Kyle M. Benowitz

Chromosome-length genome assemblies of cactophilic Drosophila illuminate links between structural and sequence evolution.

The paper assembles and annotates chromosome-length genomes for three cactophilic Drosophila species to study structural and sequence evolution and their links to adaptation and speciation.

Novel genetic basis of resistance to Bt toxin Cry1Ac in Helicoverpa zea

The paper identifies a novel polygenic basis for resistance to Bt toxin Cry1Ac in Helicoverpa zea using genome-wide association and RNA-seq.

Changes of gene expression but not cytosine methylation are associated with plasticity of male parental care reflecting behavioural state, social context, and individual flexibility

The paper examines gene expression and DNA methylation changes in male burying beetles during parental care, finding that gene expression varies with behavioral state and social context, while DNA methylation does not correlate with gene expression changes.

Early developmental morphology reflects independence from parents in social beetles

This study examines the relationship between developmental morphology and parental dependency in burying beetles, finding that mandible shape variation correlates with self-feeding ability and sibling competition.

The transcriptional basis of quantitative behavioral variation

The paper investigates the transcriptional basis of variation in parental provisioning behavior in burying beetles and finds that quantitative behavioral variation reflects many small transcriptional differences rather than a few major genes.