Nucleocytoplasmic large DNA viruses (NCLDVs) are widespread in the biosphere. This issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Nelson et al., and a recent Nature paper, Moniruzzaman show NCLDVs can integrate into host genomes, highlighting mechanism large-scale virus-mediated horizontal gene transfer (vHGT) driving eukaryotic evolution. “The Modern Synthesis” evolutionary theory, formulated mid-20th century,...

A recent phylogenomic investigation shows that the enigmatic flagellate Breviata is a distinct anaerobic lineage within the eukaryote super-group Amoebozoa and challenges the unikont-bikont rooting of the tree of eukaryotes.

Selfish genetic elements are ubiquitous and may impact drastically on eukaryote reproduction and evolution. A recent experimental evolution study shows that such elements could also provide an explanation for polyandry.