Angus Davison
@snaildoc.bsky.social
Professor of Evolutionary Genetics at University of Nottingham. Evolution and genetics/genomics of colour and left-right asymmetry (chirality) in snails. Hand-model for snails - available for hire. Mostly posting at @snailman@ecoevo.social
Pinned
Angus Davison
@snaildoc.bsky.social
· Mar 30
Snails of Cuba! We found 5 species, including the most endangered and most beautiful, Polymita sulphurosa. Project on evolution/conservation of these snails, led by Cuba, me @ #UoN, and working with London zoo, Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
#snails #cuba #fieldwork
#snails #cuba #fieldwork
I need to insure a snail shell - the remains of "Jeremy the shellebrity snail" - for international travel. It is going to be the centrepoint of Netherlands museum exhibit! But what value do I put on a one in million snail?! #snail #snaillove
January 12, 2026 at 4:42 PM
I need to insure a snail shell - the remains of "Jeremy the shellebrity snail" - for international travel. It is going to be the centrepoint of Netherlands museum exhibit! But what value do I put on a one in million snail?! #snail #snaillove
Reposted by Angus Davison
I've been sitting on this for over a month...but given how cross I am with @royalsociety.org at their ongoing inaction over #Elon #Musk I thought I'd share this.
They invited me to serve on their Public Engagement Committee; I could have been more eloquent, but I had to give a firm "no"...
They invited me to serve on their Public Engagement Committee; I could have been more eloquent, but I had to give a firm "no"...
January 9, 2026 at 6:30 PM
I've been sitting on this for over a month...but given how cross I am with @royalsociety.org at their ongoing inaction over #Elon #Musk I thought I'd share this.
They invited me to serve on their Public Engagement Committee; I could have been more eloquent, but I had to give a firm "no"...
They invited me to serve on their Public Engagement Committee; I could have been more eloquent, but I had to give a firm "no"...
Reposted by Angus Davison
And if you want a list of the reasons that have been given for keeping Musk as FRS, there's this piece deevybee.blogspot.com/2025/02/seve...
January 10, 2026 at 8:11 AM
And if you want a list of the reasons that have been given for keeping Musk as FRS, there's this piece deevybee.blogspot.com/2025/02/seve...
Reporting back from the frontline of the 59th iteration of PopGroup conference in Lille, only the 2nd ever outside the UK. With a free bar stocked with local bar, excellent frites for the poster session and top quality food, why would we ever hold it anywhere again?! 😁 #pgg59 #popgroup59 #conference
January 10, 2026 at 8:24 AM
Reporting back from the frontline of the 59th iteration of PopGroup conference in Lille, only the 2nd ever outside the UK. With a free bar stocked with local bar, excellent frites for the poster session and top quality food, why would we ever hold it anywhere again?! 😁 #pgg59 #popgroup59 #conference
Reposted by Angus Davison
🚨RA/PhD position available in evolutionary neurobiology 🚨
Working on a deep dive into circuit changes during mushroom body expansion in Heliconius butterflies @camzoology.bsky.social
- employment benefits
- 4 years funding
- 1000% fun
Deadline: 14/1/2026
Details:
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...
Working on a deep dive into circuit changes during mushroom body expansion in Heliconius butterflies @camzoology.bsky.social
- employment benefits
- 4 years funding
- 1000% fun
Deadline: 14/1/2026
Details:
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...
November 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
🚨RA/PhD position available in evolutionary neurobiology 🚨
Working on a deep dive into circuit changes during mushroom body expansion in Heliconius butterflies @camzoology.bsky.social
- employment benefits
- 4 years funding
- 1000% fun
Deadline: 14/1/2026
Details:
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...
Working on a deep dive into circuit changes during mushroom body expansion in Heliconius butterflies @camzoology.bsky.social
- employment benefits
- 4 years funding
- 1000% fun
Deadline: 14/1/2026
Details:
www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/researc...
Reposted by Angus Davison
Accurate Runs of Homozygosity Estimation From Low Coverage Genome Sequences in Non-Model Species
#popgen #consgen
doi.org/10.1111/1755...
#popgen #consgen
doi.org/10.1111/1755...
Accurate Runs of Homozygosity Estimation From Low Coverage Genome Sequences in Non‐Model Species
Runs of homozygosity (ROH) are increasingly being analysed using whole genome sequences in non-model species as a measure of inbreeding and to assess demographic history, thus providing useful inform...
doi.org
December 7, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Accurate Runs of Homozygosity Estimation From Low Coverage Genome Sequences in Non-Model Species
#popgen #consgen
doi.org/10.1111/1755...
#popgen #consgen
doi.org/10.1111/1755...
Reposted by Angus Davison
🚨Two funded PhDs on the evolutionary ecology of antipredator colouration 🦋 with myself and Iliana Medina.
One in Swansea tinyurl.com/4thtbph6 deadline Jan 12th @crocus-dla.bsky.social
The other in Melbourne - deadline Jan 1st
Please share among potential students!
One in Swansea tinyurl.com/4thtbph6 deadline Jan 12th @crocus-dla.bsky.social
The other in Melbourne - deadline Jan 1st
Please share among potential students!
December 1, 2025 at 2:40 PM
🚨Two funded PhDs on the evolutionary ecology of antipredator colouration 🦋 with myself and Iliana Medina.
One in Swansea tinyurl.com/4thtbph6 deadline Jan 12th @crocus-dla.bsky.social
The other in Melbourne - deadline Jan 1st
Please share among potential students!
One in Swansea tinyurl.com/4thtbph6 deadline Jan 12th @crocus-dla.bsky.social
The other in Melbourne - deadline Jan 1st
Please share among potential students!
Reposted by Angus Davison
In time for the festive season, my latest paper charts the 25 million year story of how mistletoe and songbirds somersaulted across the Americas, diversifying as they went. Strap in for an epic ecological tale #MistletoeMunchersFromWayBack 1/12
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Evolutionary dynamics of dietary specialisation – insights from Neotropical mistletoe‐dependent frugivores
Mistletoes occur worldwide, with most relying on birds to disperse their sticky seeds to suitable hosts. There has been considerable ecological research on these interactions, emphasizing those birds....
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:53 AM
In time for the festive season, my latest paper charts the 25 million year story of how mistletoe and songbirds somersaulted across the Americas, diversifying as they went. Strap in for an epic ecological tale #MistletoeMunchersFromWayBack 1/12
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
nsojournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Angus Davison
"Rediscovery of the greater chestnut #weevil highlights the power of digital platforms in biodiversity research and conservation" spkl.io/63326Ad07u
@Michael A. Charles & colleagues
@currentbiology.bsky.social
@Michael A. Charles & colleagues
@currentbiology.bsky.social
November 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM
"Rediscovery of the greater chestnut #weevil highlights the power of digital platforms in biodiversity research and conservation" spkl.io/63326Ad07u
@Michael A. Charles & colleagues
@currentbiology.bsky.social
@Michael A. Charles & colleagues
@currentbiology.bsky.social
Two days of demos and inspirational speeches outside Trent building - while university council decide our future but without our consultation, or consideration of the local and East Midlands community. #UoN promotes #WeAreUoN hashtag but does not listen. #University #eastmidlands @ucu.org.uk
November 25, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Two days of demos and inspirational speeches outside Trent building - while university council decide our future but without our consultation, or consideration of the local and East Midlands community. #UoN promotes #WeAreUoN hashtag but does not listen. #University #eastmidlands @ucu.org.uk
Reposted by Angus Davison
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
BREAKING The University of Nottingham has decided to lead the way in being the first 🥇 Russell group university to NOT do modern languages. Music is also gone! 🗡️ Apparently, neither are necessary for a world "top 100" university with charitable status. ENDS
#UoN #Russell @ucu.org.uk #UCU
#UoN #Russell @ucu.org.uk #UCU
November 21, 2025 at 11:00 AM
BREAKING The University of Nottingham has decided to lead the way in being the first 🥇 Russell group university to NOT do modern languages. Music is also gone! 🗡️ Apparently, neither are necessary for a world "top 100" university with charitable status. ENDS
#UoN #Russell @ucu.org.uk #UCU
#UoN #Russell @ucu.org.uk #UCU
Reposted by Angus Davison
Join us! 🧬🪰🎉🔬
We are currently advertising two #PhD projects to study the #evolution, #development and #genomics of sexual traits in stalk-eyed flies.
Deadline for applying is Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Get in touch for more info!
We are currently advertising two #PhD projects to study the #evolution, #development and #genomics of sexual traits in stalk-eyed flies.
Deadline for applying is Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Get in touch for more info!
November 17, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Join us! 🧬🪰🎉🔬
We are currently advertising two #PhD projects to study the #evolution, #development and #genomics of sexual traits in stalk-eyed flies.
Deadline for applying is Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Get in touch for more info!
We are currently advertising two #PhD projects to study the #evolution, #development and #genomics of sexual traits in stalk-eyed flies.
Deadline for applying is Wednesday, January 7, 2026. Get in touch for more info!
Reposted by Angus Davison
Right. Hitler's DNA. Brace yourselves for a deluge of misinformation and bad science.
I'm in Australia, so do get in touch if you want some expert debunking.
I'm in Australia, so do get in touch if you want some expert debunking.
November 13, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Right. Hitler's DNA. Brace yourselves for a deluge of misinformation and bad science.
I'm in Australia, so do get in touch if you want some expert debunking.
I'm in Australia, so do get in touch if you want some expert debunking.
Bizarre story, an elaborate mollusc based tax avoidance scheme! www.londoncentric.media/p/terry-ball...
#molluscs #snails/ #taxavoidance
#molluscs #snails/ #taxavoidance
The snail farmer of London, his mafia friends, and a £20m vendetta against the taxman
Terry Ball runs elaborate mollusc-based tax avoidance schemes that are costing London councils millions of pounds. Yet when London Centric tracks him down, an even stranger story emerges.
www.londoncentric.media
November 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Bizarre story, an elaborate mollusc based tax avoidance scheme! www.londoncentric.media/p/terry-ball...
#molluscs #snails/ #taxavoidance
#molluscs #snails/ #taxavoidance
Problems and progress in getting molluscan 🐌 genome assemblies, new paper out. Although the publication was much delayed, we recently redid the analysis, finding that actually not much ahs improved 😔 academic.oup.com/mollus/artic...
🧬 & 🖥️ #genomics #snails #molluscs
🧬 & 🖥️ #genomics #snails #molluscs
Molluscan genome assemblies—problems and progress
A reference genome assembly is a starting point for research (Davison & Neiman, 2021) in a wide variety of subdisciplines of biology, including mollusc
academic.oup.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Problems and progress in getting molluscan 🐌 genome assemblies, new paper out. Although the publication was much delayed, we recently redid the analysis, finding that actually not much ahs improved 😔 academic.oup.com/mollus/artic...
🧬 & 🖥️ #genomics #snails #molluscs
🧬 & 🖥️ #genomics #snails #molluscs
Reposted by Angus Davison
How does a single cuckoo species evolve eggs that mimic those of many different hosts?
In a new Science study, researchers report genomic data that reveal a complex geographic mosaic of cuckoo-host coevolution.
Learn more in a new #SciencePerspective: https://scim.ag/4nEZIfY
In a new Science study, researchers report genomic data that reveal a complex geographic mosaic of cuckoo-host coevolution.
Learn more in a new #SciencePerspective: https://scim.ag/4nEZIfY
November 5, 2025 at 2:26 PM
How does a single cuckoo species evolve eggs that mimic those of many different hosts?
In a new Science study, researchers report genomic data that reveal a complex geographic mosaic of cuckoo-host coevolution.
Learn more in a new #SciencePerspective: https://scim.ag/4nEZIfY
In a new Science study, researchers report genomic data that reveal a complex geographic mosaic of cuckoo-host coevolution.
Learn more in a new #SciencePerspective: https://scim.ag/4nEZIfY
Reposted by Angus Davison
We are still interested in any found twite feathers for a study on the relationships and genetic diversity between the British groups - particularly now for birds of Scottish origin in the NE of England or, birds on the Avon.
DM me for me more info.
#birdringing
DM me for me more info.
#birdringing
October 28, 2025 at 7:20 AM
We are still interested in any found twite feathers for a study on the relationships and genetic diversity between the British groups - particularly now for birds of Scottish origin in the NE of England or, birds on the Avon.
DM me for me more info.
#birdringing
DM me for me more info.
#birdringing
Reposted by Angus Davison
Talk about an in-flight meal.
For the first time, researchers have captured rats hunting bats by grabbing them from the sky. Learn more: https://scim.ag/3Jqldmn
For the first time, researchers have captured rats hunting bats by grabbing them from the sky. Learn more: https://scim.ag/3Jqldmn
October 27, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Talk about an in-flight meal.
For the first time, researchers have captured rats hunting bats by grabbing them from the sky. Learn more: https://scim.ag/3Jqldmn
For the first time, researchers have captured rats hunting bats by grabbing them from the sky. Learn more: https://scim.ag/3Jqldmn
Reposted by Angus Davison
New research w/ @jacobphd.bsky.social et al. published today in Nature Communications: Genes linked to schistosome resistance identified in a genome-wide association study of African snail vectors doi.org/10.1038/s414... 🐌🪱🧬
Genes linked to schistosome resistance identified in a genome-wide association study of African snail vectors - Nature Communications
A genome wide association study of an African vector of schistosomiasis revealed two genomic regions associated with resistance to Schistosoma mansoni. These findings will inform novel control strateg...
doi.org
July 27, 2025 at 9:42 AM
New research w/ @jacobphd.bsky.social et al. published today in Nature Communications: Genes linked to schistosome resistance identified in a genome-wide association study of African snail vectors doi.org/10.1038/s414... 🐌🪱🧬
Reposted by Angus Davison
Read 'Ancient origin of an urban underground mosquito' by @sangerinstitute.bsky.social and @princeton.edu in @science.org here ⤵️
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Ancient origin of an urban underground mosquito
Understanding how life is adapting to urban environments represents an important challenge in evolutionary biology. In this work, we investigate a widely cited example of urban adaptation, Culex pipie...
www.science.org
October 24, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Read 'Ancient origin of an urban underground mosquito' by @sangerinstitute.bsky.social and @princeton.edu in @science.org here ⤵️
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Angus Davison
Exciting news!
The next #PopGroup meeting will take place in Lille 🍟, France, 7–9 January 2026 – just 1 hour by train from London, Brussels, and Paris.
This year, PopGroup will also host ALPHY, the annual meeting of Evolutionary Genomics.
More info: populationgeneticsgroup.org.uk
See you there !
The next #PopGroup meeting will take place in Lille 🍟, France, 7–9 January 2026 – just 1 hour by train from London, Brussels, and Paris.
This year, PopGroup will also host ALPHY, the annual meeting of Evolutionary Genomics.
More info: populationgeneticsgroup.org.uk
See you there !
Population Genetics group 59
populationgeneticsgroup.org.uk
September 29, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Exciting news!
The next #PopGroup meeting will take place in Lille 🍟, France, 7–9 January 2026 – just 1 hour by train from London, Brussels, and Paris.
This year, PopGroup will also host ALPHY, the annual meeting of Evolutionary Genomics.
More info: populationgeneticsgroup.org.uk
See you there !
The next #PopGroup meeting will take place in Lille 🍟, France, 7–9 January 2026 – just 1 hour by train from London, Brussels, and Paris.
This year, PopGroup will also host ALPHY, the annual meeting of Evolutionary Genomics.
More info: populationgeneticsgroup.org.uk
See you there !
Reposted by Angus Davison
A statement from the President of the #RoyalSociety - royalsociety.org/news/2025/10... actually, it's a declaration of abject cowardice #shame #musk
A statement from the President of the Royal Society | Royal Society
A statement from Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, regarding threats to the values that allow science to flourish.
royalsociety.org
October 2, 2025 at 7:43 AM
A statement from the President of the #RoyalSociety - royalsociety.org/news/2025/10... actually, it's a declaration of abject cowardice #shame #musk
Reposted by Angus Davison
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
September 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I get that the news cycle is packed right now, but I just heard from a colleague at the Smithsonian that this is fully a GIANT SQUID BEING EATEN BY A SPERM WHALE and it’s possibly the first ever confirmed video according to a friend at NOAA
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)
10 YEAR OLD ME IS LOSING HER MIND (a thread 🧵)