Margarida Cardoso Moreira
@margaridamcm.bsky.social
Evolutionary biologist | Head of the Evolutionary developmental biology lab @thecrick.bsky.social | Books, books, books!
Reposted by Margarida Cardoso Moreira
A new preprint with Beatriz Vicoso, where we highlight that a common observation in molecular evolution—X chromosomes adapting faster than autosomes—doesn't quite add up. So we tested a new theory (www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...) in fruit flies, mice and humans...
Is faster-X adaptation due to large-effect mutations? An empirical test of a new theory https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.06.704462v1
February 8, 2026 at 9:53 AM
A new preprint with Beatriz Vicoso, where we highlight that a common observation in molecular evolution—X chromosomes adapting faster than autosomes—doesn't quite add up. So we tested a new theory (www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1...) in fruit flies, mice and humans...
A beautiful example of how deep learning can be put to use in evolutionary biology!
We are thrilled that our study on the evolution of gene regulation in mammalian cerebellum development – led by @ioansarr.bsky.social, @marisepp.bsky.social and @tyamadat.bsky.social, in collaboration with @steinaerts.bsky.social – is now out in @ScienceMagazine! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
February 4, 2026 at 6:25 PM
A beautiful example of how deep learning can be put to use in evolutionary biology!
Don’t miss this great opportunity to work with an outstanding scientist and a great mentor!!
I've started my own lab 🎉
PhD/postdoc positions available - reach out if curious about cerebellum evo-devo and autism spectrum disorders.
We’re based at Uni Tartu, Institute of Genomics (home to Estonian Biobank), and funded by @simonsfoundation.org @embo.org, and the Estonian Research Council.
PhD/postdoc positions available - reach out if curious about cerebellum evo-devo and autism spectrum disorders.
We’re based at Uni Tartu, Institute of Genomics (home to Estonian Biobank), and funded by @simonsfoundation.org @embo.org, and the Estonian Research Council.
February 4, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Don’t miss this great opportunity to work with an outstanding scientist and a great mentor!!
Join us at SMBE26! We are in a golden period for understanding the evolution of gene regulation.
SMBE2026 Symposium 22 | Evolution of gene regulation: insights from novel molecular and statistical approaches
📨 Abstract submission
smbe2026.org/abstracts
📋 Programme details
smbe2026.org/programme
#SMBE2026
📨 Abstract submission
smbe2026.org/abstracts
📋 Programme details
smbe2026.org/programme
#SMBE2026
December 17, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Join us at SMBE26! We are in a golden period for understanding the evolution of gene regulation.
Reposted by Margarida Cardoso Moreira
Excited to share the latest work from the lab:
rdcu.be/eRWuD
Great team effort, led by @enriberti.bsky.social first at @unil.bsky.social and now @unifr.bsky.social; with fantastic collaborators @ribeirocarlitos.bsky.social and @dahaniel.muench.bio.
rdcu.be/eRWuD
Great team effort, led by @enriberti.bsky.social first at @unil.bsky.social and now @unifr.bsky.social; with fantastic collaborators @ribeirocarlitos.bsky.social and @dahaniel.muench.bio.
Evolution of taste processing shifts dietary preference
Nature - Calcium imaging of taste neurons and the ventral brain provides insight into evolutionary divergence of food choice in Drosophila species, supporting a role of sensorimotor processing in...
rdcu.be
November 27, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Excited to share the latest work from the lab:
rdcu.be/eRWuD
Great team effort, led by @enriberti.bsky.social first at @unil.bsky.social and now @unifr.bsky.social; with fantastic collaborators @ribeirocarlitos.bsky.social and @dahaniel.muench.bio.
rdcu.be/eRWuD
Great team effort, led by @enriberti.bsky.social first at @unil.bsky.social and now @unifr.bsky.social; with fantastic collaborators @ribeirocarlitos.bsky.social and @dahaniel.muench.bio.
Reposted by Margarida Cardoso Moreira
Modestly, we decided to review a century's worth of theories of balancing selection :) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
A century of theories of balancing selection
Traits that affect organismal fitness are often highly genetically variable. This genetic variation is vital for populations to adapt to their environments, but it is also surprising given that natur...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Modestly, we decided to review a century's worth of theories of balancing selection :) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Margarida Cardoso Moreira
For those interested in GRN evolution, please join us!
October 28, 2025 at 12:31 AM
For those interested in GRN evolution, please join us!
Reposted by Margarida Cardoso Moreira
Are you obsessed with archaeological or historical questions and easily get into coding?
Or a computational scientist that want to understand biology and disease evolution, and curious about the ancient past?
If you have these or other burning questions that fits into our programme, apply below!
Or a computational scientist that want to understand biology and disease evolution, and curious about the ancient past?
If you have these or other burning questions that fits into our programme, apply below!
PhD-opening in our ancient genomics lab this year, apply below!
We work on:
📜 Genetic history integrated with archaeology and history
📈 Natural selection and trait genetics
🐺 Evolutionary genomics of dogs and wolves
🦠 Ancient pathogen genomics
💀 Hominin evolution and ancient proteomics
We work on:
📜 Genetic history integrated with archaeology and history
📈 Natural selection and trait genetics
🐺 Evolutionary genomics of dogs and wolves
🦠 Ancient pathogen genomics
💀 Hominin evolution and ancient proteomics
Motivated graduates with backgrounds in biological or biomedical sciences, physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering and/or computer science are invited to apply to our 4-year fully funded PhD programme.
Apply by 05 November 2025
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-...
Apply by 05 November 2025
www.crick.ac.uk/careers-and-...
October 27, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Are you obsessed with archaeological or historical questions and easily get into coding?
Or a computational scientist that want to understand biology and disease evolution, and curious about the ancient past?
If you have these or other burning questions that fits into our programme, apply below!
Or a computational scientist that want to understand biology and disease evolution, and curious about the ancient past?
If you have these or other burning questions that fits into our programme, apply below!
Reposted by Margarida Cardoso Moreira
Join us for an extraordinary evening with Nobel Laureate Svante Pääbo!
Prof Pääbo will present a FREE public talk titled “Of Neanderthals and Denisovans, and how they live on in many of us” at the @crick.ac.uk.
Register here: genetics.org.uk/events/of-ne...
Prof Pääbo will present a FREE public talk titled “Of Neanderthals and Denisovans, and how they live on in many of us” at the @crick.ac.uk.
Register here: genetics.org.uk/events/of-ne...
October 27, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Join us for an extraordinary evening with Nobel Laureate Svante Pääbo!
Prof Pääbo will present a FREE public talk titled “Of Neanderthals and Denisovans, and how they live on in many of us” at the @crick.ac.uk.
Register here: genetics.org.uk/events/of-ne...
Prof Pääbo will present a FREE public talk titled “Of Neanderthals and Denisovans, and how they live on in many of us” at the @crick.ac.uk.
Register here: genetics.org.uk/events/of-ne...
Reposted by Margarida Cardoso Moreira
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 Margarida Cardoso Moreira
Psychosis is fascinating - and its impact can be devastating. Excited to share what we are doing in our lab @crick.ac.uk to change that 🧠🧪🥼
Drop by if you are curious! Free talk, everybody is welcome 👇
Drop by if you are curious! Free talk, everybody is welcome 👇
What is psychosis, and how can we uncover new ways to treat it by understanding it’s biological roots?
Book now for our free public talk by @kathaschmack.bsky.social, who leads the Neural Circuits and Immunity in Psychosis Lab here at the Crick.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/crick-cras...
Book now for our free public talk by @kathaschmack.bsky.social, who leads the Neural Circuits and Immunity in Psychosis Lab here at the Crick.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/crick-cras...
Crick Crash Course: Psychosis
Our series of morning lectures sharing science from across the Crick in a simple and accessible way continues.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 16, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Psychosis is fascinating - and its impact can be devastating. Excited to share what we are doing in our lab @crick.ac.uk to change that 🧠🧪🥼
Drop by if you are curious! Free talk, everybody is welcome 👇
Drop by if you are curious! Free talk, everybody is welcome 👇
Congrats Rory! It is beautiful.
October 15, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Congrats Rory! It is beautiful.
Reposted by Margarida Cardoso Moreira
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 Margarida Cardoso Moreira
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 12:51 PM
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...
Reposted by Margarida Cardoso Moreira
Vertebrate Genome Evolution. Annual Symposium of the @louisjeantetfdn.bsky.social Foundation in Geneva. Free access on site and on line. Great speakers for a super interesting topic. #SvantePaabo #HenrikKaessmann organisers 🙏 See you there! @biology-unige.bsky.social @genevunige.bsky.social
October 3, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Vertebrate Genome Evolution. Annual Symposium of the @louisjeantetfdn.bsky.social Foundation in Geneva. Free access on site and on line. Great speakers for a super interesting topic. #SvantePaabo #HenrikKaessmann organisers 🙏 See you there! @biology-unige.bsky.social @genevunige.bsky.social
Reposted by Margarida Cardoso Moreira
The Francis Crick Institute PhD programme recruitment is now live and our lab is recruiting. If you are interested in studying the role of the extracellular matrix in tissue dynamics during development and cancer please apply – link below. Please share. www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
Elosegui-Artola Lab | Mechanical regulation of tissue dynamics by the extracellular matrix in development and cancer
www.crick.ac.uk
October 9, 2025 at 7:28 AM
The Francis Crick Institute PhD programme recruitment is now live and our lab is recruiting. If you are interested in studying the role of the extracellular matrix in tissue dynamics during development and cancer please apply – link below. Please share. www.crick.ac.uk/careers-stud...
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!
I very much enjoyed reading it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
September 30, 2025 at 9:19 PM
I very much enjoyed reading it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Reposted by Margarida Cardoso Moreira
UPDATE: The 2025-2026 list of faculty and postdoc positions in ecology and evolutionary biology is out! Be sure to check out this active and helpful community run resources! docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
ecoevojobs.net 2025-26
docs.google.com
September 19, 2025 at 9:47 PM
UPDATE: The 2025-2026 list of faculty and postdoc positions in ecology and evolutionary biology is out! Be sure to check out this active and helpful community run resources! docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Reposted by Margarida Cardoso Moreira
Edith Heard our new CEO shares ten lessons from her life in science, from curiosity, courage and coffee to the secrets of our genetic code.
www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-09...
www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-09...
Edith Heard life lessons
Edith Heard, the Crick’s new Director and CEO, shares ten lessons from a life in science, spanning curiosity, courage, coffee, and the secrets of our genetic code.
www.crick.ac.uk
September 10, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Edith Heard our new CEO shares ten lessons from her life in science, from curiosity, courage and coffee to the secrets of our genetic code.
www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-09...
www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-09...
Reposted by Margarida Cardoso Moreira
Happening tomorrow! 👀
🤩 Join us for the next TIBBE seminar:
Evolution of brain cell types.
September 10, 2–3pm UTC
This event brings together 2 outstanding evolutionary and developmental neuroscientists who will present their work, followed by an interactive discussion with the audience: www.crowdcast.io/c/evolution-...
Evolution of brain cell types.
September 10, 2–3pm UTC
This event brings together 2 outstanding evolutionary and developmental neuroscientists who will present their work, followed by an interactive discussion with the audience: www.crowdcast.io/c/evolution-...
September 9, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Happening tomorrow! 👀
Congratulations!! The science is super exciting!
September 4, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Congratulations!! The science is super exciting!
Wooohoooo!!! Huge congrats, Greg!!
September 4, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Wooohoooo!!! Huge congrats, Greg!!
Reposted by Margarida Cardoso Moreira
Read more about @sermenchero.bsky.social 's work in this PNAS Journal Club. #opossums!
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 7:30 PM
Read more about @sermenchero.bsky.social 's work in this PNAS Journal Club. #opossums!
Reposted by Margarida Cardoso Moreira
Chaetognaths have lost gene body methylation and shifted #5mC back to Transposable Elements. This reversion to the ancestral state is coupled with a simplification of DNMT3 architecture. We posit that trans-splicing might compensate.
It is an honour to have contributed to this 20y struggle ⛰️.
It is an honour to have contributed to this 20y struggle ⛰️.
After nearly twenty years in the making, our attempt at understanding what makes the chaetognath phylum so unique has finally been published! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
with #LauraPiovani @dariagavr.bsky.social @alexdemendoza.bsky.social @chemamd.bsky.social and others /1
with #LauraPiovani @dariagavr.bsky.social @alexdemendoza.bsky.social @chemamd.bsky.social and others /1
The genomic origin of the unique chaetognath body plan - Nature
Genomic, single-cell transcriptomic and epigenetic analyses show that chaetognaths, following extensive gene loss in the gnathiferan lineage, relied on newly evolved genes and lineage-specific tandem ...
www.nature.com
August 14, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Chaetognaths have lost gene body methylation and shifted #5mC back to Transposable Elements. This reversion to the ancestral state is coupled with a simplification of DNMT3 architecture. We posit that trans-splicing might compensate.
It is an honour to have contributed to this 20y struggle ⛰️.
It is an honour to have contributed to this 20y struggle ⛰️.