Rachel C Thayer
@rcthayer.bsky.social
Evolution of structural color in butterflies🦋🌈 Reproductive functional evolution 🧬 Postdoc | UC Davis
🌐 sites.google.com/view/rachelcthayer/welcome
🌐 sites.google.com/view/rachelcthayer/welcome
Pinned
Rachel C Thayer
@rcthayer.bsky.social
· Oct 25
Our paper, identifying all the cell types in the Drosophila melanogaster female reproductive tract (uterus, female-limited glands, sperm storage organs) is out today! We used single-nuclei RNA sequencing and a lot of in situ cross-validation www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2409850121 🪰 🧬🧪 1/n
... And the men?
They voted against themselves again
And for fire
Which they thought they could control
Fire
Which voted for blackened stumps
And no more elections
--Leonard Nathan
They voted against themselves again
And for fire
Which they thought they could control
Fire
Which voted for blackened stumps
And no more elections
--Leonard Nathan
Which lines of poetry live rent-free in your head?
December 7, 2025 at 6:01 AM
... And the men?
They voted against themselves again
And for fire
Which they thought they could control
Fire
Which voted for blackened stumps
And no more elections
--Leonard Nathan
They voted against themselves again
And for fire
Which they thought they could control
Fire
Which voted for blackened stumps
And no more elections
--Leonard Nathan
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
I'm not exaggerating when I say following @boltsmag.org rn will unlock money for our journalism.
A generous reader, @russ41.bsky.social, has offered to donate $1 for every 1-person increase to our follower count.
If you're not following @boltsmag.org yet, it'll directly help fund our reporting!
A generous reader, @russ41.bsky.social, has offered to donate $1 for every 1-person increase to our follower count.
If you're not following @boltsmag.org yet, it'll directly help fund our reporting!
December 6, 2025 at 12:07 AM
I'm not exaggerating when I say following @boltsmag.org rn will unlock money for our journalism.
A generous reader, @russ41.bsky.social, has offered to donate $1 for every 1-person increase to our follower count.
If you're not following @boltsmag.org yet, it'll directly help fund our reporting!
A generous reader, @russ41.bsky.social, has offered to donate $1 for every 1-person increase to our follower count.
If you're not following @boltsmag.org yet, it'll directly help fund our reporting!
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
It's with heavy hearts that we share that Claude, our beloved albino alligator, has passed away at the age of 30. Claude brought joy to millions of people at the Academy and across the world during his 17 year tenure. We will miss him dearly. 🤍
December 2, 2025 at 10:22 PM
It's with heavy hearts that we share that Claude, our beloved albino alligator, has passed away at the age of 30. Claude brought joy to millions of people at the Academy and across the world during his 17 year tenure. We will miss him dearly. 🤍
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
I've had a bit of a hiatus due to faculty job apps, but the Etsy shop is open again and ready for your holiday orders! All proceeds go to @flybase.bsky.social , and I just sent the August/September revenue donation. So grab some #drosophila stocking stuffers =>
December 1, 2025 at 9:30 PM
I've had a bit of a hiatus due to faculty job apps, but the Etsy shop is open again and ready for your holiday orders! All proceeds go to @flybase.bsky.social , and I just sent the August/September revenue donation. So grab some #drosophila stocking stuffers =>
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
This is the Sunburst Candy Spider from Thailand. Not AI (sucks to have to declare this). Very real and had been on my wish list for a long time.
The taxonomic placement is unclear, so we are leaving it at Cyrtarachninae.
The taxonomic placement is unclear, so we are leaving it at Cyrtarachninae.
November 29, 2025 at 3:15 PM
This is the Sunburst Candy Spider from Thailand. Not AI (sucks to have to declare this). Very real and had been on my wish list for a long time.
The taxonomic placement is unclear, so we are leaving it at Cyrtarachninae.
The taxonomic placement is unclear, so we are leaving it at Cyrtarachninae.
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
We've got a really cool preprint out in collaboration with @lpachter.bsky.social's awesome student Cat Felce. Using biophysical models and RNA-seq data, we explore the mechanisms of selective constraint on mRNA abundance, finding constraint on decay rate www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Biophysical constraints on mRNA decay rates shape macroevolutionary divergence in steady-state abundances
Evolutionary changes to gene expression are understood to be a major driver of phenotypic divergence between species. Researchers have investigated the drivers of this divergence by fitting evolutiona...
www.biorxiv.org
November 26, 2025 at 5:25 PM
We've got a really cool preprint out in collaboration with @lpachter.bsky.social's awesome student Cat Felce. Using biophysical models and RNA-seq data, we explore the mechanisms of selective constraint on mRNA abundance, finding constraint on decay rate www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
🪱 Selfish genes are everywhere and drive some of biology’s biggest innovations (CRISPR, antibody recombination, epigenetics). Yet almost no one asks the obvious question: how does a selfish gene begin? Our new manuscript uncovers how selfishness can emerge directly from the host genome.
November 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM
🪱 Selfish genes are everywhere and drive some of biology’s biggest innovations (CRISPR, antibody recombination, epigenetics). Yet almost no one asks the obvious question: how does a selfish gene begin? Our new manuscript uncovers how selfishness can emerge directly from the host genome.
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
Super happy to share the *first* lab publication. Out today in Molecular Ecology - a review of methods used to identify repeated adaptation using genomic data (1)
Molecular Ecology | Molecular Genetics Journal | Wiley Online Library onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Molecular Ecology | Molecular Genetics Journal | Wiley Online Library onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Super happy to share the *first* lab publication. Out today in Molecular Ecology - a review of methods used to identify repeated adaptation using genomic data (1)
Molecular Ecology | Molecular Genetics Journal | Wiley Online Library onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Molecular Ecology | Molecular Genetics Journal | Wiley Online Library onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
Please hear me when I say that
1) these anti-medical woo birth movements have been a primary feeder into anti-vaxx eugenic movements
2) they pre-date the age of social media
3) they exist because we have not addressed medical sexism and specifically obstetric violence
1) these anti-medical woo birth movements have been a primary feeder into anti-vaxx eugenic movements
2) they pre-date the age of social media
3) they exist because we have not addressed medical sexism and specifically obstetric violence
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors
As Esau Lopez was asphyxiated for the first 17 minutes of his life on Earth, the atmosphere in the room remained serene, even ecstatic. Acoustic music crooned from a speaker in a modest two-bedroom apartment in a suburb of Pennsylvania. “You are a queen,” murmured one of three friends in the room.
Only Esau’s mother, Gabrielle Lopez, felt something was wrong. She was pushing hard, but her son would not be born. “Can you help [him] out?” she asked, as Esau crowned. “Baby is coming,” the friend replied. Four minutes later, Lopez asked again, “Can you grab [him]?” Another friend murmured, “Baby is safe.” Six minutes passed. Again, Lopez asked, “Can you grab [him]?” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Please hear me when I say that
1) these anti-medical woo birth movements have been a primary feeder into anti-vaxx eugenic movements
2) they pre-date the age of social media
3) they exist because we have not addressed medical sexism and specifically obstetric violence
1) these anti-medical woo birth movements have been a primary feeder into anti-vaxx eugenic movements
2) they pre-date the age of social media
3) they exist because we have not addressed medical sexism and specifically obstetric violence
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
I wrote a little bit about the "missing heritability" question and several recent studies that have brought it to a close. A short 🧵
The missing heritability question is now (mostly) answered
Not with a bang but with a whimper
theinfinitesimal.substack.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:34 PM
I wrote a little bit about the "missing heritability" question and several recent studies that have brought it to a close. A short 🧵
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
JAMA study: NIH grant terminations disrupted 3.5% of active clinical trials, affecting over 74,000 patients and resulting in a $1.81 billion funding loss. More than 115 active cancer trials were disrupted. www.ajmc.com/view/nih-gra...
NIH Grant Terminations Disrupt 1 in 30 Clinical Trials, Impacting Over 74,000 Participants | AJMC
Infectious disease was hit hardest by funding cuts to NIH grant for clinical trials that did not align with the Trump administration's priorities.
www.ajmc.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:31 PM
JAMA study: NIH grant terminations disrupted 3.5% of active clinical trials, affecting over 74,000 patients and resulting in a $1.81 billion funding loss. More than 115 active cancer trials were disrupted. www.ajmc.com/view/nih-gra...
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
🚨New paper! 🚨
@jasminealqassar.bsky.social led this work on the silk glands of the pantry moth.
These two long tubes inside the caterpillar continuously make a ton of silk
How does this special organ work?
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
@cp-iscience.bsky.social
🧵THREAD🧵
@jasminealqassar.bsky.social led this work on the silk glands of the pantry moth.
These two long tubes inside the caterpillar continuously make a ton of silk
How does this special organ work?
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
@cp-iscience.bsky.social
🧵THREAD🧵
November 16, 2025 at 2:06 AM
🚨New paper! 🚨
@jasminealqassar.bsky.social led this work on the silk glands of the pantry moth.
These two long tubes inside the caterpillar continuously make a ton of silk
How does this special organ work?
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
@cp-iscience.bsky.social
🧵THREAD🧵
@jasminealqassar.bsky.social led this work on the silk glands of the pantry moth.
These two long tubes inside the caterpillar continuously make a ton of silk
How does this special organ work?
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
@cp-iscience.bsky.social
🧵THREAD🧵
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
Galvin, J., Yedigarian, S., Rahman, M., Borziak, K., DeNieu, M., Larson, E. L., Manier, M. K. (2025). Sperm length and seminal fluid proteins promote male reproductive success in D. melanogaster. J Evol Biol academic.oup.com/jeb/article-...
Sperm length and seminal fluid proteins promote male reproductive success in Drosophila melanogaster
Abstract. Spermatozoal morphology varies widely within and among species, often corresponding to the shape of the female sperm storage organs in ways that
academic.oup.com
November 13, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Galvin, J., Yedigarian, S., Rahman, M., Borziak, K., DeNieu, M., Larson, E. L., Manier, M. K. (2025). Sperm length and seminal fluid proteins promote male reproductive success in D. melanogaster. J Evol Biol academic.oup.com/jeb/article-...
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
I am so excited to share new work on a TE insertion that regulates iridescence in swordtails, led by fantastic grad student @nadiahaghani.bsky.social and with help from many coauthors! In a time that has been so difficult to navigate, this & other projects have kept my spirits up: shorturl.at/NE65A
Insertion of an invading retrovirus regulates a novel color trait in swordtail fish
For over a century, evolutionary biologists have been motivated to understand the mechanisms through which organisms adapt to their environments. Coloration and pigmentation are remarkably variable wi...
shorturl.at
November 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
I am so excited to share new work on a TE insertion that regulates iridescence in swordtails, led by fantastic grad student @nadiahaghani.bsky.social and with help from many coauthors! In a time that has been so difficult to navigate, this & other projects have kept my spirits up: shorturl.at/NE65A
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
This is key. Implication: have a record of who they turned away.
You are not overly suspicious. This is a real possibility especially since there do not appear to be any search committees.
But I don't want them to be able to say that they selected candidates when only 3 people applied (including their pre-selected candidate).
But I don't want them to be able to say that they selected candidates when only 3 people applied (including their pre-selected candidate).
November 12, 2025 at 11:39 PM
This is key. Implication: have a record of who they turned away.
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
November 12, 2025 at 10:31 AM
What is the most profitable industry in the world, this side of the law? Not oil, not IT, not pharma.
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
It's *scientific publishing*.
We call this the Drain of Scientific Publishing.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2511.04820
Background: doi.org/10.1162/qss_...
Thread @markhanson.fediscience.org.ap.brid.gy 👇
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
It's out, Minos transgenesis in the pantry moth by
@donyaniyaz.bsky.social
@lucalivraghi.bsky.social
High efficient, glowing eye and silk gland markers
peerj.com/articles/202...
@peerj.bsky.social
@donyaniyaz.bsky.social
@lucalivraghi.bsky.social
High efficient, glowing eye and silk gland markers
peerj.com/articles/202...
@peerj.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 2:40 PM
It's out, Minos transgenesis in the pantry moth by
@donyaniyaz.bsky.social
@lucalivraghi.bsky.social
High efficient, glowing eye and silk gland markers
peerj.com/articles/202...
@peerj.bsky.social
@donyaniyaz.bsky.social
@lucalivraghi.bsky.social
High efficient, glowing eye and silk gland markers
peerj.com/articles/202...
@peerj.bsky.social
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
More new NIH institute and center director positions posted
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
hr.nih.gov
November 12, 2025 at 4:18 PM
More new NIH institute and center director positions posted
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
with a closing date of 11/26/25.
hr.nih.gov/careers/open...
These include the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), ...
1/3
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
November 12, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Are you an early-stage graduate student (2nd or 3rd year) or early-stage postdoc based in the US or Canada, working primarily in Drosophila? Would you like to help improve the experience of all trainees working in Drosophila research? If so, read on.
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
(Please repost to reach a broad audience.)
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
Hi Bluesky community - I'm teaching computational genomics again in the Spring term; always happy to have auditors or folks Zoom in. Just have your students email me for deets.
November 11, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Hi Bluesky community - I'm teaching computational genomics again in the Spring term; always happy to have auditors or folks Zoom in. Just have your students email me for deets.
I need to go to ESA
In the ESA exhibit hall, fossilforager.bsky.social is once again directly targeting my bank account
November 10, 2025 at 7:48 PM
I need to go to ESA
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
BREAKING: Cornell caved.
Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
November 7, 2025 at 5:11 PM
BREAKING: Cornell caved.
Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
Here is the settlement agreement, signed today by the university's president, Michael Kotlikoff: statements.cornell.edu/2025/documen...
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
If you're looking for a #postdoc but aren't quite a fit for my lab, check out this exciting opportunity via IU's Common Themes in Reproductive Diversity group! 2-year NIH traineeship to work on one of the group's core themes. Details here! ctrd.indiana.edu/how-to-apply/
How to apply
Learn how to apply to the Common Themes in Reproductive Diversity graduate program at Indiana University with detailed steps, requirements, and deadlines.
ctrd.indiana.edu
November 5, 2025 at 5:10 PM
If you're looking for a #postdoc but aren't quite a fit for my lab, check out this exciting opportunity via IU's Common Themes in Reproductive Diversity group! 2-year NIH traineeship to work on one of the group's core themes. Details here! ctrd.indiana.edu/how-to-apply/
Reposted by Rachel C Thayer
The world seems like we are going backwards at the moment, so it is important to take the time to spread awareness of advances.
Scientists have developed an enzyme that converts organs into universal 'O' type. This is huge.
www.popularmechanics.com/science/heal...
Scientists have developed an enzyme that converts organs into universal 'O' type. This is huge.
www.popularmechanics.com/science/heal...
Scientists Changed the Blood Type of a Kidney. That’s Extraordinary.
Transforming organs from any blood type into the universal donor Type O could help patients receive transplants faster.
www.popularmechanics.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:51 PM
The world seems like we are going backwards at the moment, so it is important to take the time to spread awareness of advances.
Scientists have developed an enzyme that converts organs into universal 'O' type. This is huge.
www.popularmechanics.com/science/heal...
Scientists have developed an enzyme that converts organs into universal 'O' type. This is huge.
www.popularmechanics.com/science/heal...