Ortaç Çetintaş
@ortaccetintas.bsky.social
Phylogeographer | Small mammal evolution 🐾 | Lab + fieldwork enthusiast 🧬 | Exploring species history, one genome at a time.
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
Evolution and adaptation are frequently used interchangeably when describing trait change. Does it really matter?
Our new paper in PLOS Biology shows that yes, it really does. journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Buckle up, we're going for a ride...
Our new paper in PLOS Biology shows that yes, it really does. journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Buckle up, we're going for a ride...
Gene flow drives periods of both evolutionary stasis and change in a wild bird population
Why do we not see evolutionary change in heritable, fitness-related traits of free-living populations? This multi-decade study of the evolution of clutch size in populations of great tits before, duri...
journals.plos.org
October 3, 2026 at 7:26 AM
Evolution and adaptation are frequently used interchangeably when describing trait change. Does it really matter?
Our new paper in PLOS Biology shows that yes, it really does. journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Buckle up, we're going for a ride...
Our new paper in PLOS Biology shows that yes, it really does. journals.plos.org/plosbiology/...
Buckle up, we're going for a ride...
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
📖Published📖
This study presents a novel method for obtaining population-genetic information of individual vertebrates via eDNA samples by integrating molecular sexing with targeted analysis of mitochondrial variants obtained via long-range PCR and ONT sequencing 🧬🐋
Read here👇
buff.ly/xHE1iLc
This study presents a novel method for obtaining population-genetic information of individual vertebrates via eDNA samples by integrating molecular sexing with targeted analysis of mitochondrial variants obtained via long-range PCR and ONT sequencing 🧬🐋
Read here👇
buff.ly/xHE1iLc
October 2, 2026 at 11:02 AM
📖Published📖
This study presents a novel method for obtaining population-genetic information of individual vertebrates via eDNA samples by integrating molecular sexing with targeted analysis of mitochondrial variants obtained via long-range PCR and ONT sequencing 🧬🐋
Read here👇
buff.ly/xHE1iLc
This study presents a novel method for obtaining population-genetic information of individual vertebrates via eDNA samples by integrating molecular sexing with targeted analysis of mitochondrial variants obtained via long-range PCR and ONT sequencing 🧬🐋
Read here👇
buff.ly/xHE1iLc
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
Very happy to see our paper out in Nature! 🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇
A huge collaborative effort to revisit the evolutionary history of bats using 103 reference-quality genomes and an extensive fossil dataset, and to build a genomic resource for many questions still to come.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A huge collaborative effort to revisit the evolutionary history of bats using 103 reference-quality genomes and an extensive fossil dataset, and to build a genomic resource for many questions still to come.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reference genomes and fossils revise bat family phylogeny and biogeography - Nature
An updated phylogeny of bats is presented, based on new genome assemblies and many ancient fossils and including all known bat families.
www.nature.com
September 23, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Very happy to see our paper out in Nature! 🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇
A huge collaborative effort to revisit the evolutionary history of bats using 103 reference-quality genomes and an extensive fossil dataset, and to build a genomic resource for many questions still to come.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
A huge collaborative effort to revisit the evolutionary history of bats using 103 reference-quality genomes and an extensive fossil dataset, and to build a genomic resource for many questions still to come.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
Where did bats come from?🦇🌍
After decades of debate, the biggest bat genome + fossil study ever done has an answer - and it’s not where anyone expected!
🤩OUR PHASE 1 FLAGSHIP is out today in nature! doi.org/10.1038/s415...
A thread 🧵
After decades of debate, the biggest bat genome + fossil study ever done has an answer - and it’s not where anyone expected!
🤩OUR PHASE 1 FLAGSHIP is out today in nature! doi.org/10.1038/s415...
A thread 🧵
Reference genomes and fossils revise bat family phylogeny and biogeography - Nature
An updated phylogeny of bats is presented, based on new genome assemblies and many ancient fossils and including all known bat families.
doi.org
September 23, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Where did bats come from?🦇🌍
After decades of debate, the biggest bat genome + fossil study ever done has an answer - and it’s not where anyone expected!
🤩OUR PHASE 1 FLAGSHIP is out today in nature! doi.org/10.1038/s415...
A thread 🧵
After decades of debate, the biggest bat genome + fossil study ever done has an answer - and it’s not where anyone expected!
🤩OUR PHASE 1 FLAGSHIP is out today in nature! doi.org/10.1038/s415...
A thread 🧵
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
🦇🧬Congratulations to E & E alum Bill R. Thomas, whose collaborative work upended bat biogeography in a major new Nature study from the @ bat1kgenomes.bsky.social !
👉 Check it out!
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
👉 Check it out!
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
September 30, 2026 at 8:10 PM
🦇🧬Congratulations to E & E alum Bill R. Thomas, whose collaborative work upended bat biogeography in a major new Nature study from the @ bat1kgenomes.bsky.social !
👉 Check it out!
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
👉 Check it out!
doi.org/10.1038/s415...
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
Produced a #genome of a European species?
Publishing a Genome Report for the assembly?
Benefitted from ERGA @ergabiodiv.bsky.social resources or networking?
If so, consider listing the Genome Report in the ERGA Collecion riojournal.com/topical_coll...
Learn more: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO6d...
Publishing a Genome Report for the assembly?
Benefitted from ERGA @ergabiodiv.bsky.social resources or networking?
If so, consider listing the Genome Report in the ERGA Collecion riojournal.com/topical_coll...
Learn more: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO6d...
The European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) Community Genome Reports
The European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) is a pan-European initiative that aims to facilitate the generation of high-quality reference genomes for the continent’s biodiversity as part of the g...
riojournal.com
September 17, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Produced a #genome of a European species?
Publishing a Genome Report for the assembly?
Benefitted from ERGA @ergabiodiv.bsky.social resources or networking?
If so, consider listing the Genome Report in the ERGA Collecion riojournal.com/topical_coll...
Learn more: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO6d...
Publishing a Genome Report for the assembly?
Benefitted from ERGA @ergabiodiv.bsky.social resources or networking?
If so, consider listing the Genome Report in the ERGA Collecion riojournal.com/topical_coll...
Learn more: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO6d...
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
New research from #BiologyLetters: Alpine adaptation drives rapid colour evolution in a Batesian mimic doi.org/10.1098/rsbl... | #Ecology #Evolution
July 1, 2026 at 11:03 AM
New research from #BiologyLetters: Alpine adaptation drives rapid colour evolution in a Batesian mimic doi.org/10.1098/rsbl... | #Ecology #Evolution
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
Evolution of the syrinx (vocal organ) in eufalconimorph birds (falcons, parrots, and passerines): academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a... 🪶🧪 (📷Legendre & Clarke)
July 1, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Evolution of the syrinx (vocal organ) in eufalconimorph birds (falcons, parrots, and passerines): academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/a... 🪶🧪 (📷Legendre & Clarke)
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
🌍 Cat colonies reshape the abundance and body size of lizards
doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
July 1, 2026 at 8:36 AM
🌍 Cat colonies reshape the abundance and body size of lizards
doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
"Measurements of lizard carcasses found near colonies indicate that cats preferentially prey on larger individuals, explaining both their reduced abundance and their smaller body size" @airamrodriguez.bsky.social et al. Biol Lett. @royalsociety.org
🧪🌎🐊
🧪🌎🐊
🌍 Cat colonies reshape the abundance and body size of lizards
doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
doi.org/10.1098/rsbl...
July 1, 2026 at 10:32 AM
"Measurements of lizard carcasses found near colonies indicate that cats preferentially prey on larger individuals, explaining both their reduced abundance and their smaller body size" @airamrodriguez.bsky.social et al. Biol Lett. @royalsociety.org
🧪🌎🐊
🧪🌎🐊
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
Are humans really fish? Why are we the only animals with chins? How much of our DNA do we share with the trillions of bacteria in our bodies?
Watch Prof MaxTelford's Linnean Lecture on the epic history of life on our planet.
youtu.be/SzT2dEhQN7M
Watch Prof MaxTelford's Linnean Lecture on the epic history of life on our planet.
youtu.be/SzT2dEhQN7M
The Tree of Life (A User’s Manual) | Max Telford
YouTube video by Linnean Society
youtu.be
July 1, 2026 at 1:39 PM
Are humans really fish? Why are we the only animals with chins? How much of our DNA do we share with the trillions of bacteria in our bodies?
Watch Prof MaxTelford's Linnean Lecture on the epic history of life on our planet.
youtu.be/SzT2dEhQN7M
Watch Prof MaxTelford's Linnean Lecture on the epic history of life on our planet.
youtu.be/SzT2dEhQN7M
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
I gave a talk about my book The Tree of Life at a very hot Linnean Society last Thursday. This is now available to view on YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzT2...
The Tree of Life (A User’s Manual) | Max Telford
YouTube video by Linnean Society
www.youtube.com
July 1, 2026 at 1:57 PM
I gave a talk about my book The Tree of Life at a very hot Linnean Society last Thursday. This is now available to view on YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzT2...
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
Phylogeny of flamingos: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... 🪶🧪 (📷Díaz et al.)
July 1, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Phylogeny of flamingos: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... 🪶🧪 (📷Díaz et al.)
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
New OA Article: "Integrated analysis of fossils and molecular divergence time estimates a latest Jurassic origin of angiosperms" rdcu.be/foNXh
... suggest a Late Jurassic origin of flowering plants, indicating a cryptic early history of angiosperms.
... suggest a Late Jurassic origin of flowering plants, indicating a cryptic early history of angiosperms.
June 17, 2026 at 4:26 AM
New OA Article: "Integrated analysis of fossils and molecular divergence time estimates a latest Jurassic origin of angiosperms" rdcu.be/foNXh
... suggest a Late Jurassic origin of flowering plants, indicating a cryptic early history of angiosperms.
... suggest a Late Jurassic origin of flowering plants, indicating a cryptic early history of angiosperms.
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
Nine (not so simple) steps: a practical guide to using machine learning in microbial ecology
Step 1: Determine whether machine learning is necessary or even worth doing
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Step 1: Determine whether machine learning is necessary or even worth doing
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Nine (not so simple) steps: a practical guide to using machine learning in microbial ecology | mBio
Microbial ecologists are increasingly turning to machine learning (ML) models to better
identify and predict meaningful biological patterns and relationships in molecular
microbial community data (inc...
journals.asm.org
June 16, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Nine (not so simple) steps: a practical guide to using machine learning in microbial ecology
Step 1: Determine whether machine learning is necessary or even worth doing
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Step 1: Determine whether machine learning is necessary or even worth doing
journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
We are delighted to host Prof. Dr. Piotr Zduniak from Adam Mickiewicz University (Poland) under the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility! Join us for an insightful seminar on monitoring birds as environmental indicators.
🗓️ Tuesday, June 16
⏰ 10:30
📍 UZEM Orange Hall
#OMU #WildlifeResearch
🗓️ Tuesday, June 16
⏰ 10:30
📍 UZEM Orange Hall
#OMU #WildlifeResearch
June 12, 2026 at 11:55 AM
We are delighted to host Prof. Dr. Piotr Zduniak from Adam Mickiewicz University (Poland) under the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility! Join us for an insightful seminar on monitoring birds as environmental indicators.
🗓️ Tuesday, June 16
⏰ 10:30
📍 UZEM Orange Hall
#OMU #WildlifeResearch
🗓️ Tuesday, June 16
⏰ 10:30
📍 UZEM Orange Hall
#OMU #WildlifeResearch
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
Türkiye’s biodiversity is a vital link in the global web of life. From lab to field, we work to scientifically contribute to conserving this shared heritage.
Happy May 22 International Day for Biological Diversity!
Happy May 22 International Day for Biological Diversity!
May 21, 2026 at 10:19 AM
Türkiye’s biodiversity is a vital link in the global web of life. From lab to field, we work to scientifically contribute to conserving this shared heritage.
Happy May 22 International Day for Biological Diversity!
Happy May 22 International Day for Biological Diversity!
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
In the face of climate crisis, a transformation is taking root via renewable energy & ecosystem restoration. We must actively shape this change, not just watch it.
Working for a sustainable future in the light of science.
🌍 #WorldEnvironmentDay
Working for a sustainable future in the light of science.
🌍 #WorldEnvironmentDay
June 5, 2026 at 12:30 PM
In the face of climate crisis, a transformation is taking root via renewable energy & ecosystem restoration. We must actively shape this change, not just watch it.
Working for a sustainable future in the light of science.
🌍 #WorldEnvironmentDay
Working for a sustainable future in the light of science.
🌍 #WorldEnvironmentDay
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
📣 Introducing MorphSim: an R package for simulating discrete morphological data along phylogenetic trees, built for fossil-inclusive phylogenetics, with all the complexity of real morphological data baked in 🪨🌿
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
MorphSim: An R package for simulating discrete morphological data
Morphological data are essential for reconstructing evolutionary histories, particularly for fossil taxa, as they represent the primary source of information for integrating extinct lineages into ...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
May 27, 2026 at 10:28 AM
📣 Introducing MorphSim: an R package for simulating discrete morphological data along phylogenetic trees, built for fossil-inclusive phylogenetics, with all the complexity of real morphological data baked in 🪨🌿
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
💡 #KnowledgeHighlight | Tutorials: Learning Bioinformatics At Home by Harvard informatics
🧬 🖥️ github.com/harvardinfor...
Explore open-access training materials in the ERGA #KnowledgeHub ➡️ knowledge.erga-biodiversity.eu
#tutorials #genomics #bioinformatics #unix #Python #rnaseq
🧬 🖥️ github.com/harvardinfor...
Explore open-access training materials in the ERGA #KnowledgeHub ➡️ knowledge.erga-biodiversity.eu
#tutorials #genomics #bioinformatics #unix #Python #rnaseq
GitHub - harvardinformatics/learning-bioinformatics-at-home: resources for learning bioinformatics
resources for learning bioinformatics. Contribute to harvardinformatics/learning-bioinformatics-at-home development by creating an account on GitHub.
github.com
May 25, 2026 at 7:30 AM
💡 #KnowledgeHighlight | Tutorials: Learning Bioinformatics At Home by Harvard informatics
🧬 🖥️ github.com/harvardinfor...
Explore open-access training materials in the ERGA #KnowledgeHub ➡️ knowledge.erga-biodiversity.eu
#tutorials #genomics #bioinformatics #unix #Python #rnaseq
🧬 🖥️ github.com/harvardinfor...
Explore open-access training materials in the ERGA #KnowledgeHub ➡️ knowledge.erga-biodiversity.eu
#tutorials #genomics #bioinformatics #unix #Python #rnaseq
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
Meijers, M. J. M., Mikes, T., Rojay, B., Çubukçu, H. E., Aydar, E., Lüdecke, T., and Mulch, A.: Climate change drove Late Miocene to Pliocene rise and fall of C4 vegetation at the crossroads of Africa and Eurasia (Anatolia, Türkiye), Clim. Past, 22, 975–988, doi.org/10.5194/cp-2..., 2026.
Climate change drove Late Miocene to Pliocene rise and fall of C4 vegetation at the crossroads of Africa and Eurasia (Anatolia, Türkiye)
Abstract. Life on Earth has been capitalizing on the C3 photosynthetic pathway for 2.8 billion years. However, in the world's grasslands that emerged since the Paleogene, C4 vegetation expanded dramat...
doi.org
May 17, 2026 at 12:12 PM
Meijers, M. J. M., Mikes, T., Rojay, B., Çubukçu, H. E., Aydar, E., Lüdecke, T., and Mulch, A.: Climate change drove Late Miocene to Pliocene rise and fall of C4 vegetation at the crossroads of Africa and Eurasia (Anatolia, Türkiye), Clim. Past, 22, 975–988, doi.org/10.5194/cp-2..., 2026.
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
Thank you NASA for covering our new paper!
Early life have used molybdenum and tungsten billions of years before oxygen-rich oceans made them more available --> an important clue for thinking about habitability and life detection beyond Earth! #astrobiology
science.nasa.gov/science-rese...
Early life have used molybdenum and tungsten billions of years before oxygen-rich oceans made them more available --> an important clue for thinking about habitability and life detection beyond Earth! #astrobiology
science.nasa.gov/science-rese...
NASA Research Shows Early Life Relied on Rare Metal - NASA Science
NASA-funded scientists have discovered that life on Earth over 3 billion years ago relied on the metal molybdenum, which was incredibly scarce in the
science.nasa.gov
May 6, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Thank you NASA for covering our new paper!
Early life have used molybdenum and tungsten billions of years before oxygen-rich oceans made them more available --> an important clue for thinking about habitability and life detection beyond Earth! #astrobiology
science.nasa.gov/science-rese...
Early life have used molybdenum and tungsten billions of years before oxygen-rich oceans made them more available --> an important clue for thinking about habitability and life detection beyond Earth! #astrobiology
science.nasa.gov/science-rese...
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
Our new paper, out today! We resurrected ancient nitrogenases first used by life on Earth 3 billion years ago. We combined synthetic biology and geology & validated their chemical #biosignature in rocks that helps reveal ancient life on Earth!(and beyond!)
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Resurrected nitrogenases recapitulate canonical N-isotope biosignatures over two billion years - Nature Communications
The study shows that nitrogenase enzymes have maintained stable isotope signatures over billions of years, revealing how ancient microbes shaped Earth’s nitrogen cycle and offering a new experimental ...
www.nature.com
January 30, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Our new paper, out today! We resurrected ancient nitrogenases first used by life on Earth 3 billion years ago. We combined synthetic biology and geology & validated their chemical #biosignature in rocks that helps reveal ancient life on Earth!(and beyond!)
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Link: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Ortaç Çetintaş
Neandertals may have had an unexpected tool in their kits: rhinoceros teeth.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/rhino-teeth-neandertal-tool
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/rhino-teeth-neandertal-tool
Neandertals used rhinoceros teeth as tools
Finds at sites in Spain and France suggest that Neandertals used the teeth of ancient rhinos for heavy-duty fabrication.
www.sciencenews.org
May 6, 2026 at 1:12 PM
Neandertals may have had an unexpected tool in their kits: rhinoceros teeth.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/rhino-teeth-neandertal-tool
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/rhino-teeth-neandertal-tool