmateeling.bsky.social, UCD, will be talking to us on all things bat 🦇
This is a free event but it will help us gauge interest if you register. tinyurl.com/28u2u2z8
October 14, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Don't forget to register for our in-person Founders' Lecture, next Friday OCT 24 6PM at Burlington House, London.
Prof @emmateeling.bsky.social, UCD, will be talking to us on all things bat 🦇
This is a free event but it will help us gauge interest if you register. tinyurl.com/28u2u2z8
Prof @emmateeling.bsky.social, UCD, will be talking to us on all things bat 🦇
This is a free event but it will help us gauge interest if you register. tinyurl.com/28u2u2z8
Quarterly reminder to not write posts during my commute/ before finishing my coffee... ☕
That should be 6PM Friday, OCT 24!
Do join us ON THE 24TH for the @systassn.bsky.social Founders' Lecture.
More details here: systass.org/founders-lec...
That should be 6PM Friday, OCT 24!
Do join us ON THE 24TH for the @systassn.bsky.social Founders' Lecture.
More details here: systass.org/founders-lec...
October 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Quarterly reminder to not write posts during my commute/ before finishing my coffee... ☕
That should be 6PM Friday, OCT 24!
Do join us ON THE 24TH for the @systassn.bsky.social Founders' Lecture.
More details here: systass.org/founders-lec...
That should be 6PM Friday, OCT 24!
Do join us ON THE 24TH for the @systassn.bsky.social Founders' Lecture.
More details here: systass.org/founders-lec...
Please register or get your students to register!
I do not want to unleash nagging mode!
I do not want to unleash nagging mode!
The Young Systematists' Forum is nearly upon us!
If you are a student (or postdoc) working on phylogenetics, taxonomy or systematics, join us Nov 14th for this free and friendly online conference!
Abstract submission closes Saturday, October 25th at 11:59PM GMT+1
REGISTER: tinyurl.com/2w5n3e8
If you are a student (or postdoc) working on phylogenetics, taxonomy or systematics, join us Nov 14th for this free and friendly online conference!
Abstract submission closes Saturday, October 25th at 11:59PM GMT+1
REGISTER: tinyurl.com/2w5n3e8
YSF2025 Registration Form
Welcome to the YSF2025 Registration and Abstract Submission form.
This year the conference will be held online on Friday, November 14th 2025. We look forward to seeing old and new faces from across t...
tinyurl.com
October 6, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Please register or get your students to register!
I do not want to unleash nagging mode!
I do not want to unleash nagging mode!
Reposted by Ana Serra Silva
Don't forget to register for our (free) upcoming Founder's Lecture on Friday, Oct 24 6PM at Burlington House, London.
Prof @emmateeling.bsky.social, University College Dublin, will be talking to us about all things bats! 🦇
Registration: tinyurl.com/28u2u2z8
Details: systass.org/founders-lec...
Prof @emmateeling.bsky.social, University College Dublin, will be talking to us about all things bats! 🦇
Registration: tinyurl.com/28u2u2z8
Details: systass.org/founders-lec...
October 1, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Don't forget to register for our (free) upcoming Founder's Lecture on Friday, Oct 24 6PM at Burlington House, London.
Prof @emmateeling.bsky.social, University College Dublin, will be talking to us about all things bats! 🦇
Registration: tinyurl.com/28u2u2z8
Details: systass.org/founders-lec...
Prof @emmateeling.bsky.social, University College Dublin, will be talking to us about all things bats! 🦇
Registration: tinyurl.com/28u2u2z8
Details: systass.org/founders-lec...