Emily V.W. Setton

Pax6 homologs are required for patterning both visual systems of the daddy-longlegs Phalangium opilio

This study shows Pax6 homologs are required for patterning both visual systems in the daddy-longlegs Phalangium opilio, with double knockdown causing median eye defects and loss of vestigial eyes.

No silver bullet: Patterns of macrosynteny recapitulate systemic conflicts in the higher-level relationships of the arachnids

The paper uses genomic data to investigate arachnid phylogeny, finding that ancient whole genome duplications and fusion-with-mixing events do not resolve conflicts in higher-level relationships.

Developmental system drift in the patterning of the arthropod tarsus

This study investigates the functional role of clawless in harvestman tarsus development and suggests developmental system drift in arthropod appendage patterning.

The genome of a sea spider corroborates a shared Hox cluster motif in arthropods with reduced posterior tagma

This paper presents the first near chromosome-level genome of a sea spider, revealing a single Hox cluster without abdominal-A/Hox9, supporting shared evolutionary patterns in arthropods.

A novel expression domain of extradenticle underlies the evolutionary developmental origin of the chelicerate patella

The paper identifies a novel expression domain of extradenticle in harvestman patella, suggesting that modification of an ancient gene, not neofunctionalization of a new copy, underlies the origin of the chelicerate patella.

The genome of a daddy-long-legs (Opiliones) illuminates the evolution of arachnid appendages and chelicerate genome architecture

This study presents the genome of a daddy-long-legs and investigates appendage development through functional experiments, revealing conserved and coopted roles of Egfr in leg patterning across arthropods.