Polina Tikanova
@polinatikanova.bsky.social
👩🏻🎓PhD, working in the Burga lab at the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) @imbavienna.bsky.social 🇦🇹
🌴 tropical nematodes, selfish genes and evolution
🌴 tropical nematodes, selfish genes and evolution
Big thanks and congratulations to @arburga.bsky.social, co-authors, collaborators and colleagues (special 🫶 for my colleagues)!
Bonus video showing in vivo toxin degradation (green signal) in synchronised nematode embryos, ~8 hours of development in 10 seconds 🪱🪩
Bonus video showing in vivo toxin degradation (green signal) in synchronised nematode embryos, ~8 hours of development in 10 seconds 🪱🪩
November 24, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Big thanks and congratulations to @arburga.bsky.social, co-authors, collaborators and colleagues (special 🫶 for my colleagues)!
Bonus video showing in vivo toxin degradation (green signal) in synchronised nematode embryos, ~8 hours of development in 10 seconds 🪱🪩
Bonus video showing in vivo toxin degradation (green signal) in synchronised nematode embryos, ~8 hours of development in 10 seconds 🪱🪩
And our research highlight interview at IMBA
🚨 New paper alert!
Scientists in the Burga lab show for the first time how toxin-antidote elements—selfish genetic elements that perpetuate by poisoning those embryos that don’t inherit them—evolved from normal cellular proteins. More: https://imba.science/3M3fRyq
Scientists in the Burga lab show for the first time how toxin-antidote elements—selfish genetic elements that perpetuate by poisoning those embryos that don’t inherit them—evolved from normal cellular proteins. More: https://imba.science/3M3fRyq
November 24, 2025 at 9:10 PM
And our research highlight interview at IMBA
As Alejandro pointed out, it's not an easy one to answer - please check his thread with our main findings!
This question is surprisingly hard to answer. Selfish genes evolve rapidly in an arms race with host defenses, obscuring their origins. And their earliest steps often involve deleterious alleles that should be purged by selection—making the rise of selfishness both unlikely and paradoxical.
November 24, 2025 at 9:10 PM
As Alejandro pointed out, it's not an easy one to answer - please check his thread with our main findings!
Congrats with wrapping up your preprint! Neat story 👏
August 14, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Congrats with wrapping up your preprint! Neat story 👏