The American Genetic Association
@theaga.bsky.social
Society encouraging the study of comparative genetics and genomics to document, conserve, and manage organismal diversity. We publish biodiversity genetics & genomics research in Journal of Heredity. https://linktr.ee/theaga_org
Did you know that the AGA/Journal of Heredity has a long history of publishing about cats? (Not to mention, our editorial board and council both contain cat people) Our social media editor decided to go on a dive into the archives and share what she found: blog.theaga.org/the-...
#JHered #cats
#JHered #cats
January 10, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Did you know that the AGA/Journal of Heredity has a long history of publishing about cats? (Not to mention, our editorial board and council both contain cat people) Our social media editor decided to go on a dive into the archives and share what she found: blog.theaga.org/the-...
#JHered #cats
#JHered #cats
🎣 Did some genetic variation in Gila Trout, protected under the US Endangered Species Act, stem from hybridization with introduced Rainbow Trout or shared ancestry?
Image © Joseph R. Tomelleri
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Image © Joseph R. Tomelleri
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January 9, 2026 at 8:54 PM
🎣 Did some genetic variation in Gila Trout, protected under the US Endangered Species Act, stem from hybridization with introduced Rainbow Trout or shared ancestry?
Image © Joseph R. Tomelleri
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Image © Joseph R. Tomelleri
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🧬 Introducing the chromosome-level genome of Sparganum proliferum, a deadly tapeworm causing sparganosis. With 29k+ genes, conserved synteny with related parasites, and identified CRISPR safe harbors, this resource paves the way for functional studies and insights into parasite evolution.
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January 8, 2026 at 10:47 PM
🧬 Introducing the chromosome-level genome of Sparganum proliferum, a deadly tapeworm causing sparganosis. With 29k+ genes, conserved synteny with related parasites, and identified CRISPR safe harbors, this resource paves the way for functional studies and insights into parasite evolution.
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Reposted by The American Genetic Association
We are pleased to announce the inaugural Gordon Research Conference on Urban Evolution and Ecology which will be held from Jan. 31 - Feb. 5, 2027. Please save the dates, and we look forward to welcoming you to beautiful Ventura Beach, California!
January 7, 2026 at 6:55 PM
We are pleased to announce the inaugural Gordon Research Conference on Urban Evolution and Ecology which will be held from Jan. 31 - Feb. 5, 2027. Please save the dates, and we look forward to welcoming you to beautiful Ventura Beach, California!
🔬 Recent advances in sequencing have revealed neo-sex chromosomes in Anolis lizards, offering new insights into sex chromosome evolution.
Photo: Anthony Geneva
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Photo: Anthony Geneva
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January 7, 2026 at 1:45 PM
🔬 Recent advances in sequencing have revealed neo-sex chromosomes in Anolis lizards, offering new insights into sex chromosome evolution.
Photo: Anthony Geneva
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Photo: Anthony Geneva
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Here's some recent work from the CCGP featuring bees! 🐝 Many bumble bee species are declining due to habitat loss, pesticides, disease, and climate change, but some remain stable.
Photo © Karen Straus/San Diego Audubon Society
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Photo © Karen Straus/San Diego Audubon Society
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January 6, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Here's some recent work from the CCGP featuring bees! 🐝 Many bumble bee species are declining due to habitat loss, pesticides, disease, and climate change, but some remain stable.
Photo © Karen Straus/San Diego Audubon Society
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Photo © Karen Straus/San Diego Audubon Society
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🦋🌄Another genome from the CCGP: the Sierra Nevada Parnassian (Parnassius behrii)! This comprehensive resource reveals insights into its genetics, evolution, and adaptation—crucial for conservation and understanding speciation within this high-elevation butterfly complex.
Photo: Ken-ichi Ueda
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Photo: Ken-ichi Ueda
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December 27, 2025 at 4:11 PM
🦋🌄Another genome from the CCGP: the Sierra Nevada Parnassian (Parnassius behrii)! This comprehensive resource reveals insights into its genetics, evolution, and adaptation—crucial for conservation and understanding speciation within this high-elevation butterfly complex.
Photo: Ken-ichi Ueda
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Photo: Ken-ichi Ueda
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🌸🧬 Exciting news for conservation and agriculture! A reference genome for Limnanthes douglasii has been assembled, supporting studies on its evolution, ecology, and genetic diversity. Plus, its oil-rich seeds hold promising agricultural potential.
Photo: Robert Potts
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Photo: Robert Potts
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December 26, 2025 at 7:48 PM
🌸🧬 Exciting news for conservation and agriculture! A reference genome for Limnanthes douglasii has been assembled, supporting studies on its evolution, ecology, and genetic diversity. Plus, its oil-rich seeds hold promising agricultural potential.
Photo: Robert Potts
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Photo: Robert Potts
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Here's another genome courtesy of the CCGP: the first for the California flannel bush! Using PacBio HiFi and Omni-C, scientists assembled a high-quality, phased genome of F. californicum—key for studying its distribution, genetic diversity, and evolution.
Photo: Calscape
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Photo: Calscape
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December 25, 2025 at 5:58 PM
Here's another genome courtesy of the CCGP: the first for the California flannel bush! Using PacBio HiFi and Omni-C, scientists assembled a high-quality, phased genome of F. californicum—key for studying its distribution, genetic diversity, and evolution.
Photo: Calscape
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Photo: Calscape
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🐾🧬 Exciting genomic insights into Martens! This paper presents chromosome-length genome assemblies for three marten subspecies—Tobol sable, Ural pine marten, and Far East yellow-throated marten—enhancing our understanding of their diversity, evolution, & taxonomy.
Photo: © Светлана Мещерягина
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Photo: © Светлана Мещерягина
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December 24, 2025 at 3:31 PM
🐾🧬 Exciting genomic insights into Martens! This paper presents chromosome-length genome assemblies for three marten subspecies—Tobol sable, Ural pine marten, and Far East yellow-throated marten—enhancing our understanding of their diversity, evolution, & taxonomy.
Photo: © Светлана Мещерягина
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Photo: © Светлана Мещерягина
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🐒🧬 A new study reveals the genetic diversity of MHC class II DQB in wild rhesus and long-tailed macaques across Thailand. Their findings highlight habitat influences, allele distribution, and potential impacts on disease susceptibility.
Photo: Getty
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Photo: Getty
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December 23, 2025 at 10:47 PM
🐒🧬 A new study reveals the genetic diversity of MHC class II DQB in wild rhesus and long-tailed macaques across Thailand. Their findings highlight habitat influences, allele distribution, and potential impacts on disease susceptibility.
Photo: Getty
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Photo: Getty
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Now available in Advance Access: an exciting breakthrough in entomology! Researchers have produced a high-quality, chromosome-scale genome of the fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), a highly adaptable moth with over 600 host plants.
Photo: TampAGS
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Photo: TampAGS
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December 22, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Now available in Advance Access: an exciting breakthrough in entomology! Researchers have produced a high-quality, chromosome-scale genome of the fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), a highly adaptable moth with over 600 host plants.
Photo: TampAGS
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Photo: TampAGS
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🧬 A recently accepted paper describes how structural variants (SVs)—including insertions, deletions, and inversions—are key to genetic diversity and adaptation. Advances in long-read sequencing and pangenomes are making it easier to study SVs in populations, even small or endangered ones.
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December 19, 2025 at 1:18 PM
🧬 A recently accepted paper describes how structural variants (SVs)—including insertions, deletions, and inversions—are key to genetic diversity and adaptation. Advances in long-read sequencing and pangenomes are making it easier to study SVs in populations, even small or endangered ones.
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🚀 Exciting Opportunity for Early-Career Scientists! 🚀
Join AGA SEA Awardee RADCamp for a hands-on bioinformatics workshop in Monterrey, Mexico, July 20-27, 2026! Over 8 days, you'll prepare your own samples, run dual digest RAD-seq libraries, & analyze your data using ipyrad.
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Join AGA SEA Awardee RADCamp for a hands-on bioinformatics workshop in Monterrey, Mexico, July 20-27, 2026! Over 8 days, you'll prepare your own samples, run dual digest RAD-seq libraries, & analyze your data using ipyrad.
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December 16, 2025 at 6:31 PM
🚀 Exciting Opportunity for Early-Career Scientists! 🚀
Join AGA SEA Awardee RADCamp for a hands-on bioinformatics workshop in Monterrey, Mexico, July 20-27, 2026! Over 8 days, you'll prepare your own samples, run dual digest RAD-seq libraries, & analyze your data using ipyrad.
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Join AGA SEA Awardee RADCamp for a hands-on bioinformatics workshop in Monterrey, Mexico, July 20-27, 2026! Over 8 days, you'll prepare your own samples, run dual digest RAD-seq libraries, & analyze your data using ipyrad.
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The 2025 AGA Council elections are underway! Members should receive their ballots via email. Voting is open through 22 December, 2025. Full candidate details can be found here: www.theaga.org/aga-e...
December 5, 2025 at 5:37 PM
The 2025 AGA Council elections are underway! Members should receive their ballots via email. Voting is open through 22 December, 2025. Full candidate details can be found here: www.theaga.org/aga-e...
🌊 The surfgrass Phyllospadix torreyi, a keystone species of the North Pacific, now has a chromosome-level genome. Scientists describe a massive Y chromosome in males, shedding light on sex chromosome evolution in marine plants.
(Photo: marine.ucsc.edu/targ...)
(Photo: marine.ucsc.edu/targ...)
December 1, 2025 at 4:17 PM
🌊 The surfgrass Phyllospadix torreyi, a keystone species of the North Pacific, now has a chromosome-level genome. Scientists describe a massive Y chromosome in males, shedding light on sex chromosome evolution in marine plants.
(Photo: marine.ucsc.edu/targ...)
(Photo: marine.ucsc.edu/targ...)
🦌 Chronic wasting disease (CWD) threatens cervids worldwide. A recent study in Oregon elk reveals a high frequency of the PRNP variant 132L, which may confer some resistance.
(Photo: https://oregonwild.org/)
(Photo: https://oregonwild.org/)
November 30, 2025 at 7:15 PM
🦌 Chronic wasting disease (CWD) threatens cervids worldwide. A recent study in Oregon elk reveals a high frequency of the PRNP variant 132L, which may confer some resistance.
(Photo: https://oregonwild.org/)
(Photo: https://oregonwild.org/)
The Texas ocelot (Leopardus pardalis albescens), a solitary and nocturnal feline of the Neotropics, faces increasing threats from habitat loss in the US.
(Photo Courtesy of the University of Texas Press.)
(Photo Courtesy of the University of Texas Press.)
November 29, 2025 at 10:54 PM
The Texas ocelot (Leopardus pardalis albescens), a solitary and nocturnal feline of the Neotropics, faces increasing threats from habitat loss in the US.
(Photo Courtesy of the University of Texas Press.)
(Photo Courtesy of the University of Texas Press.)
New paper in Genome Resources: A high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly for wild alpine reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) from Norway, part of the Earth Biogenome Project. An improved genome for Svalbard reindeer enhances our understanding of these Arctic icons.
(Photo: Are G Nilsen)
(Photo: Are G Nilsen)
November 28, 2025 at 10:00 PM
New paper in Genome Resources: A high-quality, chromosome-level genome assembly for wild alpine reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) from Norway, part of the Earth Biogenome Project. An improved genome for Svalbard reindeer enhances our understanding of these Arctic icons.
(Photo: Are G Nilsen)
(Photo: Are G Nilsen)
🐻 In North American brown bears, short-read whole-genome sequencing achieved 94.5% concordance w/ traditional PCR, highlighting its potential for long-term genetic monitoring. Accurate results depend on sufficient coverage & careful interpretation.
(Photo © Francis C. Franklin; wikimedia commons)
(Photo © Francis C. Franklin; wikimedia commons)
November 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
🐻 In North American brown bears, short-read whole-genome sequencing achieved 94.5% concordance w/ traditional PCR, highlighting its potential for long-term genetic monitoring. Accurate results depend on sufficient coverage & careful interpretation.
(Photo © Francis C. Franklin; wikimedia commons)
(Photo © Francis C. Franklin; wikimedia commons)
🐭 Recent genomic analysis of the endangered Pacific pocket mouse reveals complex historical genetic patterns & supports taxonomic revision. Findings suggest reintroduction sites should consider ancestral connectivity & habitat suitability to boost resilience.
(Photo: sandiegozoo.org)
(Photo: sandiegozoo.org)
November 26, 2025 at 3:03 PM
🐭 Recent genomic analysis of the endangered Pacific pocket mouse reveals complex historical genetic patterns & supports taxonomic revision. Findings suggest reintroduction sites should consider ancestral connectivity & habitat suitability to boost resilience.
(Photo: sandiegozoo.org)
(Photo: sandiegozoo.org)
🌵 The cactus moth, an invasive threat across the US and Caribbean, is impacting native cacti and prickly pear industries. This RNA-Seq study reveals stage- and sex-specific gene expression, providing new genetic insights to develop innovative control strategies, including gene editing.
November 25, 2025 at 5:52 PM
🌵 The cactus moth, an invasive threat across the US and Caribbean, is impacting native cacti and prickly pear industries. This RNA-Seq study reveals stage- and sex-specific gene expression, providing new genetic insights to develop innovative control strategies, including gene editing.
Newly published paper shows how convergent evolution showcases nature’s adaptive power! The authors generated high-quality genomes for 10 brood parasitic birds with independent origins spanning 1.6 to 30 million years.
(Tree/photo from the paper)
(Tree/photo from the paper)
November 24, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Newly published paper shows how convergent evolution showcases nature’s adaptive power! The authors generated high-quality genomes for 10 brood parasitic birds with independent origins spanning 1.6 to 30 million years.
(Tree/photo from the paper)
(Tree/photo from the paper)
The northern elephant seal, once near extinction with just a few survivors, is now a conservation success story! Thanks to the California Conservation Genomics Project, scientists have generated a high-quality reference genome to study its resilience, genetic diversity, and recovery.
November 23, 2025 at 6:56 PM
The northern elephant seal, once near extinction with just a few survivors, is now a conservation success story! Thanks to the California Conservation Genomics Project, scientists have generated a high-quality reference genome to study its resilience, genetic diversity, and recovery.
🦒 Recent genomics research confirms four distinct giraffe species, revealing extensive hybridization in North American captive populations. To ensure effective conservation, authors recommend phasing out hybrids and creating new, genetically pure stocks through international collaboration.
November 22, 2025 at 11:10 PM
🦒 Recent genomics research confirms four distinct giraffe species, revealing extensive hybridization in North American captive populations. To ensure effective conservation, authors recommend phasing out hybrids and creating new, genetically pure stocks through international collaboration.