Correlated rates of molecular and morphological evolution
Yasmin Asar, a PhD candidate in the MEEP Lab, has performed a comprehensive evaluation of methods for detecting correlated rates of molecular and morphological evolution. This work was done in collaboration with Simon Ho and Hervé Sauquet (Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust). Abstract: Determining the link between genomic and phenotypic evolution is a fundamental …
13th annual Sydney Phylogenetics Workshop
The MEEP Lab is running the 13th annual Sydney Phylogenetics Workshop on 27–29 July. This is a free online workshop that will provide an introduction to phylogenetic analysis using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian methods. The workshop will be attended by 100 registered participants from 62 institutions in 21 countries. Workshop lectures will be given by MEEP …
Honours project opportunity: Human evolution
We are seeking a motivated undergraduate Honours student to undertake a project that will examine the deep mitochondrial ancestry of modern humans. This project is suitable for students majoring in Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, or Genetics and Genetics at the University of Sydney. Refining the root region of the human mitochondrial evolutionary tree Supervisor: …
Postdoc position in Evolutionary Biology
We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic PhD graduate to work on rates of evolution and models of macroevolutionary change! The successful candidate will be part of the Molecular Ecology, Evolution, and Phylogenetics Lab, led by Professor Simon Ho and Professor Nathan Lo. The position is funded by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project “Testing …
Russian dolls and shark snacks
What are in shark guts? And what can the contents tell us? The results can be confusing – as we find prey, within prey. To decipher this ‘Russian doll effect’, scientists from the University of Sydney, Australian Museum, and NSW Department of Primary Industries tell us more. Anyone remember the scene in “Jaws” where Matt …
People in the Philippines have the most Denisovan DNA
Researchers have known from several lines of evidence that the ancient hominins known as the Denisovans interbred with modern humans in the distant past. Now researchers reporting in the journal Current Biology have discovered that the Philippine Negrito ethnic group known as the Ayta Magbukon have the highest level of Denisovan ancestry in the world. …
12th annual Sydney Phylogenetics Workshop
The MEEP Lab recently hosted the 12th annual Sydney Phylogenetics Workshop on 29–30 July. This was a free online workshop that provided an introduction to phylogenetic analysis using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian methods. The workshop had 130 attendees from 21 countries, representing every habitable continent. The attendees included about 90 research students. Workshop lectures were given …
History of migration to the Philippines
A landmark study has revealed the complex shared origins, inter-relatedness, and genetic diversity of the Filipino people Taking advantage of the latest advances in genomics and computational biology, a team of researchers investigated 2.3 million DNA markers from 1000 individuals representing 115 Philippine cultural communities. The team included MEEP Lab member Professor Simon Ho and …
Journey to the East
The spread of a plant pathogen along the former trade routes of the Silk Road For nearly two thousand years, the Silk Road was an important network of trade routes connecting Europe to East Asia via the Middle East. The Silk Road allowed the exchange of culture, religion, livestock, and crops. It also provided a …
Fairy wrasses and fairy tales!
The fairy wrasses are a captivating and diverse group of fishes found throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans. A study led by MEEP Lab PhD student Yi-Kai Tea has resolved the evolutionary relationships among fairy wrasses. By analysing a data set comprising nearly 1000 genetic markers, Kai reconstructed the evolutionary history and patterns of diversification …