Last time, @somabarawi.bsky.social looked at how mobile genetic elements help genes move between bacteria. But once these genes arrive in a new cell, it's not always a warm welcome! Some get silenced, and others get kicked out entirely. Curious what decides their fate? Learn more:

Selfish, sneaky & surprisingly powerful: mobile genetic elements are tiny pieces of DNA that move between & within genomes. Read #openthinker @somabarawi.bsky.social's latest post on how they move genes around, manipulate microbial genomes & shape microbial life in unexpected ways: buff.ly/bI6vh29

Lateral gene transfer allows microbes to acquire foreign genes, but this process is selective. Some genes transfer readily, while others rarely do. We can think of them as picky roommates; they won’t move in unless the vibe’s right! Learn more with @somabarawi.bsky.social :

Microbes don’t just inherit genes from their ancestors; they borrow from their neighbors too. Evolution, thanks to lateral gene transfer, is messier and far more fascinating than we once thought. Learn more with OpenThinker @somabarawi.bsky.social : buff.ly/VTgfVJY

Most microbes like to remain mysterious and refuse to grow in labs. So, we directly study their DNA instead, which tells us exactly who they are and what they can do! @somabarawi.bsky.social shares how metagenomics reveals species and abilities we never knew existed: blogs.dal.ca/openthink/ho...

Meet our 2025 #DalOpenThink cohort — 9 ambitious Dal PhD students ready to share their research through public engagement and monthly articles! www.dal.ca/news/2025/04...

Exciting news! @dalhousie.bsky.social shares some of the most exciting new research from @dalgradstudies.bsky.social PhD students in their own words.

Our 2025 OpenThink cohort includes 9 ambitious PhD students from across Dal, who are sharing their expertise through monthly blog articles. The first posts are now available — covering everything from AI safety and sustainability, to oral health and understanding breast cancer: buff.ly/KTnqVHP