Gokcumen Lab
@gokcumenlab.bsky.social
Investigating the evolutionary history of genetic variations to explain biological diversity and disease in modern and ancient human populations.
Reposted by Gokcumen Lab
October 12, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Our preprint, "Read mismapping from segmental duplications drives spurious trans associations," is out!
We argue that both RNA and DNA read mismapping can lead to false signals in QTLs, Hi-C, GWAS, and gene co-expression. And there is a way to identify them!
Link: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We argue that both RNA and DNA read mismapping can lead to false signals in QTLs, Hi-C, GWAS, and gene co-expression. And there is a way to identify them!
Link: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Read mismapping from segmental duplications drives spurious trans associations
Heritable variation in gene regulation shapes both disease risk and evolution. Trans -acting quantitative trait loci ( trans -QTLs) are the primary source of this variation within species, yet they re...
www.biorxiv.org
October 10, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Our preprint, "Read mismapping from segmental duplications drives spurious trans associations," is out!
We argue that both RNA and DNA read mismapping can lead to false signals in QTLs, Hi-C, GWAS, and gene co-expression. And there is a way to identify them!
Link: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
We argue that both RNA and DNA read mismapping can lead to false signals in QTLs, Hi-C, GWAS, and gene co-expression. And there is a way to identify them!
Link: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Gokcumen Lab
What have 🦷🦷 #TEETH 🦷🦷, 🥛 #MILK 🥛, and💧💧 #SALIVA 💧💧to do with each other? Ask PetarPajic, Luane Landau, and Omer Gokcumen @gokcumenlab.bsky.social ❗️
academic.oup.com/gbe/article-...
academic.oup.com/gbe/article-...
Saliva Protein Genes in Humans were Shaped During Primate Evolution
Abstract. Genes within the secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein locus diversified along with the formation of a calcified skeleton in vertebrates, the
academic.oup.com
September 27, 2025 at 12:43 AM
What have 🦷🦷 #TEETH 🦷🦷, 🥛 #MILK 🥛, and💧💧 #SALIVA 💧💧to do with each other? Ask PetarPajic, Luane Landau, and Omer Gokcumen @gokcumenlab.bsky.social ❗️
academic.oup.com/gbe/article-...
academic.oup.com/gbe/article-...
Reposted by Gokcumen Lab
Pajic, @gokcumenlab.bsky.social @spit-lab.bsky.social et al. explored the evolution of saliva-related SCPP genes, observing extensive diversification of SCPP genes within mammals, driven by gene duplications and losses.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf165
#genome #evolution #primates
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf165
#genome #evolution #primates
September 24, 2025 at 9:04 AM
Pajic, @gokcumenlab.bsky.social @spit-lab.bsky.social et al. explored the evolution of saliva-related SCPP genes, observing extensive diversification of SCPP genes within mammals, driven by gene duplications and losses.
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf165
#genome #evolution #primates
🔗 doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evaf165
#genome #evolution #primates
New paper with @spit-lab.bsky.social @genomebiolevol.bsky.social - Bottom-line: genes that encode secreted saliva genes evolve pretty fast and gene duplications/deletions are mostly the culprit. academic.oup.com/gbe/advance-...
August 25, 2025 at 9:23 PM
New paper with @spit-lab.bsky.social @genomebiolevol.bsky.social - Bottom-line: genes that encode secreted saliva genes evolve pretty fast and gene duplications/deletions are mostly the culprit. academic.oup.com/gbe/advance-...
✨ 1 of the proudest achievements of the lab.
the sex- and diet-dependent effects of an ancient deletion (>Neanderthal–human divergence) in the 3rd conserved exon of GHR (GHRd3). growth, resistance to hunger, and metabolism.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#BioRenderForGrants #ScienceAdvances
the sex- and diet-dependent effects of an ancient deletion (>Neanderthal–human divergence) in the 3rd conserved exon of GHR (GHRd3). growth, resistance to hunger, and metabolism.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#BioRenderForGrants #ScienceAdvances
August 20, 2025 at 7:13 PM
✨ 1 of the proudest achievements of the lab.
the sex- and diet-dependent effects of an ancient deletion (>Neanderthal–human divergence) in the 3rd conserved exon of GHR (GHRd3). growth, resistance to hunger, and metabolism.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#BioRenderForGrants #ScienceAdvances
the sex- and diet-dependent effects of an ancient deletion (>Neanderthal–human divergence) in the 3rd conserved exon of GHR (GHRd3). growth, resistance to hunger, and metabolism.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
#BioRenderForGrants #ScienceAdvances
Reposted by Gokcumen Lab
Such a great talk this morning on primate amylase evolution by @evobioclio.bsky.social #ESEB2025
August 19, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Such a great talk this morning on primate amylase evolution by @evobioclio.bsky.social #ESEB2025
Reposted by Gokcumen Lab
Postdoctoral Research Associate sought for lipid biology and evolutionary genomics project. Ideal candidates in cell biology or bioinformatics; must be eager to learn interdisciplinary skills. Contact Dr. Ekin Atilla-Gokcumen: [email protected]. More info: https://atillalab.org/ #postdoc
Atilla Lab – at the University at Buffalo
Atilla Lab – at the University at Buffalo
atillalab.org
August 6, 2025 at 6:30 AM
Postdoctoral Research Associate sought for lipid biology and evolutionary genomics project. Ideal candidates in cell biology or bioinformatics; must be eager to learn interdisciplinary skills. Contact Dr. Ekin Atilla-Gokcumen: [email protected]. More info: https://atillalab.org/ #postdoc
Reposted by Gokcumen Lab
Our latest preprint explores the evolution of the primate amylase locus, uncovering structural innovations, regulatory shifts and molecular convergence.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Convergent evolution through independent rearrangements in the primate amylase locus
Structurally complex regions of the genome are increasingly recognized as engines of evolutionary convergence due to their propensity to generate recurrent gene duplications that give rise to similar ...
www.biorxiv.org
August 15, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Our latest preprint explores the evolution of the primate amylase locus, uncovering structural innovations, regulatory shifts and molecular convergence.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Gokcumen Lab
Very nice comparative study led @evobioclio.bsky.social from @gokcumenlab.bsky.social, using the the primate amylase locus to reveal how structural and regulatory modularity in complex genomic regions drives evolutionary innovation and molecular convergence 🧪🧬
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Convergent evolution through independent rearrangements in the primate amylase locus
Structurally complex regions of the genome are increasingly recognized as engines of evolutionary convergence due to their propensity to generate recurrent gene duplications that give rise to similar ...
www.biorxiv.org
August 15, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Very nice comparative study led @evobioclio.bsky.social from @gokcumenlab.bsky.social, using the the primate amylase locus to reveal how structural and regulatory modularity in complex genomic regions drives evolutionary innovation and molecular convergence 🧪🧬
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Gokcumen Lab
❗️❗️❗️👄👄 #MOUTH 👄👄 🦷🦷 #TEETH 🦷🦷 💧💧 #SALIVA 💧💧🦠🦠 #MICROBIOME🦠🦠 🍭🍭 #glycotime 🍭🍭 ❗️❗️❗️
❗️We are hiring❗️Check out this full-time tenure track academic faculty position in the #UBSDM's Department of Oral Biology.
ms.spr.ly/6045sKrT9
❗️We are hiring❗️Check out this full-time tenure track academic faculty position in the #UBSDM's Department of Oral Biology.
ms.spr.ly/6045sKrT9
Assistant Professor/Associate Professor, Oral Biology
The University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine (SDM) invites applications from qualified early- to mid-career oral health scientists and/or clinician-scientists for a full-time tenure track acade...
www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu
August 3, 2025 at 8:14 PM
❗️❗️❗️👄👄 #MOUTH 👄👄 🦷🦷 #TEETH 🦷🦷 💧💧 #SALIVA 💧💧🦠🦠 #MICROBIOME🦠🦠 🍭🍭 #glycotime 🍭🍭 ❗️❗️❗️
❗️We are hiring❗️Check out this full-time tenure track academic faculty position in the #UBSDM's Department of Oral Biology.
ms.spr.ly/6045sKrT9
❗️We are hiring❗️Check out this full-time tenure track academic faculty position in the #UBSDM's Department of Oral Biology.
ms.spr.ly/6045sKrT9
Reposted by Gokcumen Lab
Check out our latest work co-led by @dcsoto.bsky.social and @jmuribescr.bsky.social identifying hundreds of human duplicated gene families using the new T2T-CHM13 assembly, with a focus on those potentially contributing to brain evolution 🧪: authors.elsevier.com/a/1lTQtL7PXu...
authors.elsevier.com
July 21, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Check out our latest work co-led by @dcsoto.bsky.social and @jmuribescr.bsky.social identifying hundreds of human duplicated gene families using the new T2T-CHM13 assembly, with a focus on those potentially contributing to brain evolution 🧪: authors.elsevier.com/a/1lTQtL7PXu...
Reposted by Gokcumen Lab
Outreach volunteers sought! @imprintedgene.bsky.social and I will host “Breaking Bread: Exploring the Evolution of Amylase in humans” at Festa Major de Gràcia, Barcelona (16 Aug, 19:00). We need 1-2 volunteers (ES/EN) for visitor guidance and on-site translation. Please DM or email me if interested.
July 28, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Outreach volunteers sought! @imprintedgene.bsky.social and I will host “Breaking Bread: Exploring the Evolution of Amylase in humans” at Festa Major de Gràcia, Barcelona (16 Aug, 19:00). We need 1-2 volunteers (ES/EN) for visitor guidance and on-site translation. Please DM or email me if interested.
Great write-up by Technology Networks on our recent work on switch-like gene expression in humans. It is short, clear, and just a 4-min read. If transcriptomic variation interests you, please give it a look!
Write-up: www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/new...
Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Write-up: www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/new...
Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Hundreds of Human Genes Show “Switch-Like” Behavior
University of Buffalo researchers conducted a systematic analysis of switch-like genes by analyzing genomes, transcriptomes and methylomes from 943 individuals and 27 different tissues.
www.technologynetworks.com
July 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Great write-up by Technology Networks on our recent work on switch-like gene expression in humans. It is short, clear, and just a 4-min read. If transcriptomic variation interests you, please give it a look!
Write-up: www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/new...
Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Write-up: www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/new...
Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
University press release for our recent study, "Switch-like gene expression modulates disease risk," published in Nature Communications.
Link to paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Link to paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#UBuffalo researchers found nearly 500 human genes that act like light switches—either fully on or off! 💡🧬
Led by Omer Gokcumen, Alber Aqil & Naoki Masuda, the study blends math + biology to uncover genetic patterns linked to fertility, COVID-19, cancer & more.
Led by Omer Gokcumen, Alber Aqil & Naoki Masuda, the study blends math + biology to uncover genetic patterns linked to fertility, COVID-19, cancer & more.
Study reveals ‘switch-like’ behavior for hundreds of genes with links to human disease
The award, given every three years, is presented to only a handful of scholars.
arts-sciences.buffalo.edu
July 2, 2025 at 1:24 AM
University press release for our recent study, "Switch-like gene expression modulates disease risk," published in Nature Communications.
Link to paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Link to paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Gokcumen Lab
Happy to share our new study from my PhD on the spread of farming across Anatolia and into the Aegean and then into Europe. @compevohumang.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
👇🏽
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
👇🏽
Out-of-Anatolia: Cultural and genetic interactions during the Neolithic expansion in the Aegean
West Anatolia has been a crucial yet elusive element in the Neolithic expansion from the Fertile Crescent to Europe. In this work, we describe the changing genetic and cultural landscapes of early Hol...
www.science.org
June 26, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Happy to share our new study from my PhD on the spread of farming across Anatolia and into the Aegean and then into Europe. @compevohumang.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
👇🏽
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
👇🏽
Reposted by Gokcumen Lab
Excited to share that I’ve been selected as a Spring 2025 recipient of the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics!
Very grateful to the Genetics Society of America @genetics-gsa.bsky.social for their support.
Very grateful to the Genetics Society of America @genetics-gsa.bsky.social for their support.
We’re thrilled to announce the Spring 2025 recipients of the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics! 🧬 Please join us in congratulating this season’s awardees. Read more in Genes to Genomes: buff.ly/p3vh1gx
June 25, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Excited to share that I’ve been selected as a Spring 2025 recipient of the DeLill Nasser Award for Professional Development in Genetics!
Very grateful to the Genetics Society of America @genetics-gsa.bsky.social for their support.
Very grateful to the Genetics Society of America @genetics-gsa.bsky.social for their support.
Reposted by Gokcumen Lab
New manuscript from the Gokcumen Lab! @gokcumenlab.bsky.social
Switch-like gene expression modulates disease risk - Nature Communications
While switch-like expression (“on” in some individuals and “off” in others) has been linked to biological variation and disease susceptibility, a systematic analysis across tissues is lacking. Here, w...
www.nature.com
June 22, 2025 at 2:14 AM
New manuscript from the Gokcumen Lab! @gokcumenlab.bsky.social
Reposted by Gokcumen Lab
Made it to Athens, GA for #Evol2025! Very excited to be attending my first in-person Evolution meeting. I'll be giving a talk on the evolution of the primate amylase locus and presenting a poster on our recent paper about the human amylase locus this Sunday.
DM me if you want to catch up!
DM me if you want to catch up!
Reconstruction of the human amylase locus reveals ancient duplications seeding modern-day variation
Previous studies suggested that the copy number of the human salivary amylase gene, AMY1, correlates with starch-rich diets. However, evolutionary analyses are hampered by the absence of accurate, seq...
doi.org
June 19, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Made it to Athens, GA for #Evol2025! Very excited to be attending my first in-person Evolution meeting. I'll be giving a talk on the evolution of the primate amylase locus and presenting a poster on our recent paper about the human amylase locus this Sunday.
DM me if you want to catch up!
DM me if you want to catch up!