This month's Highlight takes a deep dive into the evolution of clownfish. Featuring an article by @nicsalamin and @SalaminLab at @dbc_unil #science #evolution #biology #genome

Genes may be linked to the size-based social structure and mating system unique to clownfish such as somatostatin, which may control growth related to this size-based social structure, NPFFR2, which may influence growth by regulating food intake and appetite.

We also showed that generalist clownfish species have faster evolutionary rates than specialist species, which may reflect the more diverse or dynamic environments to which the generalists must adapt.

We compared the genomes of ten clownfish species to test the genomic divergence of pairs of closely related species showing ecological and phenotypic divergence within pairs but convergence between pairs.

Very happy to announce our new paper in @GenomeBiolEvol on the genetic basis of clownfish evolution. Check it here: https://t.co/t2ogGboewf with a cool cover image

So excited to share our recent work! 🎉 Just released 2 innovative tools in Nature Genetics: https://t.co/O7rgD7FrkF https://t.co/pWyBcjFs3q Huge applause to my great team of brilliant researchers who made this possible! Stay tuned for deeper insights.

Work done at @dbc_unil in collaboration with the Metabolomics Unit of @unil.

We also detect a greater inter-specific variability of the metabolic signature in clownfishes (although their diversification is evolutionarily more recent) implying the impact of symbiosis on metabolic variability and adaptation.

By comparing the metabolomic and lipidomic profiles of the skin mucus of several clownfish species with other damselfishes, we observed that the most discriminative part of the signature was the sphingolipid profile.

The clownfish-anemone mutualism remains an intriguing system to study: the genetic and molecular mechanisms protecting clownfishes from the stinging tentacles of host anemones remain unclear.

We’re happy to share a recent paper from SalaminLab led by Sara Heim: Divergence in metabolomic profile in clownfish and damselfish skin mucus https://t.co/YcsTl5B9O5 Pictures by Sara Heim.

A new pre-print from SalaminLab: https://t.co/J7buQk1wIl We show that many beneficial mutations in mammalian protein-coding genes are not the result of adaptation to a changing environment but rather back-mutations restoring ancestral states. Check out explanatory🧵by T. Latrille

😲🤓😲🤓🙃 Our paper Genes and sites under adaptation at the phylogenetic scale also exhibit adaptation at the population-genetic scale is now out in #PNAS 🙃🤓😲🤓😲 https://t.co/Uvhvo7xUkH (🧵of the paper summary at https://t.co/KpeMTiSXEa)

@Phylogenetrips @GaboriauT

This year's field work started in Australia! Clownfish sampling by @LucyFISHgerald @ConneryMatt and Sara Heim on Lizard Island @lirrf concluded!

Last week at Biology 23 in Geneva, 3 presentations from Salamin's Lab: Anna Marcionetti on clownfish genomics, Théo Gaboriau on clownfish host usage and Thibault Latrille on nonadaptive beneficial mutations in mammals. What a great conference!! Pictures by Slim Chraïti.

Just finished our first sampling of 2023 on Lizard Island @lirrf

The outpouring of grief and support from the local and wider community is a testament to how deeply Alma touched us all. We hope to transmit those personal messages to her family and we started compiling an electronic memory book available here:

The @dbc_unil is deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic death of our colleague Alma Dal Co @Alma_DalCo. Our department lost an exceptional scientist, an inspiring teacher, a caring mentor, and above all a generous and cheerful colleague. In memoriam: https://t.co/FVRp0jxvn2

Lab day off - escaping a WWII bunker in the Swiss Alps🏔 and fondue 🧀🫕