Robert Laport
LightNews LightNews
banner
robertlaport.bsky.social
Robert Laport
@robertlaport.bsky.social
840 followers 660 following 13 posts
College of Idaho; Assistant Professor & Director of the Herbarium; Plant Evolutionary Ecologist; Botanist; Polyploidy; Views my own
www.robertlaport.com
Posts Replies Media Videos
robertlaport.bsky.social
Time to stratify the harvest from century+ old American chestnuts in Oregon and Washington! Preserving pre-blight genetics from an accidental genetic diversity repository! #TACF #americanchestnut #chestnutrestoration
Chestnuts in a paper bag and in coconut fiber for stratification
October 20, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Reposted by Robert Laport
andrewlhipp.bsky.social
A small sample of oak heroes who have had a disproportionate influence on my thinking and work, from Mexico, France, and the U.S.

Names in the alt text; from the International Oak Society meeting last week in Oaxaca.

Join www.internationaloaksociety.org today!
Top row (L to R): Maricela Rodriguez Acosta; Hernando Rodríguez Correa; Antoine Kremer; Victoria Sork; Paul Manos bottom row (L to R): Alan Whittemore, Andrew Hipp, Jeannine Cavender-Bares, Antonio Gonzalez Rodriguez, Susana Valencia-A.
October 13, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Reposted by Robert Laport
mattwilkins.galacticpolymath.com
Undergrads, grad students, professors, medical researchers, scientists in industry: help middle and high schoolers across the country understand what you *actually* do and why it matters! Be a source of inspiration amid all this chaos.
September 29, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Reposted by Robert Laport
stairwaytokevin.bsky.social
In the most extreme case, an accession from Armenia (Ames 32873) has nearly unprecedented levels of genomic rearrangement: only 25% syntenic to the reference genotype. However, those rearrangements are entirely located in the pericentromeres and don't contribute to higher levels of gene PAV. 4/
Figure 3 | Macrosynteny and genome structure across the Brassicaceae. Horizontal blue/black/orange bands represent the chromosomes of Arabidopsis thaliana, A. lyrata, MN106, and Brassica rapa (top to bottom). Chromosomes are ordered by their number from left to right. Colors represent genomic content binned hierarchically in sliding windows (400kb-overlapping 500kb) as follow: (1) within a gene annotation (including intron and UTR, orange), (2) within EDTA-annotated repeats categorized as Ty3, (3) Ty1 (copia), (4) within another repeat category, or (5) un-annotated. Grey bands are sequence-based syntenic blocks between each pair of genomes. Pennycress and B. rapa are phylogenetically proximate (both in Brassicodae supertribe), but have reduced synteny in part because of genome reshuffling in B. rapa following a whole-genome triplication event. The seven pennycress genome assemblies (horizontal bars) are binned into TRASH-defined centromeres (orange), pericentromeres (dark blue), chromosome arms (light blue) and telomeres (dark red). The colors along the chromosome segments scale physically with the size of the bin, except that centromeres and telomeres have a 1pt buffer to make it easier to see these typically small regions. Each genome is connected to its neighbor by grey polygons that represent sequence-based syntenic blocks. Plots, genomic bins, and syntenic blocks were built with DEEPSPACE (github.com/jtlovell/DEEPSPACE). Genome-wide classification of sequence alignments between each genome and the MN106 reference genome from SyRI. Alignments are broken down into syntenic, not alignable to MN106, duplicated, inverted, inverted and translocated, and “highly-diverged region”
September 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Robert Laport
stairwaytokevin.bsky.social
Genome size variation (455Mb-466Mb) and gene level presence/absence variation between genotypes was small (~80% core), but the pangenomic variation in genome graph was larger (~53% core), suggesting more going on beneath the surface. 2/
Figure 2 | Pan-genome variation in pennycress. A The amount of sequence in the genome graph that is shared by different numbers of haplotypes (assemblies). This figure only represents sequence in the final graph and does not contain sequences ‘clipped out.’ B Breakdown of core, dispensable, and unique orthogroups among our seven genomes. C Growth curves describing patterns of 31-mer sharing across assemblies; a steeper curve indicates a smaller degree of k-mer sharing among assemblies for that sequence class.
September 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Robert Laport
stairwaytokevin.bsky.social
New — with @joannarifkin.bsky.social, @jotlovell.bsky.social, @spicybotrytis.bsky.social, and many more — we created seven new high-quality genomes and explored pangenomic variation in the emerging oilseed crop pennycress (Thlaspi arvense). 1/
Structure and sequence evolution in the pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) pangenome
Summary · Eukaryotic genomes harbor many forms of variation, including nucleotide diversity and structural polymorphisms, which experience natural selection and contribute to genome evolution and biod...
www.biorxiv.org
September 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Robert Laport
stairwaytokevin.bsky.social
Whole-genome alignments revealed pennycress has nearly dichotomous genome compartmentalization: huge gene-poor pericentromeric regions (~300Mb; <1% genic) with frequent rearrangements and highly syntenic gene-rich chromosome arms (~150Mb; ~20% genic). What we call a "two-speed" genome structure. 3/
Figure 3 | Macrosynteny and genome structure across the Brassicaceae. Horizontal blue/black/orange bands represent the chromosomes of Arabidopsis thaliana, A. lyrata, MN106, and Brassica rapa (top to bottom). Chromosomes are ordered by their number from left to right. Colors represent genomic content binned hierarchically in sliding windows (400kb-overlapping 500kb) as follow: (1) within a gene annotation (including intron and UTR, orange), (2) within EDTA-annotated repeats categorized as Ty3, (3) Ty1 (copia), (4) within another repeat category, or (5) un-annotated. Grey bands are sequence-based syntenic blocks between each pair of genomes. Pennycress and B. rapa are phylogenetically proximate (both in Brassicodae supertribe), but have reduced synteny in part because of genome reshuffling in B. rapa following a whole-genome triplication event. The seven pennycress genome assemblies (horizontal bars) are binned into TRASH-defined centromeres (orange), pericentromeres (dark blue), chromosome arms (light blue) and telomeres (dark red). The colors along the chromosome segments scale physically with the size of the bin, except that centromeres and telomeres have a 1pt buffer to make it easier to see these typically small regions. Each genome is connected to its neighbor by grey polygons that represent sequence-based syntenic blocks. Plots, genomic bins, and syntenic blocks were built with DEEPSPACE (github.com/jtlovell/DEEPSPACE).
September 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Robert Laport
carriewessi.bsky.social
Please repost and amplify !

We are hiring a faculty position in Evolutionary Genetics in the Biology Department at U of South Carolina!

Check us out and come be our colleague!
sc.edu/study/colleg...

Deadline for applications is Oct 1

#AcademicJobs #EvoBio
Assistant Professor position in Evolutionary Genetics - Department of Biological Sciences | University of South Carolina
sc.edu
August 12, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Reposted by Robert Laport
andrewlhipp.bsky.social
Why are you a naturalist? What does natural history do for us?

Swedish botanist Peter Kalm (1750) claimed that American adults take “little account of Natural History… that science being… looked upon as a mere trifle, and the pastime of fools.”

Still true?

www.plantlovestories.com/post/plants-...
Plants and Places
by Andrew Hipp"And so, when his prescribed devotion to boyish beauties has carried our candidate so far that the universal beauty dawns upon his inward sight, he is almost within reach of the final re...
www.plantlovestories.com
August 7, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Reposted by Robert Laport
kheyduk.bsky.social
Did you see @racheljabaily.bsky.social new open educational resource "Biology of Plants" coloring textbook when you were at #Botany2025 ? No? WELL GO CHECK IT OUT: oercommons.org/courses/the-... Gorgeous illustrations by MGB Hurst 😍
The Biology of Plants Coloring Textbook
The Biology of Plants Coloring Textbook was created by Dr. Rachel S. Jabaily (Colorado College Dept. Organismal Biology & Ecology) and M.G.B. Hurst (Colorado College class of 2025) with a grant from t...
oercommons.org
August 7, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Reposted by Robert Laport
emccnicotiana.bsky.social
#Botany2025 was fabulous! I'm SO proud of these undergrads, who did a fantastic job presenting their work! It is so gratifying to make and strengthen connections with my Botany fam. 💖 you all! Unfortunately, my sore throat on Thurs morning was not karaoke related...I have COVID, so test yourself :(
Undergrad woman scientist pointing to her poster as she presents it to a crowd Undergrad woman scientist showing supplemental pictures on her phone to present her poster to a crowd Undergrad woman scientist pointing at her poster to present it to a colleague Positive COVID test on a table
August 1, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Reposted by Robert Laport
martinebotany.bsky.social
#Botany2025… the comedown is real.
a man in a black jacket and white pants is standing on a dirt field near the ocean .
Alt: a man in a black jacket and white pants is standing on a dirt field near the ocean .
media.tenor.com
August 2, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Reposted by Robert Laport
eddymendoza.bsky.social
#Botany2025 was a blast! So much cool botanical science to learn from.
Also, very happy to present our work on the genetics of Saguaro 🌵
Looking forward to the next one!
August 3, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Reposted by Robert Laport
mkaylamotley.bsky.social
#botany2025 was incredible! Thank you to all the organizers, speakers, and conference center staff!

I loved seeing old seeing old friends and making new ones! I always come home inspired and renewed!

See you all in Tucson in 2026!
August 3, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Reposted by Robert Laport
evoecodavidk.bsky.social
Had such a great time at #botany2025! Hearing about everyone's research was very inspiring and generated some new ideas for my own work.

See you all in Tucson next year!
Me standing at a podium talking about the BIOFAIR Vision and roadmap. Me standing at a podium in front of a slide that read Linking Functional Traits and Niches to Lineage Diversification in Asclepias. A group of 5 people standing shoulder to shoulder smiling at a camera on Joshue Tree National Park. A flower of Asclepias eriocarpa that is cream colored with many yellow-orange aphids around it.
August 3, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Reposted by Robert Laport
naomibot.bsky.social
This story is not new but a presentation at #Botany2025 raised awareness on the impact of avocado production on biodiversity. U.S. demand is driving deforestation in rich Mexican cloud forests which also support monarch butterflies. www.nytimes.com/2023/11/28/u...
Americans Love Avocados. It’s Killing Mexico’s Forests. (Published 2023)
www.nytimes.com
August 2, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Reposted by Robert Laport
ijpsjournal.bsky.social
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
wile-phylote.bsky.social Cody Coyotee @wile-phylote.bsky.social · Aug 1
What’s the first thing I did after I got back home from #Botany2025?

Showed off that sweet bulbous @ijpsjournal.bsky.social journal cover to my mom, which prompted her to then read the article!

The bulbous propaganda spreads!!
✌️😎🧅 #PlantPeopleFTW
August 1, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Reposted by Robert Laport
racheljabaily.bsky.social
Happy mammal reunion day to all botanists returning from #Botany2025
A large chocolate lab
August 1, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Reposted by Robert Laport
mossmatters.bsky.social
Hey #Botany2025 was so fun we’re ready for #Botany2026 … maybe we’ll wait for y’all here in Tuscon!
Selfie of the lab in front of the entrance to Starr Resort in Tuscon, the location of Botany 2026. Saguaros in the background!
August 1, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Reposted by Robert Laport
martinebotany.bsky.social
15th annual #UpAllNightWednesday at #Botany2025. Even after 5 intense days people still want to be around each other. 😍 (Except for Norm.)
July 31, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Reposted by Robert Laport
shellygaynor.bsky.social
Hi #Botany2025 - In my quest to never do flow cytometry again, I am collecting sequence data (radseq, target enrichment, WGS, ect.) with confirmed ploidal level. If you have samples, reach out!
July 30, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Reposted by Robert Laport
kheyduk.bsky.social
The BSA awarded more than $140,000 in awards (research, travel, hardship) to its membership this year!! @botsocamerica.bsky.social 💚💚
kheyduk.bsky.social Karolina Heyduk @kheyduk.bsky.social · Jul 29
BSA members meeting 3pm Pasadena - all members welcome! #botany2025
July 29, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by Robert Laport
skmorrisbotany.bsky.social
Leaving Palm Springs and #Botany2025 feeling inspired, as always, but perhaps more importantly, feeling incredibly grateful for the wonderfully supportive botanical community. Botanists really are the best folks around.
July 31, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Reposted by Robert Laport
racheljabaily.bsky.social
Sometimes (especially late in the conference) 5 minute talks just hit the spot! Thorough enjoying Germinating Ideas/Lightening Talks at #Botany2025 Got to see my senior undergrad Magdalyn Rowley-Lange crush her CAM talk ...and we got to see dogs hunting invasive plants!
July 30, 2025 at 11:41 PM