Nicholas W. VanKuren

This study identifies genetic and cellular mechanisms underlying visual system evolution in Heliconius butterflies by analyzing compound eye cell types across species.

The paper investigates how a shared gene, doublesex, regulates distinct mimicry polymorphisms in two closely related butterfly species through different developmental mechanisms.

The paper identifies sexually dimorphic eye features in Heliconius butterflies, showing differences in UV opsins and screening pigments linked to courtship and oviposition behaviors.

The paper shows that the Papilio alphenor supergene evolved through the recruitment of six new cis-regulatory elements that enable allele-specific dsx expression.

The paper examines the divergent expression patterns of aristaless1 and aristaless2 in butterflies, showing their roles in embryonic appendage and pupal wing development, and their sub-functionalization after gene duplication.

This study investigates the developmental role of aristaless1 in butterfly wing coloration, finding it regulates pigment synthesis and expression through Wnt signaling.

The paper analyzes new genes in Drosophila to show that recently evolved genes can quickly become essential for development.

The paper identifies extensive hidden genetic variation in Drosophila melanogaster by assembling a new reference genome and comparing it to the existing one, revealing structural variants linked to phenotypic traits.