Ian Dworkin
@idworkin.bsky.social
Evolutionary biologist in love with morphology, especially size & shape. Drosophila Quantitative/Statistical geneticist. Dabbler in Development. Occasional genomicist.
Thinking about variation in cell size a lot lately.
https://dworkinlab.github.io
Thinking about variation in cell size a lot lately.
https://dworkinlab.github.io
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
I followed the definition of Wellman & Strother (2015) for terrestrial taxa, so for these purposes terrestrial includes aquatic, freshwater species.
If you don't like that decision - or want to check out sources etc., or modify estimates - all relevant data, code, etc.: 10.5281/zenodo.22766005
If you don't like that decision - or want to check out sources etc., or modify estimates - all relevant data, code, etc.: 10.5281/zenodo.22766005
September 15, 2026 at 11:47 AM
I followed the definition of Wellman & Strother (2015) for terrestrial taxa, so for these purposes terrestrial includes aquatic, freshwater species.
If you don't like that decision - or want to check out sources etc., or modify estimates - all relevant data, code, etc.: 10.5281/zenodo.22766005
If you don't like that decision - or want to check out sources etc., or modify estimates - all relevant data, code, etc.: 10.5281/zenodo.22766005
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
I was inspired to put my big boy pants on and do this properly (having used a hand drawn version for a long time) for a talk on terrestrialisation at this years @thepalass.bsky.social meeting - #PalAss26. In that light, here is the same, but with scatterpies showing proportion of terrestrial taxa.
September 15, 2026 at 11:47 AM
I was inspired to put my big boy pants on and do this properly (having used a hand drawn version for a long time) for a talk on terrestrialisation at this years @thepalass.bsky.social meeting - #PalAss26. In that light, here is the same, but with scatterpies showing proportion of terrestrial taxa.
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
Cao, J., Chiappori, A., Landiech, S., Clément, R., & Lenne, P.-F. (2026). A developmental biologist's guide to mechanics. Development, 153(16), dev205785. #EpithelialMechanicsReview
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
September 17, 2026 at 6:49 AM
Cao, J., Chiappori, A., Landiech, S., Clément, R., & Lenne, P.-F. (2026). A developmental biologist's guide to mechanics. Development, 153(16), dev205785. #EpithelialMechanicsReview
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
doi.org/10.1242/dev....
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
Snails show their true colours: rate of evolutionary divergence in the shell colour polymorphism of Cepaea nemoralis https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.14.749438v1
September 17, 2026 at 10:40 AM
Snails show their true colours: rate of evolutionary divergence in the shell colour polymorphism of Cepaea nemoralis https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.14.749438v1
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
The History of Transposable Element Invasions in Drosophila melanogaster
#Drosophila
#Drosophila
The History of Transposable Element Invasions in Drosophila melanogaster
#Drosophila
PubMed link
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
September 10, 2026 at 4:23 AM
The History of Transposable Element Invasions in Drosophila melanogaster
#Drosophila
#Drosophila
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
The Tree of Life web project is back! A phylogenetic view of biodiversity way ahead of its time (ca. 1995!), conceived and led by David Maddison, collaborative & human-curated, widely used in teaching. Defunct technology had doomed it until Travis, Danny, and Andrew revived it. 🥳🎉 🧪 #evolbiol
The Tree of Life Web Project is back online!
tolweb.org
Thanks to Travis Wheeler (@wheelerlab.org), Danny Mandel, and Andrew Lenards, the original programmers for ToLWeb, for retooling the code to work on a modern OS! It is hard for me to believe it lives again.
tolweb.org
Thanks to Travis Wheeler (@wheelerlab.org), Danny Mandel, and Andrew Lenards, the original programmers for ToLWeb, for retooling the code to work on a modern OS! It is hard for me to believe it lives again.
Tree
of Life Web Project
tolweb.org
September 9, 2026 at 3:32 PM
The Tree of Life web project is back! A phylogenetic view of biodiversity way ahead of its time (ca. 1995!), conceived and led by David Maddison, collaborative & human-curated, widely used in teaching. Defunct technology had doomed it until Travis, Danny, and Andrew revived it. 🥳🎉 🧪 #evolbiol
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
In thinking about coming up with our own lab policy my lab read these, which I think is also useful:
zenodo.org/records/1893...
zenodo.org/records/1845...
zenodo.org/records/1893...
zenodo.org/records/1845...
Expertise before augmentation: a practical guide to using generative AI during research training
This comprehensive implementation guide accompanies the framework described in "Build expertise first: why PhD training must sequence AI use after foundational skill development" (Krishnan, 2026, DOI:...
zenodo.org
September 7, 2026 at 7:49 PM
In thinking about coming up with our own lab policy my lab read these, which I think is also useful:
zenodo.org/records/1893...
zenodo.org/records/1845...
zenodo.org/records/1893...
zenodo.org/records/1845...
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
Replication-Enhanced Detection of Quantitative Traits Evolving Adaptively (REDQuanTEA): an improved statistical framework to detect locally adaptive traits https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.31.748449v1
September 4, 2026 at 11:31 PM
Replication-Enhanced Detection of Quantitative Traits Evolving Adaptively (REDQuanTEA): an improved statistical framework to detect locally adaptive traits https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.31.748449v1
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
Bet you didn't have "John Pool starts youtube channel" on your 2026 bingo card! Emphasis on native landscaping / sustainability, & evolution/genetics for a general audience. If you watch, please let it play through (else youtube thinks it's bad). Feel free to share!
www.youtube.com/channel/UCj8...
www.youtube.com/channel/UCj8...
Life On Earth
In "Life On Earth", Professor John Pool delves into topics ranging from the natural world to life in general. He shares his iconic Wisconsin prairie style home, his native landscaping efforts, and hi...
www.youtube.com
September 7, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Bet you didn't have "John Pool starts youtube channel" on your 2026 bingo card! Emphasis on native landscaping / sustainability, & evolution/genetics for a general audience. If you watch, please let it play through (else youtube thinks it's bad). Feel free to share!
www.youtube.com/channel/UCj8...
www.youtube.com/channel/UCj8...
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
🪰 A new study in #GENETICS demonstrates how the Stellate meiotic drive system in #Drosophila is active in contemporary populations, revealing its evolutionary significance.
🔗 buff.ly/UqEQJrQ
🔗 buff.ly/UqEQJrQ
September 1, 2026 at 8:01 PM
🪰 A new study in #GENETICS demonstrates how the Stellate meiotic drive system in #Drosophila is active in contemporary populations, revealing its evolutionary significance.
🔗 buff.ly/UqEQJrQ
🔗 buff.ly/UqEQJrQ
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
Sexual dimorphism of autism-like phenotypes in microglial eIF4E overexpression mice https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.03.748596v1
September 7, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Sexual dimorphism of autism-like phenotypes in microglial eIF4E overexpression mice https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.03.748596v1
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
#SMBE2027 Call for symposia proposals now open
Proposal submission link
📨 event.fourwaves.com/smbe2027/sub...
🗓️ Key dates
Deadline: Sept 20, 2026
Communication of results: Oct 21, 2026
Public announcement: Nov 2, 2026
Abstract selection: Feb 2-20, 2027
#society
Proposal submission link
📨 event.fourwaves.com/smbe2027/sub...
🗓️ Key dates
Deadline: Sept 20, 2026
Communication of results: Oct 21, 2026
Public announcement: Nov 2, 2026
Abstract selection: Feb 2-20, 2027
#society
August 25, 2026 at 12:00 PM
#SMBE2027 Call for symposia proposals now open
Proposal submission link
📨 event.fourwaves.com/smbe2027/sub...
🗓️ Key dates
Deadline: Sept 20, 2026
Communication of results: Oct 21, 2026
Public announcement: Nov 2, 2026
Abstract selection: Feb 2-20, 2027
#society
Proposal submission link
📨 event.fourwaves.com/smbe2027/sub...
🗓️ Key dates
Deadline: Sept 20, 2026
Communication of results: Oct 21, 2026
Public announcement: Nov 2, 2026
Abstract selection: Feb 2-20, 2027
#society
Please share your "AI" policies, for classrooms, undergraduate researchers and graduate researchers in your lab with me to help me develop one for my lab. I have seen several of you share some really thoughtful documents over the past few months, but I forgot to save the posts. Thank you!
September 7, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Please share your "AI" policies, for classrooms, undergraduate researchers and graduate researchers in your lab with me to help me develop one for my lab. I have seen several of you share some really thoughtful documents over the past few months, but I forgot to save the posts. Thank you!
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
Recombination helps evolution—but it can also cause mutations. New theory shows that even small increases in mutation near crossovers can oppose the evolution of higher recombination rates. By @sarperotto.bsky.social and Bret Payseur academic.oup.com/evlett/advan...
Elevated mutation near crossovers inhibits the evolution of recombination
Abstract. Recombination diversifies offspring genomes and helps ensure chromosome segregation during meiosis. Mutation rates are elevated near crossovers d
academic.oup.com
August 31, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Recombination helps evolution—but it can also cause mutations. New theory shows that even small increases in mutation near crossovers can oppose the evolution of higher recombination rates. By @sarperotto.bsky.social and Bret Payseur academic.oup.com/evlett/advan...
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
Happy to share the lab’s latest preprint! Led by PhD student @isaiahwill.bsky.social, we hope that this thorough characterization of expression patterns for many #drosophila fat body driver lines will be a useful resource to the fruit fly community.
June 3, 2026 at 6:39 PM
Happy to share the lab’s latest preprint! Led by PhD student @isaiahwill.bsky.social, we hope that this thorough characterization of expression patterns for many #drosophila fat body driver lines will be a useful resource to the fruit fly community.
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
🌟PASEDB community 🌟
We are inviting nominations for awards to recognize exceptional contributions and achievements to the PASEDB and broader EvoDevo community
📆Deadline: October 15, 2026
✉️To make a nomination, please email
Igor Schneider - [email protected] @ischneider.bsky.social
We are inviting nominations for awards to recognize exceptional contributions and achievements to the PASEDB and broader EvoDevo community
📆Deadline: October 15, 2026
✉️To make a nomination, please email
Igor Schneider - [email protected] @ischneider.bsky.social
August 29, 2026 at 9:01 PM
🌟PASEDB community 🌟
We are inviting nominations for awards to recognize exceptional contributions and achievements to the PASEDB and broader EvoDevo community
📆Deadline: October 15, 2026
✉️To make a nomination, please email
Igor Schneider - [email protected] @ischneider.bsky.social
We are inviting nominations for awards to recognize exceptional contributions and achievements to the PASEDB and broader EvoDevo community
📆Deadline: October 15, 2026
✉️To make a nomination, please email
Igor Schneider - [email protected] @ischneider.bsky.social
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
Nutrition mediates extreme growth variation through deep changes in gene expression in the water strider Microvelia longipes https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.27.747451v1
August 29, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Nutrition mediates extreme growth variation through deep changes in gene expression in the water strider Microvelia longipes https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.27.747451v1
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
Every reviewer wants a shorter paper, containing three additional papers
August 28, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Every reviewer wants a shorter paper, containing three additional papers
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
Meanwhile excellent scientists across Canada are shuttering up their labs and unable to pay trained staff because the CIHR budgets have not kept pace with inflation. I have nothing against the new recruits, I just wish that 🇨🇦 wanted to support all the folks aready here trying to advance knowledge.
August 28, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Meanwhile excellent scientists across Canada are shuttering up their labs and unable to pay trained staff because the CIHR budgets have not kept pace with inflation. I have nothing against the new recruits, I just wish that 🇨🇦 wanted to support all the folks aready here trying to advance knowledge.
Henceforth:
Lake Ontario = Lake Ontario
Lake Superior = Lake Trudeau
Lake Huron = Lake Carney
Lake Erie = Lake Ford
Lake Michigan = Lake Obama
Lake Ontario = Lake Ontario
Lake Superior = Lake Trudeau
Lake Huron = Lake Carney
Lake Erie = Lake Ford
Lake Michigan = Lake Obama
August 27, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Henceforth:
Lake Ontario = Lake Ontario
Lake Superior = Lake Trudeau
Lake Huron = Lake Carney
Lake Erie = Lake Ford
Lake Michigan = Lake Obama
Lake Ontario = Lake Ontario
Lake Superior = Lake Trudeau
Lake Huron = Lake Carney
Lake Erie = Lake Ford
Lake Michigan = Lake Obama
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
Clonal Analysis in Drosophila Tissues With an Enhanced MAGIC Transgenesis Method
#Drosophila
#Drosophila
Clonal Analysis in Drosophila Tissues With an Enhanced MAGIC Transgenesis Method
#Drosophila
PubMed link
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
August 27, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Clonal Analysis in Drosophila Tissues With an Enhanced MAGIC Transgenesis Method
#Drosophila
#Drosophila
Reposted by Ian Dworkin
Fitness effects of new mutations are small and heavily confounded with non-genetic sources of variation in Escherichia coli https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.23.746582v1
August 26, 2026 at 4:30 AM
Fitness effects of new mutations are small and heavily confounded with non-genetic sources of variation in Escherichia coli https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.23.746582v1