C. Iseli

Biomathematical enzyme kinetics model of prebiotic autocatalytic RNA networks: degenerating parasite-specific hyperparasite catalysts confer parasite resistance and herald the birth of molecular immunity

The paper develops a biomathematical enzyme kinetics model of prebiotic autocatalytic RNA networks, showing that hyperparasites confer parasite resistance and explain the origin of molecular immunity.

DNA methylation by CcrM contributes to genome maintenance in the Agrobacterium tumefaciens plant pathogen

This study investigates the role of CcrM-mediated DNA methylation in genome maintenance in Agrobacterium tumefaciens, showing its impact on replication and cell cycle regulation.

Biomathematical model of prebiotic autocatalytic RNA networks shows birth of adaptive immunity from degenerating molecular parasite catalysts

DNA modifications impact natural transformation of Acinetobacter baumannii

This study shows that DNA methylation patterns in Acinetobacter baumannii affect natural transformation and horizontal gene transfer, with specific methylation signatures influencing the uptake of foreign DNA.

Unexpected post-glacial colonisation route explains the white colour of barn owls (Tyto alba) from the British Isles

The paper shows barn owls in the British Isles inherited white coloration from an Iberian refugium via an unexpected post-glacial route, not through Doggerland.

Neighbor predation linked to natural competence fosters the transfer of large genomic regions in Vibrio cholerae

This study shows that Vibrio cholerae uses type VI secretion system-mediated neighbor predation to acquire large DNA fragments (>150 kbp) from non-kin bacteria, facilitating significant horizontal gene transfer.

Low Rate of Somatic Mutations in a Long-Lived Oak Tree

The paper sequenced two branches of a 234-year-old oak tree and found few somatic mutations, suggesting shoot meristems are mutation-resistant.