This Week in Evolution

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

TWiEVO 130: The Stickleback Shuffle

Nels and Vincent explain a study showing unique site-specific and shared habitat-level adaptation in a classic system of repeated evolution, stickleback fish. Hosts: Ne

Oct 6
1 h 14 min

TWiEVO 129: How avocados do it

Nels and Vincent discuss the finding that balanced polymorphism in a floral transcription factor underlies the ancient rhythm of daily sex alternation in avocado. Hosts

Aug 31
1 h 27 min

TWiEVO 128: Ready, set, cell

Nels and Vincent discuss a chemically defined synthetic cell capable of growth and replication. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcas

Jul 23
1 h 18 min

TWiEVO 127: The barley knew what to mildew

Nels and Vincent discuss molecular mimicry of a pathogen virulence target by a plant immune receptor. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple

Jul 23
1 h 16 min

TWiEVO 126: Beyond Inheritance with Roxanne Khamsi

TWiEVO 126: Beyond Inheritance with Roxanne Khamsi June 1, 2026 Science journalist Roxanne Khamsi joins Nels and Vincent discuss her first book, Beyond Inheritance, which

Jun 1
1 h 27 min

TWiEVO 125: Evolution's egg timer

Nels and Vincent discuss the development of a comprehensive transcriptomic atlas of early embryogenesis from 61 animal species to understand the control of gene expressi

Apr 26
52 min

TWiEVO 124: The little ribozyme that could

Nels and Vincent discuss the discovery of a short RNA with the ability to catalyze its own synthesis. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple

Mar 19
1 h 18 min

TWiEVO 123: Stinkbug eggs with a schmear of fungus

Nels and Vincent explain how stinkbug females smear fungus on their eggs to protect them from wasp parasitism. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free

Mar 19
1 h 21 min

TWiEVO 122: The evolution of selfishness

Nels and Vincent explain how selfishness evolved multiple times from an essential tRNA synthetase gene in a nematode. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscrib

Feb 2
1 h 15 min

TWiEVO 121: AI imagines viruses

Nels and Vincent examines the use of AI and genome language models to design novel derivatives of bacteriophage phiX174. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subsc

Jan 8
1 h 42 min

TWiEVO 120: Sparkle pony

Nels and Vincent explain research which shows that insertion of a retrovirus into the genome regulates a novel color trait in swordtail fish. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vince

Jan 8
1 h 46 min

TWiEVO 119: Drive fast, take chances, and encode a Y chromosome

Nels and Vincent explain research attempting to explain why among humans, females around the world live on average 5 years longer than males, but the trend is reversed in

Nov 4 2025
1 h 21 min

TWiEVO 118: Mother of an unrelated brother

Nels and Vincent discuss research which shows a shift from the rule that living organisms produce same-species offspring: an ant that produces individuals from two distin

Oct 14 2025
1 h 49 min

TWiEVO 117: Genes that don't leave

Nels and Vincent discuss research on hidden evolutionary constraints that dictate the retention of coronavirus accessory gene, which was flagged by NIH as potentially dan

Aug 20 2025
1 h 38 min

TWiEVO 116: An ant and two fungi walk into a bar and meet a naked mole rat

Nels and Vincent review research on how neuropeptides influence the behavior of leafcutter ants, and regulate the different caste behaviors such as defenders, leaf forage

Jul 23 2025
57 min

TWiEVO 115: Even the archaea are going viral

Nels and Vincent discuss an ultra reduced archaeal genome, the closest cellular entity to date that approaches a viral strategy of existence. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vince

Jun 18 2025
1 h 28 min

TWiEVO 114: The best experiments ever done

Nels and Vincent review the properties of Mendel's pea genes through the lens of modern genetic analysis. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Ap

May 21 2025
1 h 31 min

TWiEVO 113: A wolf in wolf's clothing

Nels and Vincent explain the ancestry and evolution of the extinct dire wolf. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Bec

Apr 23 2025
1 h 27 min

TWiEVO 112: Sex-Z cephalopods

Nels and Vincent explain the ancient evolutionary origin of sex in cephalopods. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email B

Mar 26 2025
1 h 27 min

TWiEVO 111: Copy that, genome

Nels and Vincent explain how template switching during DNA replication is a widespread source of adaptive gene amplification. Hosts: Nels Elde and Vincent Racaniello

Feb 26 2025
1 h 26 min

Chart trend

Position in the Natural Sciences chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#84#167JulAugSepOct

#34

all-time peak

days in the top 50 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where This Week in Evolution ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 10, 2026).

#53 ▲ 6 Natural Sciences US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I’m a high school bio teacher who used to do molecular bio research. I’m going through all the old episodes, reading the article featured before listening to each one. It’s been very rewarding!

abundancesun · Jun 2019

This might just be my favorite science podcast. Nels and Vincent dissect a wide range of studies reflecting the great diversity of research approaches in the field of evolutionary biology. From viral evolution and transposon domestication to Neanderthal introgressions and resolving Peto’s paradox in elephants, this is one podcast to rule them all.

mystogan91 · Oct 2018

I had always shied away from direct discussions of evolutionary science. The first episode introduced the perspective so well that I kept listening. And I am so glad because I have had a whole world of fascinating and weird subjects opened up to my contemplation. I often find myself sending some of the papers discussed to my friends. Good production. Definitely recommend.

trptmd · Jul 2018

The hosts bring their different backgrounds to bear on the topic of evolutionary biology and genetics. They also are able to get guests from among some of the foremost experts in their field (Hopi Hoekstra for example) as well as grad students, which is really generous of the hosts. That also brings me to one of the ways this podcast is inspiring. The hosts just love science and nature, and that passion really motivates every aspect of the podcast. Definitely recommend for experts and laypeople alike.

dence_1234 · Mar 2018

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.