Ana Serra Silva
@anaserrasilva.bsky.social
Phylogeneticist and evolutionary biologist. Research fellow at UCL Biosciences | Communications Officer for @systassn.bsky.social
Always nice to see an old friend. Now to find what shenanigans are afoot this time. 🤓
September 24, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Always nice to see an old friend. Now to find what shenanigans are afoot this time. 🤓
Not sure I like the look of these clouds...
August 28, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Not sure I like the look of these clouds...
Ah, the one time I want a delivery to be late, it is on track to arrive ahead of time... Guess I'll be starring at the box for the better part of a month 🛥️
August 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Ah, the one time I want a delivery to be late, it is on track to arrive ahead of time... Guess I'll be starring at the box for the better part of a month 🛥️
TLDR: Support for deuterostome monophyly comes from sources of systematic error (branch-length, site-rate and site-compositional heterogeneity). When these are explicitly modelled, we cannot distinguish between monophyletic and paraphyletic Deuterostomia. (12/12)
July 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
TLDR: Support for deuterostome monophyly comes from sources of systematic error (branch-length, site-rate and site-compositional heterogeneity). When these are explicitly modelled, we cannot distinguish between monophyletic and paraphyletic Deuterostomia. (12/12)
We also found that support for deuterostome monophyly is highest at highly compositionally constrained sites (number of effective AAs < 3).
(We used some simulations to test this further but they don't really fit in 300 chars, so bug me if interested to know more.)
(9/12)
(We used some simulations to test this further but they don't really fit in 300 chars, so bug me if interested to know more.)
(9/12)
July 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
We also found that support for deuterostome monophyly is highest at highly compositionally constrained sites (number of effective AAs < 3).
(We used some simulations to test this further but they don't really fit in 300 chars, so bug me if interested to know more.)
(9/12)
(We used some simulations to test this further but they don't really fit in 300 chars, so bug me if interested to know more.)
(9/12)
2) a site-homogeneous model with rate variation
3) a site-heterogeneous model with rate variation
And found that support for deuterostome monophyly is higher when:
1) rate variation is not accounted for
2) long-branched taxa are sampled, and
3) compositional heterogeneity isn't modelled (8/12)
3) a site-heterogeneous model with rate variation
And found that support for deuterostome monophyly is higher when:
1) rate variation is not accounted for
2) long-branched taxa are sampled, and
3) compositional heterogeneity isn't modelled (8/12)
July 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
2) a site-homogeneous model with rate variation
3) a site-heterogeneous model with rate variation
And found that support for deuterostome monophyly is higher when:
1) rate variation is not accounted for
2) long-branched taxa are sampled, and
3) compositional heterogeneity isn't modelled (8/12)
3) a site-heterogeneous model with rate variation
And found that support for deuterostome monophyly is higher when:
1) rate variation is not accounted for
2) long-branched taxa are sampled, and
3) compositional heterogeneity isn't modelled (8/12)
So, are deuterostomes monophyletic and if not, who are our (Chordata) closest relatives?
The 2021 work suggested that support for Deuterostomia is a long-branch attraction (LBA) artefact, so we focused on systematically exploring how known causes of LBA influenced support for Deuterostomia (4/12)
The 2021 work suggested that support for Deuterostomia is a long-branch attraction (LBA) artefact, so we focused on systematically exploring how known causes of LBA influenced support for Deuterostomia (4/12)
July 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
So, are deuterostomes monophyletic and if not, who are our (Chordata) closest relatives?
The 2021 work suggested that support for Deuterostomia is a long-branch attraction (LBA) artefact, so we focused on systematically exploring how known causes of LBA influenced support for Deuterostomia (4/12)
The 2021 work suggested that support for Deuterostomia is a long-branch attraction (LBA) artefact, so we focused on systematically exploring how known causes of LBA influenced support for Deuterostomia (4/12)
Not because we're trying to shake up taxonomy and systematics!
Rather, as substitution models have become more realistic (e.g., can accommodate site-compositional heterogeneity, etc.), more and more studies find strong support for deuterostome paraphyly. (2/12)
Rather, as substitution models have become more realistic (e.g., can accommodate site-compositional heterogeneity, etc.), more and more studies find strong support for deuterostome paraphyly. (2/12)
July 14, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Not because we're trying to shake up taxonomy and systematics!
Rather, as substitution models have become more realistic (e.g., can accommodate site-compositional heterogeneity, etc.), more and more studies find strong support for deuterostome paraphyly. (2/12)
Rather, as substitution models have become more realistic (e.g., can accommodate site-compositional heterogeneity, etc.), more and more studies find strong support for deuterostome paraphyly. (2/12)
🥳 After spending years looking for a copy of the 1st or 2nd editions of 'Cladistics' in reasonable condition (and price...), I've completed the set of both 'Cladistics' and 'Biological Systematics' 🤓
(And now I know what the 'removed from stock' stamps of two London libraries look like!)
(And now I know what the 'removed from stock' stamps of two London libraries look like!)
February 11, 2025 at 9:29 PM
🥳 After spending years looking for a copy of the 1st or 2nd editions of 'Cladistics' in reasonable condition (and price...), I've completed the set of both 'Cladistics' and 'Biological Systematics' 🤓
(And now I know what the 'removed from stock' stamps of two London libraries look like!)
(And now I know what the 'removed from stock' stamps of two London libraries look like!)
That's a nice view from the train. And now back to houses in need of a serious coat of paint.
December 18, 2024 at 2:53 PM
That's a nice view from the train. And now back to houses in need of a serious coat of paint.
Fingertips gone but definitely worth it. 🤓
December 14, 2024 at 8:43 PM
Fingertips gone but definitely worth it. 🤓