Despite NZ possums being established from just a few hundred individuals, the ones we tested had more genetic diversity than in Oz Alana Alexander Oscar Ortega-Recalde

Incredibly proud of Roseanna Roseanna Gamlen-Greene on being one of the recipients of an inaugural ngā puanga pūtaiao fellowship! royalsociety.org.nz/what-we-do/fun…

My PhD supervisor just gave some lovely compliments to my current PhD student on a paper draft: in the often bruising te ao academia, it is nice to have a warm fuzzies moment.

Kia ora e hoa mā - any Māori peeps out there who are acting as academic journal editors? Some upcoming CARE workshops I can put you in touch with peeps for if so. Shoot me a DM.

Join us at the 4th Marine Mammal Genomics Workshop (G4) at SMM24 to spark innovation & global collaboration in marine mammal genomics! Featuring diverse themes, unique training, and networking opportunities. See more here, smmconference.org 🐋🐻‍❄️🦦🐬🌊

📢 Cool opportunity! twoa.careercentre.net.nz/job/kairuruku-…

science.org/doi/10.1126/sc… "CARE-ing for Indigenous nonhuman genomic data — rethinking our approach" -- Amanda Black & Tahu Kukuta great discuss an important topic! Nice discussion of the GenomicsAotearoa data repository too.

Nice to see this take on the importance of CARE for non-human data, highlighting the AGDR, first presented by Te Aikā et al. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/17… and incorporated in our upcoming special issue for Molecular Ecology Resources! Rawe tā kōrua mahi, Amanda Black and @thkukutai !

Meet Ebony and Ivory (sound on!), brushtail possums with black and grey (agouti) fur. We have identified genetic variants in the ASIP gene that are responsible for their different coat colour: royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rs…

We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with genotype by sequencing (GBS) data that directed us to the ASIP locus

Fine mapping of the ASIP gene identified the chr3:g.100483705C>T variant is linked to black coat colour in possum

The genetic variant that determines black fur in possums occurs at the same position in the ASIP protein of black alpacas and black pampas cats – classic convergent evolution!

Comparative marsupial ASIP analysis identified accelerated evolution in dasyurids (carnivorous marsupials), with loss of functional ASIP in Tasmanian devils which is responsible for their striking black coat colour (also see Hartley et al: rdcu.be/dQCrR)

Thanks to all involved, including co-authors Andrew Veale, Hore lab and Alana Alexander. This work would not be possible without those involved in sample collection as part of various possum control programmes in NZ.

A new MER special issue is out! 𝙨𝙠𝙪́𝙠𝙪𝙢 𝙩𝙞́𝙡𝙞𝙭𝙖𝙢: 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 Read More: buff.ly/4j3lkkW Wiley Ecology & Evolution 1/3

Wiley Ecology & Evolution 𝘏𝘪̄𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘢 𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘢̄𝘯𝘶𝘬𝘢 is a Māori whakataukī (proverb) meaning "rise to the challenge". This special issue is dedicated to rising to the challenge of celebrating Indigenous contributions to molecular ecology. (Adapted from: buff.ly/404AfCU) 3/3

📣 Don't miss the latest Special Issue from Molecular Ecology Resources, including several #OpenAccess articles! "skúkum tílixam: Uniting to Support Indigenous Contributions to Molecular Ecology" Read now 🔗 ow.ly/XtNt50UAZwv

Kua poho kūkupa ahau kia kitea tēnei! So very proud of the amazing articles we got to highlight in our editorial for this issue. Many thanks to the wonderful authors who entrusted us with their articles, and to MER for giving us this space to highlight Indigenous mahi!

Shifting over to Bluesky: same handle, hopefully see folks over there!

Out in MER! A new study in the endangered Hector’s & Māui dolphins shows how leveraging synteny can overcome sampling challenges to assemble high-quality reference genomes in species of #conservation concern. Wiley Ecology & Evolution 🔗: buff.ly/bJrWmRV 📷: Sebastian Alvarez-Costes