Diego Safian
@diegosafian.bsky.social
EvoDevo biologist studying organ evolution in @margaridamcm.bsky.social lab at @crick.ac.uk. 🇨🇱 → 🇳🇱 → 🇬🇧
diegosafian.weebly.com
diegosafian.weebly.com
Reposted by Diego Safian
Tissue-specific transcriptomics, comparative genomics and genome editing identify a taxon-specific promoter of a Hox gene that controls eyespot size plasticity and probably contributed to wing eyespot diversity in satyrid butterflies 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A novel Hox gene promoter fuels the evolution of adaptive phenotypic plasticity in wing eyespots of satyrid butterflies - Nature Ecology & Evolution
Many satyrid butterflies show seasonal variation in wing eyespot size in response to temperature. Tissue-specific transcriptomics, comparative genomics and genome editing identify a taxon-specific pro...
www.nature.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Tissue-specific transcriptomics, comparative genomics and genome editing identify a taxon-specific promoter of a Hox gene that controls eyespot size plasticity and probably contributed to wing eyespot diversity in satyrid butterflies 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Diego Safian
The full list of instructors is available here
bsky.app/profile/jlst...
bsky.app/profile/jlst...
November 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
The full list of instructors is available here
bsky.app/profile/jlst...
bsky.app/profile/jlst...
Reposted by Diego Safian
🌍Open call: Junior Group Leader positions!
Join a world-class biomedical research institute at the heart of the Vienna BioCenter, where curiosity drives discovery.
Lead your own lab, pursue bold ideas, and shape the future of science at the IMP: www.imp.ac.at/career/open-...
Join a world-class biomedical research institute at the heart of the Vienna BioCenter, where curiosity drives discovery.
Lead your own lab, pursue bold ideas, and shape the future of science at the IMP: www.imp.ac.at/career/open-...
November 10, 2025 at 1:26 PM
🌍Open call: Junior Group Leader positions!
Join a world-class biomedical research institute at the heart of the Vienna BioCenter, where curiosity drives discovery.
Lead your own lab, pursue bold ideas, and shape the future of science at the IMP: www.imp.ac.at/career/open-...
Join a world-class biomedical research institute at the heart of the Vienna BioCenter, where curiosity drives discovery.
Lead your own lab, pursue bold ideas, and shape the future of science at the IMP: www.imp.ac.at/career/open-...
Reposted by Diego Safian
New preprint led by the brilliant @aleksandra-marconi.bsky.social on cichlid brain diversification, fgf8a signalling and regulatory divergence with TEs on the mix! All part of a wonderful collaboration with @ebablab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@camzoology.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@camzoology.bsky.social
October 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
New preprint led by the brilliant @aleksandra-marconi.bsky.social on cichlid brain diversification, fgf8a signalling and regulatory divergence with TEs on the mix! All part of a wonderful collaboration with @ebablab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@camzoology.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
@camzoology.bsky.social
Reposted by Diego Safian
Come join the #LondonEvoDevo network half day meeting, hosted at @ucl.ac.uk on Friday November 7th, 2025. Submit your abstract by Oct 27th (or your interest in joining) here: forms.gle/TRbdrCkQTcY2.... Friendly vibes and free registration. More info here: londonevodevo.co.uk.
LondonEvoDevo
meeting's website
londonevodevo.co.uk
October 20, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Come join the #LondonEvoDevo network half day meeting, hosted at @ucl.ac.uk on Friday November 7th, 2025. Submit your abstract by Oct 27th (or your interest in joining) here: forms.gle/TRbdrCkQTcY2.... Friendly vibes and free registration. More info here: londonevodevo.co.uk.
Reposted by Diego Safian
Excited to share the preprint from my main postdoc project! It’s been a long journey—huge thanks to everyone who made it possible, especially @leticiarm1618.bsky.social for being the best collaborator one could ask for, and the amazing @kaessmannlab.bsky.social lab for the invaluable support!
We are thrilled to share our new preprint entitled “The origin and molecular evolution of the mammalian liver cell architecture” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 15, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Excited to share the preprint from my main postdoc project! It’s been a long journey—huge thanks to everyone who made it possible, especially @leticiarm1618.bsky.social for being the best collaborator one could ask for, and the amazing @kaessmannlab.bsky.social lab for the invaluable support!
Reposted by Diego Safian
Interested in understanding how new cell types evolve? Consider joining our group for a PhD!
2026 PhD recruitment is now open.
As well as our main PhD recruitment, which is open to all, we are pleased to be offering scholarships for candidates of Black or mixed Black heritage. Learn more and apply on our website:
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
As well as our main PhD recruitment, which is open to all, we are pleased to be offering scholarships for candidates of Black or mixed Black heritage. Learn more and apply on our website:
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
PhD student recruitment
PhD recruitment information.
www.crick.ac.uk
October 7, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Interested in understanding how new cell types evolve? Consider joining our group for a PhD!
Reposted by Diego Safian
Calling early-career developmental biologists!
Apply for a funded place at our #Workshop, Novelty, Co-option and Divergence During Gene Network Evolution.
Application deadline: 5 December
www.biologists.com/workshops/ju...
#DevBio #BiologistsWorkshops #Collaboration #Networking
Apply for a funded place at our #Workshop, Novelty, Co-option and Divergence During Gene Network Evolution.
Application deadline: 5 December
www.biologists.com/workshops/ju...
#DevBio #BiologistsWorkshops #Collaboration #Networking
September 28, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Calling early-career developmental biologists!
Apply for a funded place at our #Workshop, Novelty, Co-option and Divergence During Gene Network Evolution.
Application deadline: 5 December
www.biologists.com/workshops/ju...
#DevBio #BiologistsWorkshops #Collaboration #Networking
Apply for a funded place at our #Workshop, Novelty, Co-option and Divergence During Gene Network Evolution.
Application deadline: 5 December
www.biologists.com/workshops/ju...
#DevBio #BiologistsWorkshops #Collaboration #Networking
Reposted by Diego Safian
My favourite figure from our new paper on lateral line development in Sterlet sturgeon (doi.org/10.7554/eLif...). In this one, we use targeted gene knockout and show that in (mosaic) absence of FoxG1, ectopic electroreceptors develop instead of mechanosensory hair cells!
#fishsci #evo-devo #CRISPR
#fishsci #evo-devo #CRISPR
September 25, 2025 at 10:38 AM
My favourite figure from our new paper on lateral line development in Sterlet sturgeon (doi.org/10.7554/eLif...). In this one, we use targeted gene knockout and show that in (mosaic) absence of FoxG1, ectopic electroreceptors develop instead of mechanosensory hair cells!
#fishsci #evo-devo #CRISPR
#fishsci #evo-devo #CRISPR
Reposted by Diego Safian
Early Career Opportunity
Mentorship & career development, access to world-class facilities, and a collaborative, supportive environment. We are particularly interested in researchers in Synthetic Dev. Biol. Mechanobiology and AI . #AcademicJobs #EarlyCareerResearcher #UCL #DevelopmentalBiology
Mentorship & career development, access to world-class facilities, and a collaborative, supportive environment. We are particularly interested in researchers in Synthetic Dev. Biol. Mechanobiology and AI . #AcademicJobs #EarlyCareerResearcher #UCL #DevelopmentalBiology
September 10, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Early Career Opportunity
Mentorship & career development, access to world-class facilities, and a collaborative, supportive environment. We are particularly interested in researchers in Synthetic Dev. Biol. Mechanobiology and AI . #AcademicJobs #EarlyCareerResearcher #UCL #DevelopmentalBiology
Mentorship & career development, access to world-class facilities, and a collaborative, supportive environment. We are particularly interested in researchers in Synthetic Dev. Biol. Mechanobiology and AI . #AcademicJobs #EarlyCareerResearcher #UCL #DevelopmentalBiology
Reposted by Diego Safian
Happy to share the Biodiversity Cell Atlas white paper, out today in @nature.com. We look at the possibilities, challenges, and potential impacts of molecularly mapping cells across the tree of life.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
September 24, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Happy to share the Biodiversity Cell Atlas white paper, out today in @nature.com. We look at the possibilities, challenges, and potential impacts of molecularly mapping cells across the tree of life.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Diego Safian
1🧵
Excited to share my first PhD paper, published in @dev-journal.bsky.social
What if fish gills —often overlook —hold secrets about development, patterning, and function?
We uncovered how early patterning shapes adult gill architecture.
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
#DevBio #Zebrafish
Excited to share my first PhD paper, published in @dev-journal.bsky.social
What if fish gills —often overlook —hold secrets about development, patterning, and function?
We uncovered how early patterning shapes adult gill architecture.
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
#DevBio #Zebrafish
September 17, 2025 at 1:59 PM
1🧵
Excited to share my first PhD paper, published in @dev-journal.bsky.social
What if fish gills —often overlook —hold secrets about development, patterning, and function?
We uncovered how early patterning shapes adult gill architecture.
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
#DevBio #Zebrafish
Excited to share my first PhD paper, published in @dev-journal.bsky.social
What if fish gills —often overlook —hold secrets about development, patterning, and function?
We uncovered how early patterning shapes adult gill architecture.
journals.biologists.com/dev/article/...
#DevBio #Zebrafish
Reposted by Diego Safian
🚨 We’re recruiting PhD students! 🚨
Join the Stem Cell Biology and Evolution lab at @lsiexeter.bsky.social to study planarians, stem cells & evolution.
2 projects available - 1 week left to apply!
Interested and no PhD yet? Apply now. Or help us spread the word! 🙌
www.exeter.ac.uk/research/ins...
Join the Stem Cell Biology and Evolution lab at @lsiexeter.bsky.social to study planarians, stem cells & evolution.
2 projects available - 1 week left to apply!
Interested and no PhD yet? Apply now. Or help us spread the word! 🙌
www.exeter.ac.uk/research/ins...
LSI PhD programme | Living Systems Institute | University of Exeter
www.exeter.ac.uk
June 1, 2025 at 5:02 PM
🚨 We’re recruiting PhD students! 🚨
Join the Stem Cell Biology and Evolution lab at @lsiexeter.bsky.social to study planarians, stem cells & evolution.
2 projects available - 1 week left to apply!
Interested and no PhD yet? Apply now. Or help us spread the word! 🙌
www.exeter.ac.uk/research/ins...
Join the Stem Cell Biology and Evolution lab at @lsiexeter.bsky.social to study planarians, stem cells & evolution.
2 projects available - 1 week left to apply!
Interested and no PhD yet? Apply now. Or help us spread the word! 🙌
www.exeter.ac.uk/research/ins...
Reposted by Diego Safian
ERC 2026 Grants: Applications are open! Relevant information attached.
ERC values the full spectrum of your research—make every output count.
Research Agora helps you showcase diverse contributions for a stronger application.
Questions? Contact us.
ERC values the full spectrum of your research—make every output count.
Research Agora helps you showcase diverse contributions for a stronger application.
Questions? Contact us.
July 9, 2025 at 6:01 AM
ERC 2026 Grants: Applications are open! Relevant information attached.
ERC values the full spectrum of your research—make every output count.
Research Agora helps you showcase diverse contributions for a stronger application.
Questions? Contact us.
ERC values the full spectrum of your research—make every output count.
Research Agora helps you showcase diverse contributions for a stronger application.
Questions? Contact us.
Reposted by Diego Safian
🧠🦈Excited to present our latest work🧠🦈Interested in brain evolution? And shark embryos? Then read on… Our work sheds light on the deep origins of our brain’s most complex regions.
September 2, 2025 at 5:51 PM
🧠🦈Excited to present our latest work🧠🦈Interested in brain evolution? And shark embryos? Then read on… Our work sheds light on the deep origins of our brain’s most complex regions.
Reposted by Diego Safian
‘Our Ancestors the Fish’, a course by Prof. @neilshubin.bsky.social, Univ of Chicago, invited Prof @college-de-france.fr. in Paris @psl-univ.bsky.social. Four conferences, free access, open to everyone, with Tiktaalik as a guest star. Friends, colleagues and fossils in Paris and around, please RT🥁
September 3, 2025 at 6:53 AM
‘Our Ancestors the Fish’, a course by Prof. @neilshubin.bsky.social, Univ of Chicago, invited Prof @college-de-france.fr. in Paris @psl-univ.bsky.social. Four conferences, free access, open to everyone, with Tiktaalik as a guest star. Friends, colleagues and fossils in Paris and around, please RT🥁
Reposted by Diego Safian
For some three billion years, unicellular organisms ruled Earth. Then, around one billion years ago, a new chapter of life began
go.nature.com/3JyRV4S
go.nature.com/3JyRV4S
How did life get multicellular? Five simple organisms could have the answer
Single-celled species that often stick together in colonies have researchers rethinking the origin of animals.
go.nature.com
August 27, 2025 at 10:19 AM
For some three billion years, unicellular organisms ruled Earth. Then, around one billion years ago, a new chapter of life began
go.nature.com/3JyRV4S
go.nature.com/3JyRV4S
Reposted by Diego Safian
In #opossums and other #marsupials, #GeneExpression follows familiar rules, but at an unusual pace. In PNAS Journal Club: www.pnas.org/post/journal...
#DevelopmentalBiology #evolution #embryo #transcriptome
#DevelopmentalBiology #evolution #embryo #transcriptome
August 21, 2025 at 6:51 PM
In #opossums and other #marsupials, #GeneExpression follows familiar rules, but at an unusual pace. In PNAS Journal Club: www.pnas.org/post/journal...
#DevelopmentalBiology #evolution #embryo #transcriptome
#DevelopmentalBiology #evolution #embryo #transcriptome
Reposted by Diego Safian
Reposted by Diego Safian
The molecular evolutionary basis of species formation revisited
www.cell.com/trends/genet...
www.cell.com/trends/genet...
The molecular evolutionary basis of species formation revisited
How do new species arise? This is among the most fundamental questions in evolutionary
biology. The first genetic model for how reproductive barriers lead to the origin
of new species was proposed nea...
www.cell.com
August 9, 2025 at 5:01 AM
The molecular evolutionary basis of species formation revisited
www.cell.com/trends/genet...
www.cell.com/trends/genet...
Reposted by Diego Safian
Protein sequence evolution underlies interspecies incompatibility of a cell fate determinant https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.02.668269v1
August 3, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Protein sequence evolution underlies interspecies incompatibility of a cell fate determinant https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.02.668269v1
Reposted by Diego Safian
You link #phenotype 🦜 to #genotype 🧬 with #comparative #genomics 💻?
This #review is for you 📜: authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
We review new #methods, remaining #challenges and #future directions and highlight recent key studies.
Thanks @hillermich.bsky.social!
Please share! 🙂
This #review is for you 📜: authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
We review new #methods, remaining #challenges and #future directions and highlight recent key studies.
Thanks @hillermich.bsky.social!
Please share! 🙂
July 24, 2025 at 8:00 AM
You link #phenotype 🦜 to #genotype 🧬 with #comparative #genomics 💻?
This #review is for you 📜: authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
We review new #methods, remaining #challenges and #future directions and highlight recent key studies.
Thanks @hillermich.bsky.social!
Please share! 🙂
This #review is for you 📜: authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...
We review new #methods, remaining #challenges and #future directions and highlight recent key studies.
Thanks @hillermich.bsky.social!
Please share! 🙂
Reposted by Diego Safian
July 8, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Reposted by Diego Safian
🚨Symposium alert! 🚨 Next edition of our biennial stem cell symposium is 4th Dec 2025 - focus on metabolism and development. Sponsored by @bsdb.bsky.social. Great lineup of speakers, hosted @mrc-lms.bsky.social in London. Registration is open.
www.symposia.org.uk/courses/stem...
www.symposia.org.uk/courses/stem...
July 8, 2025 at 11:01 AM
🚨Symposium alert! 🚨 Next edition of our biennial stem cell symposium is 4th Dec 2025 - focus on metabolism and development. Sponsored by @bsdb.bsky.social. Great lineup of speakers, hosted @mrc-lms.bsky.social in London. Registration is open.
www.symposia.org.uk/courses/stem...
www.symposia.org.uk/courses/stem...
Reposted by Diego Safian
We developed CrossFilt, a read-level, cross-species filtering approach that avoids these errors without sacrificing usable data. It outperforms all existing strategies and exposes just how much signal in comparative genomics has been misread.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
CrossFilt: A Cross-species Filtering Tool that Eliminates Alignment Bias in Comparative Genomics Studies
Comparative functional genomic studies are often affected by biased read mapping across species due to inter-species differences in genome structure, sequence composition, and annotation quality. We d...
doi.org
June 7, 2025 at 12:07 AM
We developed CrossFilt, a read-level, cross-species filtering approach that avoids these errors without sacrificing usable data. It outperforms all existing strategies and exposes just how much signal in comparative genomics has been misread.
doi.org/10.1101/2025...
doi.org/10.1101/2025...