Phylogenetics - Latest research and news (2024)

Key innovations and niche variation promoted rapid diversification of the widespread Juniperus (Cupressaceae)

Using the macroevolution method, this study shows that key innovations and niche divergence promoted widespread distribution and rapid diversification of Juniperus.

• Kangjia Liu
• Enze Li
• Zhixiang Zhang

Extreme mitochondrial reduction in a novel group of free-living metamonads

Mitochondria are essential cellular components that are found in animals, plants, fungi, and protists. This study reports what is believed to be the first example of complete mitochondrial loss in a free-living organism, providing insights into the evolutionary plasticity of eukaryotic cells.

• Shelby K. Williams
• Jon Jerlström Hultqvist
• Andrew J. Roger

Cretaceous amber inclusions illuminate the evolutionary origin of tardigrades

The redescription of two Cretaceous-aged tardigrade fossils resolved their relationship with modern species, with one belonging to a new genus. This new information is critical for calibrating the timing of the evolutionary origins of tardigrades.

• Marc A. Mapalo
• Joanna M. Wolfe
• Javier Ortega-Hernández

The first mitogenome of the subfamily Stenoponiinae (Siphonaptera: Ctenophthalmidae) and implications for its phylogenetic position

• Xiaoxia Lin
• Ju Pu
• Wenge Dong

Phylogenomic analyses of all species of swordtail fishes (genus Xiphophorus) show that hybridization preceded speciation

The phylogenetic and hybridization history of Xiphophorus fish remains contentious, despite their long-standing role as models in evolutionary biology and human disease research. This study presents a complete genome resource that resolves the previously conflicting phylogeny and evolutionary history of the group, revealing that hybridizations preceded speciation.

• Kang Du
• Juliana Morena Bonita Ricci
• Manfred Schartl

Asgard archaea modulate potential methanogenesis substrates in wetland soil

The roles of Asgard archaea in soil ecosystems are unclear. In this study, the authors report complete genomes and metatranscriptomic data of Asgard archaea that indicate a role in production and consumption of carbon compounds known to serve as substrates for methane production in wetland soils.

• Luis E. Valentin-Alvarado
• Kathryn E. Appler
• Jillian F. Banfield

Scaling up the mammalian brain

An analysis of interspecific brain–body size relationships in mammals finds they do not follow the oft-assumed power-law scaling relationship that leads to a linear relationship when both variables are log-transformed, and reveals instead a curvilinear relationship between brain size and body size.

• Zegni Triki

Frequent jumps from human hosts

An analysis of publicly available viral genomes explores the evolutionary dynamics of host jumps and shows that humans are as much a source of viral spillover events to other animals as they are recipients.

• David Moi
• Christophe Dessimoz

Comparative genomics uncover the evolutionary history of butterfly and moth chromosomes

Using over 200 chromosomal genomes to reconstruct 250 million years of evolutionary history, we define the 32 linkage groups (Merian elements) that were present in the ancestor of Lepidoptera. We chart the dynamics of chromosome fusion and fission that accompanied the global diversification of Lepidoptera.

A decaploid pitcher plant genome reveals a novel role for recessive subgenomes

Genomic polyploidy is prevalent in the plant kingdom, giving rise to dominant and recessive subgenomes. We show that the recessive subgenomes of the pitcher plant Nepenthes gracilis had a crucial role in the acquisition of novel genes with species-specific function such as dioecy and carnivory.

Evolutionary genomic analysis for ALL

The advantage of genomic monitoring over cytogenetics for clinical assessment of leukemia is illustrated by a case of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia in which a lesion underlying lethal end-stage myeloid disease could be detected by whole-genome sequencing years before the risk manifested cytogenetically.

• Lauren M. Harmon
• Timothy J. Triche Jr

The origin of animals and fungi

By studying the closest extant unicellular relatives of animals and fungi, a study in Nature contrasts the evolutionary trajectories leading to the origin of these groups.

• Linda Koch