Christopher Wheat
@chriswheat.bsky.social
Ecological & Evolutionary Functional Genomics, mostly butterflies. Biology Professor, Stockholm University.
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
Repeat after me: GENE 👏 EXPRESSION 👏 PROFILING 👏 DOES 👏 NOT 👏 A 👏 VIRTUAL 👏 CELL 👏 MAKE 👏
December 26, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Repeat after me: GENE 👏 EXPRESSION 👏 PROFILING 👏 DOES 👏 NOT 👏 A 👏 VIRTUAL 👏 CELL 👏 MAKE 👏
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
Excited about our new preprint showing bidirectional adaptive introgression between invasive and native crop pests over ecological timescales www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
The collision of two genomes threatens global food security
Human activity alters selection pressures and species' ranges, creating opportunities for hybridisation through secondary contact. Ancient hybridization has enabled adaptive radiation, but its role in...
www.biorxiv.org
December 26, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Excited about our new preprint showing bidirectional adaptive introgression between invasive and native crop pests over ecological timescales www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
One dramatic advance in evolutionary biology over the past 20 years has been the empirically lead shift in thought, away from rigid species boundaries towards introgression being very common, much of it adaptive. The ramifications are still rippling out (e.g. in ConBio). Below is a nice addition:
The collision of two genomes threatens global food security https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.25.696198v1
December 26, 2025 at 1:32 PM
One dramatic advance in evolutionary biology over the past 20 years has been the empirically lead shift in thought, away from rigid species boundaries towards introgression being very common, much of it adaptive. The ramifications are still rippling out (e.g. in ConBio). Below is a nice addition:
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
demografr: A toolkit for simulation-based inference in population genetics https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.18.694482v1
December 19, 2025 at 7:31 AM
demografr: A toolkit for simulation-based inference in population genetics https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.18.694482v1
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
Fast phylogenetic generalised linear mixed-effects modelling using the glmmTMB R package https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.20.695312v1
December 23, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Fast phylogenetic generalised linear mixed-effects modelling using the glmmTMB R package https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.20.695312v1
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
The collision of two genomes threatens global food security https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.25.696198v1
December 26, 2025 at 4:32 AM
The collision of two genomes threatens global food security https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.25.696198v1
Science Christmas Carols!!!!! (great background music the whole family will enjoy)
youtu.be/efXGqG2tMgQ?...
youtu.be/efXGqG2tMgQ?...
Seven Science Carols (Vertical Animated Version)
YouTube video by acapellascience
youtu.be
December 25, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Science Christmas Carols!!!!! (great background music the whole family will enjoy)
youtu.be/efXGqG2tMgQ?...
youtu.be/efXGqG2tMgQ?...
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
The UK-based science sleuth Sholto David will receive $2,625,000 following a settlement with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which admitted that its researchers misrepresented data and images in 14 scientific journal articles. cen.acs.org/research-int... #chemsky 🧪
Dana-Farber settles lawsuit alleging fraud in NIH research
Scientific sleuth who uncovered the problems to receive more than $2.6 million
cen.acs.org
December 25, 2025 at 12:30 PM
The UK-based science sleuth Sholto David will receive $2,625,000 following a settlement with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which admitted that its researchers misrepresented data and images in 14 scientific journal articles. cen.acs.org/research-int... #chemsky 🧪
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
‘tis the season to celebrate the many animal species that reproduce via parthenogenesis - or reproduction from an unfertilized egg. Pictured here are 3 species of all-female, parthenogenetic gecko: Mourning Gecko; Bynoe's gecko; & Indopacific slender gecko
#MerryChristmas #Herpetology 🎄🧪🦎
#MerryChristmas #Herpetology 🎄🧪🦎
December 25, 2025 at 1:46 AM
‘tis the season to celebrate the many animal species that reproduce via parthenogenesis - or reproduction from an unfertilized egg. Pictured here are 3 species of all-female, parthenogenetic gecko: Mourning Gecko; Bynoe's gecko; & Indopacific slender gecko
#MerryChristmas #Herpetology 🎄🧪🦎
#MerryChristmas #Herpetology 🎄🧪🦎
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
I've been thinking about the "virtual cell" concept and wanted to write up a few thoughts. Specifically on how I think the prior experience in GWAS informs the most likely way these models will be useful.
andrewcarroll.github.io/2025/12/23/t...
andrewcarroll.github.io/2025/12/23/t...
The Virtual Cell Will Be More Like Gwas Than Alphafold
There has been significant discussion recently on the concept of the “virtual cell.” I want to summarize the key concepts regarding what the field wants from a virtual cell and the challenges we face....
andrewcarroll.github.io
December 24, 2025 at 1:52 AM
I've been thinking about the "virtual cell" concept and wanted to write up a few thoughts. Specifically on how I think the prior experience in GWAS informs the most likely way these models will be useful.
andrewcarroll.github.io/2025/12/23/t...
andrewcarroll.github.io/2025/12/23/t...
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
Convergence and constraint in glucosinolate evolution across the Brassicaceae (Amanda Agosto Ramos, Kevin A Bird, Annanya Jain, Gabriel Philip Sumo, Odinaka Okegbe, Lucy Holland, Daniel J Kliebenstein) doi.org/10.1093/plce... #PlantScience @aspbofficial
Convergence and constraint in glucosinolate evolution across the Brassicaceae
Studying a glucosinolate enzyme across the Brassicaceae shows evolution of plant specialized metabolism involves independent gene losses, distal duplicatio
doi.org
December 23, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
Now accepted in Genetics!
academic.oup.com/genetics/adv...
We ask why and when rescaling of forward simulations in population genetics is not accurate. There are some interesting results for people performing simulations with selection.
academic.oup.com/genetics/adv...
We ask why and when rescaling of forward simulations in population genetics is not accurate. There are some interesting results for people performing simulations with selection.
Effects of rescaling forward-in-time population genetic simulations
Abstract. Forward-in-time population genetic simulations enable modelling of a wide array of complex evolutionary scenarios. Simulating small genomic regio
academic.oup.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Now accepted in Genetics!
academic.oup.com/genetics/adv...
We ask why and when rescaling of forward simulations in population genetics is not accurate. There are some interesting results for people performing simulations with selection.
academic.oup.com/genetics/adv...
We ask why and when rescaling of forward simulations in population genetics is not accurate. There are some interesting results for people performing simulations with selection.
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
I've slowly been reformatting notes from my population and conservation genetics course at Montana State University into a web book—a rough draft is now live here: elinck.org/popgen_conge...
December 22, 2025 at 9:32 PM
I've slowly been reformatting notes from my population and conservation genetics course at Montana State University into a web book—a rough draft is now live here: elinck.org/popgen_conge...
I’m glad AI lovers use AI generated images when presenting their work, in their talks and papers. This lets me know when to stop taking them serious and start wondering how much of anything they write or say was their own brain, then I realize I don’t care and check my email. 🧪
December 22, 2025 at 6:27 AM
I’m glad AI lovers use AI generated images when presenting their work, in their talks and papers. This lets me know when to stop taking them serious and start wondering how much of anything they write or say was their own brain, then I realize I don’t care and check my email. 🧪
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
We have 🐟 herring pre print!
Our new study reveals that ancient gene flow between Pacific and Atlantic herring played a key role in helping Atlantic herring adapt to the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Our new study reveals that ancient gene flow between Pacific and Atlantic herring played a key role in helping Atlantic herring adapt to the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org
November 7, 2025 at 9:13 PM
We have 🐟 herring pre print!
Our new study reveals that ancient gene flow between Pacific and Atlantic herring played a key role in helping Atlantic herring adapt to the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Our new study reveals that ancient gene flow between Pacific and Atlantic herring played a key role in helping Atlantic herring adapt to the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
📖 Published📖
In our new application paper, Mestre-Tomás introduce GLOSSA, an open-source R package and Shiny application designed to make marine species distribution modelling more accessible 🌍 🧪 Read more here 👇
buff.ly/W3cemFv
In our new application paper, Mestre-Tomás introduce GLOSSA, an open-source R package and Shiny application designed to make marine species distribution modelling more accessible 🌍 🧪 Read more here 👇
buff.ly/W3cemFv
December 20, 2025 at 12:01 PM
📖 Published📖
In our new application paper, Mestre-Tomás introduce GLOSSA, an open-source R package and Shiny application designed to make marine species distribution modelling more accessible 🌍 🧪 Read more here 👇
buff.ly/W3cemFv
In our new application paper, Mestre-Tomás introduce GLOSSA, an open-source R package and Shiny application designed to make marine species distribution modelling more accessible 🌍 🧪 Read more here 👇
buff.ly/W3cemFv
Attack of the blankets!!!
December 20, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Attack of the blankets!!!
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
Stockholm University's Department of Zoology seeks an Associate Professor in Animal Ecology and Evolution. Deadline: Feb 28, 2026. More info: https://su.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:883922/where:4/ #job
Associate Professor in Zoology with focus on ecology and evolution
Associate Professor in Zoology with focus on ecology and evolution
su.varbi.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:50 AM
Stockholm University's Department of Zoology seeks an Associate Professor in Animal Ecology and Evolution. Deadline: Feb 28, 2026. More info: https://su.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:883922/where:4/ #job
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
An example of AI hallucinations entering the scientific record, in some way -- and another reason not to let Google Scholar automatically update your profile; manually review its proposed changes instead...
Closing out my year with a journal editor shocker 🧵
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
Checking new manuscripts today I reviewed a paper attributing 2 papers to me I did not write. A daft thing for an author to do of course. But intrigued I web searched up one of the titles and that's when it got real weird...
December 19, 2025 at 6:38 PM
An example of AI hallucinations entering the scientific record, in some way -- and another reason not to let Google Scholar automatically update your profile; manually review its proposed changes instead...
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
This headline is wrong and misleading, and the brief text below it is not much better. Whatever might constitute a full explanation of the differences between sapiens and other hominins, we remain confident that 'genes' will be central to it.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Genes don’t explain what made humans different
Tiny genetic variations between humans, Neanderthals and Denisovans might not be all they were cracked up to be.
www.nature.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:55 AM
This headline is wrong and misleading, and the brief text below it is not much better. Whatever might constitute a full explanation of the differences between sapiens and other hominins, we remain confident that 'genes' will be central to it.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
🌊 🐟🦭🐋🐧 I have a PhD position available (4 years, start Mid-2026) at NRM Stockholm to work on the macrogenomics of sea warming.
Apply here:
recruit.visma.com/spa/public/a...
#PhD #MarineGenomics #ClimateChange #EvolutionaryBiology #PopGen #Bioinformatics #conservationgenomics
Apply here:
recruit.visma.com/spa/public/a...
#PhD #MarineGenomics #ClimateChange #EvolutionaryBiology #PopGen #Bioinformatics #conservationgenomics
December 19, 2025 at 5:12 PM
🌊 🐟🦭🐋🐧 I have a PhD position available (4 years, start Mid-2026) at NRM Stockholm to work on the macrogenomics of sea warming.
Apply here:
recruit.visma.com/spa/public/a...
#PhD #MarineGenomics #ClimateChange #EvolutionaryBiology #PopGen #Bioinformatics #conservationgenomics
Apply here:
recruit.visma.com/spa/public/a...
#PhD #MarineGenomics #ClimateChange #EvolutionaryBiology #PopGen #Bioinformatics #conservationgenomics
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
A new community-driven lab handbook for reducing conflict and creating more positive and equitable work environments gets strong support from a survey of 200 researchers.
buff.ly/K7CGFLV
buff.ly/K7CGFLV
December 18, 2025 at 9:02 PM
A new community-driven lab handbook for reducing conflict and creating more positive and equitable work environments gets strong support from a survey of 200 researchers.
buff.ly/K7CGFLV
buff.ly/K7CGFLV
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
While stories of singular DNA changes that drove evolution of human brain/behaviour remain seductive, advances across multiple fields of biology cast doubt on such simplistic narratives of our origins. A new paper from my lab shows how biobanks may speak to this fundamental question.🧪
Explainer🧵👇1/n
Explainer🧵👇1/n
Evaluating the effects of archaic protein-altering variants in living human adults
Promise and pitfalls of using large biobanks to study impacts of archaic protein-coding variants in living humans.
www.science.org
December 18, 2025 at 1:51 PM
While stories of singular DNA changes that drove evolution of human brain/behaviour remain seductive, advances across multiple fields of biology cast doubt on such simplistic narratives of our origins. A new paper from my lab shows how biobanks may speak to this fundamental question.🧪
Explainer🧵👇1/n
Explainer🧵👇1/n
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
Who really lives fast and dies young? In Drosophila, females show faster ageing and reproductive senescence than males across social environments, overturning sexual selection predictions and highlighting social effects on ageing. academic.oup.com/evlett/advan...
@laurenmharrison.bsky.social
@laurenmharrison.bsky.social
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
December 19, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Who really lives fast and dies young? In Drosophila, females show faster ageing and reproductive senescence than males across social environments, overturning sexual selection predictions and highlighting social effects on ageing. academic.oup.com/evlett/advan...
@laurenmharrison.bsky.social
@laurenmharrison.bsky.social
Reposted by Christopher Wheat
🧬 Just out in Bioinformatics Advances: “tskit arg visualizer: Interactive plotting of ancestral recombination graphs.”
Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.1093/bioadv/vbaf302
Authors include: @kitchensjn.bsky.social, @yanwong.bsky.social
Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.1093/bioadv/vbaf302
Authors include: @kitchensjn.bsky.social, @yanwong.bsky.social
December 18, 2025 at 10:02 AM
🧬 Just out in Bioinformatics Advances: “tskit arg visualizer: Interactive plotting of ancestral recombination graphs.”
Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.1093/bioadv/vbaf302
Authors include: @kitchensjn.bsky.social, @yanwong.bsky.social
Read the full paper here: https://doi.org/10.1093/bioadv/vbaf302
Authors include: @kitchensjn.bsky.social, @yanwong.bsky.social