David Enard
@denard.bsky.social
Evolutionary Biologist. Ancient epidemics. Genomic adaptation.
Reposted by David Enard
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...
Reposted by David Enard
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...
1/3) PhD student Mary Reed Weston analyzed virus-driven human adaptation across the viral replication cycle based on ~8,000 annotated proviral and antiviral effects manually curated from the virology literature. The steps of entry and release clearly stand out:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
December 19, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The number of RTs for this preprint that took an absolutely massive amount of work and conceptual effort is interesting to say the least. Probably time to try other avenues of dissemination.
1/3) PhD student Mary Reed Weston analyzed virus-driven human adaptation across the viral replication cycle based on ~8,000 annotated proviral and antiviral effects manually curated from the virology literature. The steps of entry and release clearly stand out:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
December 19, 2025 at 4:18 PM
The number of RTs for this preprint that took an absolutely massive amount of work and conceptual effort is interesting to say the least. Probably time to try other avenues of dissemination.
Reposted by David Enard
Stuck in the cell: trapping viruses in infected cells was a frequent adaptation strategy in human hosts https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.12.693836v1
December 15, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Stuck in the cell: trapping viruses in infected cells was a frequent adaptation strategy in human hosts https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.12.693836v1
Reposted by David Enard
🦇 Two PhD positions available on our new ARC Discovery Grant: "From Diversity to Disease: Viral Ecology, Evolution and Persistence in Bats"
The project will investigate how viral diversity evolves and persists, with a particular focus on recently discovered henipaviruses in Australian flying foxes.
The project will investigate how viral diversity evolves and persists, with a particular focus on recently discovered henipaviruses in Australian flying foxes.
December 16, 2025 at 1:44 AM
🦇 Two PhD positions available on our new ARC Discovery Grant: "From Diversity to Disease: Viral Ecology, Evolution and Persistence in Bats"
The project will investigate how viral diversity evolves and persists, with a particular focus on recently discovered henipaviruses in Australian flying foxes.
The project will investigate how viral diversity evolves and persists, with a particular focus on recently discovered henipaviruses in Australian flying foxes.
Reposted by David Enard
Join us on Tuesday!
Join me Tuesday with authors J. Arvid Agren and Manus M. Patten for the launch of their book The Paradox of the Organism: Adaptation and Internal Conflict.
December 14, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Join us on Tuesday!
1/3) PhD student Mary Reed Weston analyzed virus-driven human adaptation across the viral replication cycle based on ~8,000 annotated proviral and antiviral effects manually curated from the virology literature. The steps of entry and release clearly stand out:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
December 15, 2025 at 1:55 PM
1/3) PhD student Mary Reed Weston analyzed virus-driven human adaptation across the viral replication cycle based on ~8,000 annotated proviral and antiviral effects manually curated from the virology literature. The steps of entry and release clearly stand out:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by David Enard
Yes: deleterious recessives aren’t completely recessive! An important study confirming intuitions from at least some of us.
Our latest preprint revisits the classic model of mutation-selection balance.
Do human recessive genes fit Haldane's 100-year old model?
This work is by the wonderful @jonj-udd.bsky.social, and co-mentored by @jeffspence.github.io
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Do human recessive genes fit Haldane's 100-year old model?
This work is by the wonderful @jonj-udd.bsky.social, and co-mentored by @jeffspence.github.io
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Allele Frequencies at Recessive Disease Genes are Mainly Determined by Pleiotropic Effects in Heterozygotes
The classic theory of mutation-selection balance predicts the equilibrium frequency of genetic variation under negative selection. The model predicts a simple relationship between the total frequency ...
www.biorxiv.org
December 13, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Yes: deleterious recessives aren’t completely recessive! An important study confirming intuitions from at least some of us.
Reposted by David Enard
I am proud to share a new paper out of our lab. We showed that our antimicrobial works with copper and zinc to kill MRSA & Staph epi. It can function through mature biofilms they form and on multiple surfaces. This outstanding work was led by Yamil Sanchez-Rosario.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
N-benzyl-N-methyldithiocarbamate (BMDC) combines with metals to produce antimicrobial and anti-biofilm activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus epidermidis | mSphere
Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus epidermidis, are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in vulnerable populations, contributing to an escalating health and economic burden. Biofilms are an important reservoir that protects bacteria from immune clearance and antimicrobial agents. However, current strategies to effectively target MRSA biofilms are limited. This research describes a therapeutic approach that can disrupt biofilms in both MRSA and S. epidermidis, thereby enhancing bacterial clearance.
journals.asm.org
December 11, 2025 at 7:50 PM
I am proud to share a new paper out of our lab. We showed that our antimicrobial works with copper and zinc to kill MRSA & Staph epi. It can function through mature biofilms they form and on multiple surfaces. This outstanding work was led by Yamil Sanchez-Rosario.
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Reposted by David Enard
GWAS has been an incredible discovery tool for human genetics: it regularly identifies *causal* links from 1000s of SNPs to any given trait. But mechanistic interpretation is usually difficult.
Our latest work on causal models for this is out yesterday:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A short🧵:
Our latest work on causal models for this is out yesterday:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A short🧵:
Causal modelling of gene effects from regulators to programs to traits - Nature
Approaches combining genetic association and Perturb-seq data that link genetic variants to functional programs to traits are described.
www.nature.com
December 11, 2025 at 5:54 PM
GWAS has been an incredible discovery tool for human genetics: it regularly identifies *causal* links from 1000s of SNPs to any given trait. But mechanistic interpretation is usually difficult.
Our latest work on causal models for this is out yesterday:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A short🧵:
Our latest work on causal models for this is out yesterday:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A short🧵:
Reposted by David Enard
The Sudmant Lab & Wilsterman Lab are hiring a postdoc! Come work on the genetics and evolution of the placenta and dissecting genetic adaptations to altitude in deer mice!
Check out more details here: evol.mcmaster.ca/brian/evoldi...
www.sudmantlab.org
www.thewilstermanlab.com
Please Share!
Check out more details here: evol.mcmaster.ca/brian/evoldi...
www.sudmantlab.org
www.thewilstermanlab.com
Please Share!
https://evol.mcmaster.ca/brian/evoldir/PostDocs//UCalifornia_Berkeley.Genomics
Postdoc:UCBerkeley.Genomics
Postdoctoral position(s) in computational biology and genomics
Keywords: Genomics; single cell genomics; evolution; reproduction;
ecology; human disease; computational bi...
evol.mcmaster.ca
December 9, 2025 at 5:20 AM
The Sudmant Lab & Wilsterman Lab are hiring a postdoc! Come work on the genetics and evolution of the placenta and dissecting genetic adaptations to altitude in deer mice!
Check out more details here: evol.mcmaster.ca/brian/evoldi...
www.sudmantlab.org
www.thewilstermanlab.com
Please Share!
Check out more details here: evol.mcmaster.ca/brian/evoldi...
www.sudmantlab.org
www.thewilstermanlab.com
Please Share!
Reposted by David Enard
Yay! Joy & excitement for the #science ahead & for our #team @ciri-lyon.bsky.social, who is getting @erc.europa.eu #Consolidator grant support to work on the FUNctional EVOlution of mammalian innate immunity #FUNEVO ! So thankful to #ERC and #everyone who contributed & provided support along the way
The results of the ERC Consolidator Grant call have been announced! 📣
349 researchers have been selected for funding. Congratulations to all! #ERCCogG!
👉 buff.ly/uu62uFV
#FrontierResearch #EUfunded #HorizonEurope
@scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu
349 researchers have been selected for funding. Congratulations to all! #ERCCogG!
👉 buff.ly/uu62uFV
#FrontierResearch #EUfunded #HorizonEurope
@scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu
December 9, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Yay! Joy & excitement for the #science ahead & for our #team @ciri-lyon.bsky.social, who is getting @erc.europa.eu #Consolidator grant support to work on the FUNctional EVOlution of mammalian innate immunity #FUNEVO ! So thankful to #ERC and #everyone who contributed & provided support along the way
Reposted by David Enard
Popgen folks, Jiseon, Nate, and Andy, along with Yuxin Ning and Franz Baumdicker, just released a really cool new method for simulation based inference (think ABC) using normalizing flows. It seems to work really well! full joint posteriors ftw!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Neural posterior estimation for population genetics
Simulation-based inference methods are increasingly being used in population genetics due to their flexibility and ability to be applied in settings where likelihood-based methods are intractable. Per...
www.biorxiv.org
December 3, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Popgen folks, Jiseon, Nate, and Andy, along with Yuxin Ning and Franz Baumdicker, just released a really cool new method for simulation based inference (think ABC) using normalizing flows. It seems to work really well! full joint posteriors ftw!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by David Enard
Our new ancient DNA paper has just been published!
We present 28 new genomes from southern Africa - several of them high-coverage whole genomes.
Exciting to be moving towards population-level representation of ancient southern African genetic diversity!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We present 28 new genomes from southern Africa - several of them high-coverage whole genomes.
Exciting to be moving towards population-level representation of ancient southern African genetic diversity!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Homo sapiens-specific evolution unveiled by ancient southern African genomes - Nature
The genomes of 28 ancient southern African individuals dated to between 10,200 and 150 years before present offer insights into the evolution of Homo sapiens.
www.nature.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Our new ancient DNA paper has just been published!
We present 28 new genomes from southern Africa - several of them high-coverage whole genomes.
Exciting to be moving towards population-level representation of ancient southern African genetic diversity!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
We present 28 new genomes from southern Africa - several of them high-coverage whole genomes.
Exciting to be moving towards population-level representation of ancient southern African genetic diversity!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by David Enard
Abstract submission & Award applications for SMBE 2026 are now open!
Submit your research and apply for SMBE awards via the submission portal.
📝 Read more & submit here: smbe2026.org/abstracts
And symposium selection is now finalized!
👉 See all accepted symposia: smbe2026.org/programme
#SMBE2026
Submit your research and apply for SMBE awards via the submission portal.
📝 Read more & submit here: smbe2026.org/abstracts
And symposium selection is now finalized!
👉 See all accepted symposia: smbe2026.org/programme
#SMBE2026
December 1, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Abstract submission & Award applications for SMBE 2026 are now open!
Submit your research and apply for SMBE awards via the submission portal.
📝 Read more & submit here: smbe2026.org/abstracts
And symposium selection is now finalized!
👉 See all accepted symposia: smbe2026.org/programme
#SMBE2026
Submit your research and apply for SMBE awards via the submission portal.
📝 Read more & submit here: smbe2026.org/abstracts
And symposium selection is now finalized!
👉 See all accepted symposia: smbe2026.org/programme
#SMBE2026
Another sunset in Tucson.
November 30, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Another sunset in Tucson.
Reposted by David Enard
It's the home stretch teaching undergrad Evolutionary Genetics with @aneil-agrawal.bsky.social using my Primer of Mol Pop Gen text! Grateful it's free for all 67 of our students courtesy @uoftlibraries.bsky.social LMK if you use it and suggestions for improvements! global.oup.com/academic/pro...
November 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM
It's the home stretch teaching undergrad Evolutionary Genetics with @aneil-agrawal.bsky.social using my Primer of Mol Pop Gen text! Grateful it's free for all 67 of our students courtesy @uoftlibraries.bsky.social LMK if you use it and suggestions for improvements! global.oup.com/academic/pro...
Nothing like a nap in the sun.
November 25, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Nothing like a nap in the sun.
Reposted by David Enard
Happening today! Join us to learn more about CAMBIUM NRT Fellowships!
Join us on Nov 18 at 2:30 PM MST to learn about CAMBIUM grad fellowships in biodiversity informatics & climate change @uarizona.bsky.social. For incoming Fall 2026 students interested in big data, ecology, evolution, climate adaptation & more. Register: events.trellis.arizona.edu/en/f44lNu67/... 🌵🧬🌐
November 18, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Happening today! Join us to learn more about CAMBIUM NRT Fellowships!
Reposted by David Enard
📖Latest from the lab:
Evo. characterization #antiviral #SAMD9/9L across #kingdoms🚶♀️🦍🦠🧫🖥️: ancient #convergence + #adaptations @natecoevo.nature.com
Led by amazing Alexandre Legrand +major contributions by Rémi Demeure & Amandine Chantharath @ciri-lyon.bsky.social 1/n
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Evo. characterization #antiviral #SAMD9/9L across #kingdoms🚶♀️🦍🦠🧫🖥️: ancient #convergence + #adaptations @natecoevo.nature.com
Led by amazing Alexandre Legrand +major contributions by Rémi Demeure & Amandine Chantharath @ciri-lyon.bsky.social 1/n
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Evolutionary characterization of antiviral SAMD9/9L across kingdoms supports ancient convergence and lineage-specific adaptations - Nature Ecology & Evolution
A search for analogues of the human SAMD9/9L antiviral genes identifies convergent evolution of this gene family in the bacterial and animal kingdoms, with species-specific and recent genomic signatur...
www.nature.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:55 PM
📖Latest from the lab:
Evo. characterization #antiviral #SAMD9/9L across #kingdoms🚶♀️🦍🦠🧫🖥️: ancient #convergence + #adaptations @natecoevo.nature.com
Led by amazing Alexandre Legrand +major contributions by Rémi Demeure & Amandine Chantharath @ciri-lyon.bsky.social 1/n
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Evo. characterization #antiviral #SAMD9/9L across #kingdoms🚶♀️🦍🦠🧫🖥️: ancient #convergence + #adaptations @natecoevo.nature.com
Led by amazing Alexandre Legrand +major contributions by Rémi Demeure & Amandine Chantharath @ciri-lyon.bsky.social 1/n
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Resending this, please RT!
Come join us in beautiful Britanny, France in May 2026 for a workshop that I am organizing with @lucievirevolte.bsky.social and @psudmant.bsky.social on Rapid host adaptations to infections:
sites.google.com/berkeley.edu...
sites.google.com/berkeley.edu...
November 12, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Resending this, please RT!
Reposted by David Enard
Excited to share our new preprint on BioRxiv!
A collaborative effort spanning many years and several labs to uncover what the germline chromosomes of Paramecium really look like. 🔗 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
1/5
A collaborative effort spanning many years and several labs to uncover what the germline chromosomes of Paramecium really look like. 🔗 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
1/5
The tiny germline chromosomes of Paramecium aurelia have an exceptionally high recombination rate and are capped by a new class of Helitrons
Background. Paramecia belong to the ciliate phylum of unicellular eukaryotes characterized by nuclear dimorphism. A diploid germline micronucleus (MIC) transmits genetic information across sexual gene...
www.biorxiv.org
November 10, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Excited to share our new preprint on BioRxiv!
A collaborative effort spanning many years and several labs to uncover what the germline chromosomes of Paramecium really look like. 🔗 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
1/5
A collaborative effort spanning many years and several labs to uncover what the germline chromosomes of Paramecium really look like. 🔗 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
1/5
Reposted by David Enard
Community competitions help benchmark approaches in computational biology. Struck et al. now present GHIST 2024 - The First Genomic History Inference Strategies Tournament, for the inference of evolutionary history from genome data.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf257
#evobio #molbio #compbio #popgen
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf257
#evobio #molbio #compbio #popgen
November 6, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Community competitions help benchmark approaches in computational biology. Struck et al. now present GHIST 2024 - The First Genomic History Inference Strategies Tournament, for the inference of evolutionary history from genome data.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf257
#evobio #molbio #compbio #popgen
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msaf257
#evobio #molbio #compbio #popgen
Reposted by David Enard
If you're looking for a faculty position at the intersection of ecology and computing (both broadly defined), please apply to this joint search between the CEE Department and the College of Computing at MIT: cee.mit.edu/people/share...
Faculty Position in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Schwarzman College of Computing - cee.mit.edu
The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), together with the Schwarzman College of Computing (SCC) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge MA, seeks candidate...
cee.mit.edu
November 5, 2025 at 7:27 PM
If you're looking for a faculty position at the intersection of ecology and computing (both broadly defined), please apply to this joint search between the CEE Department and the College of Computing at MIT: cee.mit.edu/people/share...