Justin Conover
@conjustover.bsky.social
Assistant Member and Principal Investigator
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis MO
Interested in plants, popgen, polyploidy, and puns.
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St. Louis MO
Interested in plants, popgen, polyploidy, and puns.
Reposted by Justin Conover
I am looking for a PhD student to start in my lab at UCSB in Fall 2026, studying evolutionary biology. See attached flyer for more information. Please also share with potentially interested students. Thanks!
November 3, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I am looking for a PhD student to start in my lab at UCSB in Fall 2026, studying evolutionary biology. See attached flyer for more information. Please also share with potentially interested students. Thanks!
New Preprint! This one led by Sam Gibbon, an outstanding undergrad I've worked with for the past year. We take a look at whether segregation patterns in tetraploids (disomic v polysomic) affects mut-sel dynamics. We found some surprising results, and some subtleties: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Bistable Mutation-Selection Equilibria and Violations of Fisher's Theorem in Tetraploids: Insights from Nonlinear Dynamics
Polyploidy and whole genome duplication (WGD) are widespread biological phenomena with substantial cellular, meiotic, and genetic effects. Despite their prevalence and significance across the tree of ...
www.biorxiv.org
September 2, 2025 at 6:32 PM
New Preprint! This one led by Sam Gibbon, an outstanding undergrad I've worked with for the past year. We take a look at whether segregation patterns in tetraploids (disomic v polysomic) affects mut-sel dynamics. We found some surprising results, and some subtleties: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
New Paper! In 2019, my first dissertation chapter revealed complicated polyploidies in the cotton family (Malvaceae) but we lacked the tools and genomes to truly understand it. Now with better genomes and improved methods, it's much more complicated than we thought. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
August 13, 2025 at 8:31 PM
New Paper! In 2019, my first dissertation chapter revealed complicated polyploidies in the cotton family (Malvaceae) but we lacked the tools and genomes to truly understand it. Now with better genomes and improved methods, it's much more complicated than we thought. www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Justin Conover
If you're new to demographic history inference from population genomics, try this webapp I created to illustrate how dadi fits bottleneck models to site frequency spectra: ryangutenkunst-dadi-two-epoch.hf.space . It even outputs files for submitting to the GHIST competition! ghi.st
August 5, 2025 at 6:48 PM
If you're new to demographic history inference from population genomics, try this webapp I created to illustrate how dadi fits bottleneck models to site frequency spectra: ryangutenkunst-dadi-two-epoch.hf.space . It even outputs files for submitting to the GHIST competition! ghi.st
The Conover Lab is open!
I am so excited to join a group of talented, caring, and creative folks at the @danforthcenter.bsky.social, all in service of improving the human condition through plant science.
I am so excited to join a group of talented, caring, and creative folks at the @danforthcenter.bsky.social, all in service of improving the human condition through plant science.
The Danforth Center is gaining two outstanding scientists whose unique expertise will support our mission: conjustover.bsky.social & erinsparks.bsky.social, who is a joint hire with Mizzou, are joining our faculty.
Read all about their focus areas & more in the full news release: loom.ly/QuMW7XE
Read all about their focus areas & more in the full news release: loom.ly/QuMW7XE
July 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
The Conover Lab is open!
I am so excited to join a group of talented, caring, and creative folks at the @danforthcenter.bsky.social, all in service of improving the human condition through plant science.
I am so excited to join a group of talented, caring, and creative folks at the @danforthcenter.bsky.social, all in service of improving the human condition through plant science.
Thanks for everything, Tucson!
I arrived in St. Louis today, and am incredibly excited to see what this city has in store for me.
Only one month until the Conover Lab officially opens at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center!
I arrived in St. Louis today, and am incredibly excited to see what this city has in store for me.
Only one month until the Conover Lab officially opens at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center!
May 1, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Thanks for everything, Tucson!
I arrived in St. Louis today, and am incredibly excited to see what this city has in store for me.
Only one month until the Conover Lab officially opens at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center!
I arrived in St. Louis today, and am incredibly excited to see what this city has in store for me.
Only one month until the Conover Lab officially opens at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center!
Reposted by Justin Conover
New Article: "Comparative transcriptomics in ferns reveals key innovations and divergent evolution of the secondary cell walls" rdcu.be/eiWNF
Fern transcriptomes reveal repeated whole-genome duplications, unique gene families and distinct lignocellulosic evolution... #PlantScience
Fern transcriptomes reveal repeated whole-genome duplications, unique gene families and distinct lignocellulosic evolution... #PlantScience
April 23, 2025 at 11:14 AM
New Article: "Comparative transcriptomics in ferns reveals key innovations and divergent evolution of the secondary cell walls" rdcu.be/eiWNF
Fern transcriptomes reveal repeated whole-genome duplications, unique gene families and distinct lignocellulosic evolution... #PlantScience
Fern transcriptomes reveal repeated whole-genome duplications, unique gene families and distinct lignocellulosic evolution... #PlantScience
Reposted by Justin Conover
Researchers pinpoint the genes responsible for the final three pea traits studied by Gregor Mendel more than 160 years ago
https://go.nature.com/3EC3eqT
https://go.nature.com/3EC3eqT
Century-old genetics mystery of Mendel’s peas finally solved
Researchers pinpoint the genes responsible for the final three pea traits studied by the famed citizen scientist.
go.nature.com
April 23, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Researchers pinpoint the genes responsible for the final three pea traits studied by Gregor Mendel more than 160 years ago
https://go.nature.com/3EC3eqT
https://go.nature.com/3EC3eqT
Reposted by Justin Conover
The tragic irony of nearly 2000 scientists, members of the National Academies, coming together to write a letter condemning the attacks on science: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/s...
And then today: Mass cuts to federal health www.nytimes.com/live/2025/04...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/s...
And then today: Mass cuts to federal health www.nytimes.com/live/2025/04...
Public Statement on Supporting Science for the Benefit of All Citizens
TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE We all rely on science. Science gave us the smartphones in our pockets, the navigation systems in our cars, and life-saving medical care. We count on engineers when we drive acr...
docs.google.com
April 1, 2025 at 5:03 PM
The tragic irony of nearly 2000 scientists, members of the National Academies, coming together to write a letter condemning the attacks on science: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/s...
And then today: Mass cuts to federal health www.nytimes.com/live/2025/04...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/s...
And then today: Mass cuts to federal health www.nytimes.com/live/2025/04...
Reposted by Justin Conover
Brilliant idea from a colleague. We need the NCAA to advocate on behalf of higher ed in America, b/c they can reach people suspicious of "elites" in higher ed. Imagine March Madness ending with a message about how admin is threaten unis and thus college sports... Any ideas how to make this happen?
March 28, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Brilliant idea from a colleague. We need the NCAA to advocate on behalf of higher ed in America, b/c they can reach people suspicious of "elites" in higher ed. Imagine March Madness ending with a message about how admin is threaten unis and thus college sports... Any ideas how to make this happen?
Reposted by Justin Conover
After an extensive search, the Danforth Center has named Giles Oldroyd, PhD, its next President.
@gilesoldroyd.bsky.social is a renowned plant geneticist & one of only a few hundred scientists elected to both the UK @royalsociety.org & the US @nasonline.org.
www.danforthcenter.org/news/interna...
@gilesoldroyd.bsky.social is a renowned plant geneticist & one of only a few hundred scientists elected to both the UK @royalsociety.org & the US @nasonline.org.
www.danforthcenter.org/news/interna...
Internationally recognized plant scientist named next President of the Danforth Plant Science Center - Danforth Plant Science Center
After an extensive international search, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has named Giles Oldroyd, PhD, as its next President.
www.danforthcenter.org
February 18, 2025 at 3:40 PM
After an extensive search, the Danforth Center has named Giles Oldroyd, PhD, its next President.
@gilesoldroyd.bsky.social is a renowned plant geneticist & one of only a few hundred scientists elected to both the UK @royalsociety.org & the US @nasonline.org.
www.danforthcenter.org/news/interna...
@gilesoldroyd.bsky.social is a renowned plant geneticist & one of only a few hundred scientists elected to both the UK @royalsociety.org & the US @nasonline.org.
www.danforthcenter.org/news/interna...
Reposted by Justin Conover
Our paper on fitting population genetic models to low-pass sequencing data is now out in Molecular Biology and Evolution! doi.org/10.1093/molb...
January 24, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Our paper on fitting population genetic models to low-pass sequencing data is now out in Molecular Biology and Evolution! doi.org/10.1093/molb...
Reposted by Justin Conover
Short thread on my updated work with @gutengroup.mcb.arizona.edu "Detection of Domestication Signals through the Analysis of the Full Distribution of Fitness Effects", latest version at: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... Here we simulate a kind of canonical and idealised domestication process.
Detection of Domestication Signals through the Analysis of the Full Distribution of Fitness Effects
Domestication is a process marked by complex interactions between demographic changes and selective pressures, which together shape genetic diversity. While the phenotypic outcomes of domestication ar...
www.biorxiv.org
January 9, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Short thread on my updated work with @gutengroup.mcb.arizona.edu "Detection of Domestication Signals through the Analysis of the Full Distribution of Fitness Effects", latest version at: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1... Here we simulate a kind of canonical and idealised domestication process.
First statistical test of the year was p=0.053. It's going to be a good year.
January 7, 2025 at 5:02 PM
First statistical test of the year was p=0.053. It's going to be a good year.
Reposted by Justin Conover
Second paper from the lab out today (woohoo!). This one led by Rachael DeTar. Check out what happens to mito+plastid translation machinery in plants that have lost photosynthesis!
Published in @pnas.org: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Also available on bioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Published in @pnas.org: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Also available on bioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
December 18, 2024 at 7:26 PM
Second paper from the lab out today (woohoo!). This one led by Rachael DeTar. Check out what happens to mito+plastid translation machinery in plants that have lost photosynthesis!
Published in @pnas.org: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Also available on bioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Published in @pnas.org: www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Also available on bioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Justin Conover
If you happen to be interested in the coexistence of diploids and tetraploids given modern coexistence theory and stochastic population dynamics - Check out our #JustAccepted paper at @asn-amnat.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1086/734411
doi.org/10.1086/734411
Dynamics of mixed-ploidy populations under demographic and environmental stochasticities | The American Naturalist: Vol 0, No ja
doi.org
December 18, 2024 at 5:10 PM
If you happen to be interested in the coexistence of diploids and tetraploids given modern coexistence theory and stochastic population dynamics - Check out our #JustAccepted paper at @asn-amnat.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1086/734411
doi.org/10.1086/734411
Reposted by Justin Conover
We identified protein domains in LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor). Their distinctive amino acid usage reveals the order amino acids were added to the genetic code, based mostly on size. Older proteins hint at earlier alternative codes. 1/15 @seekingluca.bsky.social www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Order of amino acid recruitment into the genetic code resolved by last universal common ancestor’s protein domains | PNAS
The current “consensus” order in which amino acids were added to the genetic code
is based on potentially biased criteria, such as the absence of s...
www.pnas.org
December 12, 2024 at 3:43 PM
We identified protein domains in LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor). Their distinctive amino acid usage reveals the order amino acids were added to the genetic code, based mostly on size. Older proteins hint at earlier alternative codes. 1/15 @seekingluca.bsky.social www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Reposted by Justin Conover
Final version of this out now in that beautiful Amnat typesetting! www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
December 6, 2024 at 11:56 PM
Final version of this out now in that beautiful Amnat typesetting! www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
Reposted by Justin Conover
another new preprint from the lab! Regina Fairbanks tackles the popgen of teosinte glume architecture 1 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1.... A 🧵
An ancient origin of the naked grains of maize
Adaptation to novel environments requires genetic variation, which may either predate the novel environment or arise as new mutations. The relative importance of standing genetic variation vs. de novo...
www.biorxiv.org
December 3, 2024 at 11:33 PM
another new preprint from the lab! Regina Fairbanks tackles the popgen of teosinte glume architecture 1 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1.... A 🧵
Reposted by Justin Conover
new preprint from the lab! Elli Cryan, coadvised but the inimitable @spicybotrytis.bsky.social, does a deep dive into the GA incompatibility loci in maize, finding complex haplotypes, overturning evolutionary origins, and discovering a paramutation system! A 🧵
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Molecular evolution of a reproductive barrier in maize and related species
Three cross-incompatibility loci each control a distinct reproductive barrier in domesticated maize ( Zea mays ssp. mays ) and its wild teosinte relatives. These three loci, Teosinte crossing barrier ...
www.biorxiv.org
December 3, 2024 at 9:56 PM
new preprint from the lab! Elli Cryan, coadvised but the inimitable @spicybotrytis.bsky.social, does a deep dive into the GA incompatibility loci in maize, finding complex haplotypes, overturning evolutionary origins, and discovering a paramutation system! A 🧵
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Justin Conover
Here's the second starter pack of Early Career Evolutionary Biologists: go.bsky.app/j5DX3f
Link to first starter pack: go.bsky.app/MzND7nX
Follow these inspirational folks to support the next generation of evolutionary biologists #evobio
Out of time for now! Will add more names this weekend
Link to first starter pack: go.bsky.app/MzND7nX
Follow these inspirational folks to support the next generation of evolutionary biologists #evobio
Out of time for now! Will add more names this weekend
December 3, 2024 at 2:47 PM
Here's the second starter pack of Early Career Evolutionary Biologists: go.bsky.app/j5DX3f
Link to first starter pack: go.bsky.app/MzND7nX
Follow these inspirational folks to support the next generation of evolutionary biologists #evobio
Out of time for now! Will add more names this weekend
Link to first starter pack: go.bsky.app/MzND7nX
Follow these inspirational folks to support the next generation of evolutionary biologists #evobio
Out of time for now! Will add more names this weekend
Reposted by Justin Conover
Here's a starter pack for early career researchers in evolutionary biology. I prioritized the most-junior folks, and this list quickly filled up with undergrads, grad students, and postdocs. Might do another list later, but I'm tired. Have fun everyone! 🐒 #evobio
go.bsky.app/MzND7nX
go.bsky.app/MzND7nX
November 19, 2024 at 2:59 AM
Here's a starter pack for early career researchers in evolutionary biology. I prioritized the most-junior folks, and this list quickly filled up with undergrads, grad students, and postdocs. Might do another list later, but I'm tired. Have fun everyone! 🐒 #evobio
go.bsky.app/MzND7nX
go.bsky.app/MzND7nX
Reposted by Justin Conover
We had a wonderful 2024 #Plantsgiving with @conjustover.bsky.social, @aast242.bsky.social, @skang.bsky.social, and @poppybot.bsky.social among others!
Our final count for this year's dinner was 103 species from 42 families!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Our final count for this year's dinner was 103 species from 42 families!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Barker/Dlugosch Plantsgiving 2024 Public List
docs.google.com
November 29, 2024 at 12:56 AM
We had a wonderful 2024 #Plantsgiving with @conjustover.bsky.social, @aast242.bsky.social, @skang.bsky.social, and @poppybot.bsky.social among others!
Our final count for this year's dinner was 103 species from 42 families!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Our final count for this year's dinner was 103 species from 42 families!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
Reposted by Justin Conover
Okay, gang. Are we ready for a little Bluesky #PlantsGiving action? A social media tradition since 2018: counting & reporting out the number of plant species consumed during your Thursday dinner. I've got a class doing it for homework. Excited to see what they share. #iamabotanist #bisonflowers
November 21, 2024 at 2:22 PM
Okay, gang. Are we ready for a little Bluesky #PlantsGiving action? A social media tradition since 2018: counting & reporting out the number of plant species consumed during your Thursday dinner. I've got a class doing it for homework. Excited to see what they share. #iamabotanist #bisonflowers
Reposted by Justin Conover
working on this unix redirects diagram today
November 21, 2024 at 6:56 PM
working on this unix redirects diagram today