Hugo Darras
@hugodarras.bsky.social
Social insects 🐜 🐝, unusual genetic systems, non-mendelian inheritance, population genetics, and genomics 🧬🔬
JGU Mainz, https://www.blogs.uni-mainz.de/fb10-evolutionary-biology/research-groups/group-darras/
Moving to ZJU China in 2025 🇨🇳
JGU Mainz, https://www.blogs.uni-mainz.de/fb10-evolutionary-biology/research-groups/group-darras/
Moving to ZJU China in 2025 🇨🇳
Reposted by Hugo Darras
New preprint from the lab: A reference brain for the clonal raider ant.
With this resource, which is based on 40 individual brains, you can register and compare all kinds of samples in a common space. It comes with lots of detailed protocols and a user-friendly GUI.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
With this resource, which is based on 40 individual brains, you can register and compare all kinds of samples in a common space. It comes with lots of detailed protocols and a user-friendly GUI.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 17, 2025 at 5:35 PM
New preprint from the lab: A reference brain for the clonal raider ant.
With this resource, which is based on 40 individual brains, you can register and compare all kinds of samples in a common space. It comes with lots of detailed protocols and a user-friendly GUI.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
With this resource, which is based on 40 individual brains, you can register and compare all kinds of samples in a common space. It comes with lots of detailed protocols and a user-friendly GUI.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Hugo Darras
Friday Flyday! A mating pair of big-headed flies, Pipunculidae, photographed in Texas.
October 17, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Friday Flyday! A mating pair of big-headed flies, Pipunculidae, photographed in Texas.
@AntCommunity 🐜 🐜 Chengyuan Liu found a Camponotus ant colony where all sexual larvae have red spots of various sizes, but worker larvae don’t. Any idea what this is?🤔 Video in the comment.
September 29, 2025 at 9:58 AM
@AntCommunity 🐜 🐜 Chengyuan Liu found a Camponotus ant colony where all sexual larvae have red spots of various sizes, but worker larvae don’t. Any idea what this is?🤔 Video in the comment.
Reposted by Hugo Darras
I definitely wasn’t early to the Listers party, but I’m glad I made it.
Can recommend to all birder adjacent and bird curious folks 🪶
m.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-w...
Can recommend to all birder adjacent and bird curious folks 🪶
m.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-w...
LISTERS: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching
YouTube video by owen reiser
m.youtube.com
September 21, 2025 at 9:52 PM
I definitely wasn’t early to the Listers party, but I’m glad I made it.
Can recommend to all birder adjacent and bird curious folks 🪶
m.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-w...
Can recommend to all birder adjacent and bird curious folks 🪶
m.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-w...
Reposted by Hugo Darras
There’s a leak - and a conceptual artist - at the Max Planck 👌
September 18, 2025 at 6:51 AM
There’s a leak - and a conceptual artist - at the Max Planck 👌
Reposted by Hugo Darras
"Striking diversity of male-killing symbionts and their mechanisms"
by Hiroshi Arai (@haraipapilio.bsky.social), Daisuke Kageyama (@daisukekageyama.bsky.social) & co
"Why [and how] do maternally inherited endosymbionts kill male hosts?"
Find out here:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
by Hiroshi Arai (@haraipapilio.bsky.social), Daisuke Kageyama (@daisukekageyama.bsky.social) & co
"Why [and how] do maternally inherited endosymbionts kill male hosts?"
Find out here:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
September 11, 2025 at 2:21 PM
"Striking diversity of male-killing symbionts and their mechanisms"
by Hiroshi Arai (@haraipapilio.bsky.social), Daisuke Kageyama (@daisukekageyama.bsky.social) & co
"Why [and how] do maternally inherited endosymbionts kill male hosts?"
Find out here:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
by Hiroshi Arai (@haraipapilio.bsky.social), Daisuke Kageyama (@daisukekageyama.bsky.social) & co
"Why [and how] do maternally inherited endosymbionts kill male hosts?"
Find out here:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Hugo Darras
Would a rose by any other gene smell so sweet?
Now online! A de novo-originated gene drives rose scent diversification
A de novo-originated gene drives rose scent diversification
Genomic analysis of more than 100 Rosa species uncovers a multi-step process for the de novo origination of SCREP, a taxon-restricted gene specific to the Rosa genus, highlighting its function in modulating eugenol biosynthesis and driving rose scent diversification.
dlvr.it
September 2, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Would a rose by any other gene smell so sweet?
Which species is that?
August 10, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Which species is that?
Reposted by Hugo Darras
tinyurl.com/4twykhnx, tinyurl.com/2f72a6we
Piekarski: “"If some environmental factor affects caste, it will affect size too,” “…As far as we can tell, no matter which environmental variable you manipulate, the [genetically encoded] relationship between ant body size and caste remains unchanged"
Piekarski: “"If some environmental factor affects caste, it will affect size too,” “…As far as we can tell, no matter which environmental variable you manipulate, the [genetically encoded] relationship between ant body size and caste remains unchanged"
Static allometries of caste-associated traits vary with genotype but not environment in the clonal raider ant | PNAS
Polyphenic traits in animals often exhibit nonlinear scaling with body size. Static
allometries (i.e., scaling relationships) themselves can exhibi...
tinyurl.com
July 23, 2025 at 3:55 PM
tinyurl.com/4twykhnx, tinyurl.com/2f72a6we
Piekarski: “"If some environmental factor affects caste, it will affect size too,” “…As far as we can tell, no matter which environmental variable you manipulate, the [genetically encoded] relationship between ant body size and caste remains unchanged"
Piekarski: “"If some environmental factor affects caste, it will affect size too,” “…As far as we can tell, no matter which environmental variable you manipulate, the [genetically encoded] relationship between ant body size and caste remains unchanged"
Invasive Tapinoma ants at Ingelheim station Germany are so determined they’re crossing rails to get food. Total takeover 😮
July 20, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Invasive Tapinoma ants at Ingelheim station Germany are so determined they’re crossing rails to get food. Total takeover 😮
Reposted by Hugo Darras
These NPG spinoff journals are out of control
June 29, 2025 at 4:50 PM
These NPG spinoff journals are out of control
PostDoc position @Uni Mainz (Germany) with
@crltt.bsky.social and me
#genomics #transcriptomics #Neurobiology to investigate the olfactory system of ants from genes to neurons
Information: seafile.rlp.net/f/53a92045be...
@crltt.bsky.social and me
#genomics #transcriptomics #Neurobiology to investigate the olfactory system of ants from genes to neurons
Information: seafile.rlp.net/f/53a92045be...
June 27, 2025 at 12:37 PM
PostDoc position @Uni Mainz (Germany) with
@crltt.bsky.social and me
#genomics #transcriptomics #Neurobiology to investigate the olfactory system of ants from genes to neurons
Information: seafile.rlp.net/f/53a92045be...
@crltt.bsky.social and me
#genomics #transcriptomics #Neurobiology to investigate the olfactory system of ants from genes to neurons
Information: seafile.rlp.net/f/53a92045be...
Reposted by Hugo Darras
We are launching the Fourth Edition of the Evolutionary Biology Crash Course ⭐ @evobiocc.bsky.social ⭐. There will be three weeks covering a myriad of topics in evolutionary biology with many practicals.
Please RT to reach as many students as possible.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Please RT to reach as many students as possible.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
June 2, 2025 at 3:17 PM
We are launching the Fourth Edition of the Evolutionary Biology Crash Course ⭐ @evobiocc.bsky.social ⭐. There will be three weeks covering a myriad of topics in evolutionary biology with many practicals.
Please RT to reach as many students as possible.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Please RT to reach as many students as possible.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Spectacular !
🔬🧬🍄 @science.org Distribution of haploid chromosomes into separate nuclei in two pathogenic fungi | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
@ubcbotany.bsky.social
#fungi #fungisky #mycology #genetics #chromosome #nucleus #DNA #evolution #genome #biodiversity
@ubcbotany.bsky.social
#fungi #fungisky #mycology #genetics #chromosome #nucleus #DNA #evolution #genome #biodiversity
May 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Spectacular !
Spectacular work !
Our new study on the emergence of the eukaryotic cell as an evolutionary algorithmic phase transition. The transition was continuous yet abrupt...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
See more results, such as the next scaling law in the entire tree of life:
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
See more results, such as the next scaling law in the entire tree of life:
April 26, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Spectacular work !
Reposted by Hugo Darras
Our new study on the emergence of the eukaryotic cell as an evolutionary algorithmic phase transition. The transition was continuous yet abrupt...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
See more results, such as the next scaling law in the entire tree of life:
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
See more results, such as the next scaling law in the entire tree of life:
March 31, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Our new study on the emergence of the eukaryotic cell as an evolutionary algorithmic phase transition. The transition was continuous yet abrupt...
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
See more results, such as the next scaling law in the entire tree of life:
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
See more results, such as the next scaling law in the entire tree of life:
Reposted by Hugo Darras
I'm unreasonably proud of these slides.
April 8, 2025 at 3:08 AM
I'm unreasonably proud of these slides.
Reposted by Hugo Darras
3-Year PhD position @Uni Mainz (Germany) with @crltt.bsky.social, S. Foitzik, and me
#Neurobiology #genomics #transcriptomics to investigate the olfactory system of ants from genes to neurons
Information: seafile.rlp.net/f/5df9298781...
We still have a postdoc position available for this project.
#Neurobiology #genomics #transcriptomics to investigate the olfactory system of ants from genes to neurons
Information: seafile.rlp.net/f/5df9298781...
We still have a postdoc position available for this project.
February 12, 2025 at 9:53 AM
3-Year PhD position @Uni Mainz (Germany) with @crltt.bsky.social, S. Foitzik, and me
#Neurobiology #genomics #transcriptomics to investigate the olfactory system of ants from genes to neurons
Information: seafile.rlp.net/f/5df9298781...
We still have a postdoc position available for this project.
#Neurobiology #genomics #transcriptomics to investigate the olfactory system of ants from genes to neurons
Information: seafile.rlp.net/f/5df9298781...
We still have a postdoc position available for this project.
🤢
It has been brought to my attention that my article has been censored to exclude certain terms:
asm.org/Articles/202...
web.archive.org/web/20250114...
#MicroSky
asm.org/Articles/202...
web.archive.org/web/20250114...
#MicroSky
February 4, 2025 at 5:51 PM
🤢
Reposted by Hugo Darras
collaborative effort involving almost all previous postdocs in the lab and many years, but it is out and it is a great story! @kamilsjaron.bsky.social @ajmongue.bsky.social and many others
Our mealybug B chromosome paper is finally out, a small cross-generational gem from @laurarossevo.bsky.social's lab. academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...
A few interesting things we found 👇
A few interesting things we found 👇
The B Chromosome of Pseudococcus viburni: A Selfish Chromosome that Exploits Whole-Genome Meiotic Drive
Abstract. Meiosis is generally a fair process: each chromosome has a 50% chance of being included into each gamete. However, meiosis can become aberrant wi
academic.oup.com
February 1, 2025 at 7:21 PM
collaborative effort involving almost all previous postdocs in the lab and many years, but it is out and it is a great story! @kamilsjaron.bsky.social @ajmongue.bsky.social and many others
Reposted by Hugo Darras
Some very interesting research from Imperial College London on why flying insects seem attracted to artificial light 🌃💡🦋
Spoiler alert! It's not lunar navigation 🌕
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Spoiler alert! It's not lunar navigation 🌕
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Why flying insects gather at artificial light - Nature Communications
It is unclear why flying insects congregate around artificial light sources. Here, the authors use high-speed videography and motion-capture, finding that insects fly perpendicular to light sourc...
www.nature.com
January 31, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Some very interesting research from Imperial College London on why flying insects seem attracted to artificial light 🌃💡🦋
Spoiler alert! It's not lunar navigation 🌕
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Spoiler alert! It's not lunar navigation 🌕
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Hugo Darras
I am thrilled that our paper, which is packed with our 10 years of data on the venom proteins of the parasitoid wasp Asobara japonica, has just been published!
Parasitoid wasp venoms degrade Drosophila imaginal discs for successful parasitism | Science Advances www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Parasitoid wasp venoms degrade Drosophila imaginal discs for successful parasitism | Science Advances www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Parasitoid wasp venoms degrade Drosophila imaginal discs for successful parasitism
Two parasitoid wasp venom proteins induce imaginal disc degradation of its host fly Drosophila larva, ensuring parasitism success.
www.science.org
January 29, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I am thrilled that our paper, which is packed with our 10 years of data on the venom proteins of the parasitoid wasp Asobara japonica, has just been published!
Parasitoid wasp venoms degrade Drosophila imaginal discs for successful parasitism | Science Advances www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Parasitoid wasp venoms degrade Drosophila imaginal discs for successful parasitism | Science Advances www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
2-Year Postdoc @Uni Mainz (Germany) with @crltt.bsky.social, S. Foitzik, and me
#Neurobiology #genomics #transcriptomics to investigate the olfactory system of ants from genes to neurons
Information: seafile.rlp.net/f/53a92045be...
#Neurobiology #genomics #transcriptomics to investigate the olfactory system of ants from genes to neurons
Information: seafile.rlp.net/f/53a92045be...
January 15, 2025 at 2:12 PM
2-Year Postdoc @Uni Mainz (Germany) with @crltt.bsky.social, S. Foitzik, and me
#Neurobiology #genomics #transcriptomics to investigate the olfactory system of ants from genes to neurons
Information: seafile.rlp.net/f/53a92045be...
#Neurobiology #genomics #transcriptomics to investigate the olfactory system of ants from genes to neurons
Information: seafile.rlp.net/f/53a92045be...
Reposted by Hugo Darras
In 1897, Alfred G. Mayer created his butterfly wing projections, an attempt to gain new insights into natural patterns and laws. Vertical blocks denote individual wings, distorted and stretched mathematically to fill a tidy rectangular space. More here: publicdomainreview.org/collection/m...
January 14, 2025 at 9:23 PM
In 1897, Alfred G. Mayer created his butterfly wing projections, an attempt to gain new insights into natural patterns and laws. Vertical blocks denote individual wings, distorted and stretched mathematically to fill a tidy rectangular space. More here: publicdomainreview.org/collection/m...