“The STRiVE Special Topic Network (“ Structural variants in evolution”) was established in 2026 and brings together researchers from across the globe to study how structural variants, ranging from transposable elements to large chromosomal rearrangements such as inversions or fusions and fissions, shape genome evolution, adaptation, and speciation. Through collaborative research, standardised methods, seminars, meetings, and training initiatives, we aim to bridge communities and unlock the diversity of structural variants and their evolutionary implications across the Tree of Life.
Our first activities include an inaugural conference in Portugal (8th to 10th of July 2026), a special issue in JEB and an online seminar series.
Structural variants—such as inversions, duplications, transposable elements, and chromosomal rearrangements—are now recognised as major drivers of genome evolution, adaptation, and potentially speciation. Yet research on structural variants remains fragmented: different variant types are often studied in isolation, across separate disciplines, organisms, and analytical traditions. As a result, we still lack a coherent evolutionary framework linking genome architecture to evolutionary outcomes. This network aims to resolve this fragmentation.
Our network pursues three tightly linked objectives:
1. Build conceptual bridges across structural variant research: We connect researchers studying different classes of structural variants and systems to move beyond isolated case studies, integrate theory and data, and clarify how genome architecture itself evolves and feeds back on adaptation and diversification.
2. Enable comparative and meta-analytic structural variant research across species: By developing and sharing standardised, open pipelines, we aim to make cross-species analyses of structural variation feasible, allowing robust inference of general evolutionary patterns across populations and taxa.
3. Develop methods and train the next generation: We focus strongly on early-career researchers, providing training in both cutting-edge genomic methods (e.g. pangenomes, phased assemblies) and evolutionary interpretation, ensuring structural variant research remains accessible rather than technically exclusive.
Please see more information and contact on our website: https://structuralvariantsstn.github.io/