Benjamin C. Klementz

The paper examines proximal podomere patterning in sea spiders and arachnids, finding homoplastic evolution of gene expression patterns that challenges assumptions about leg segment homology.

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.

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.

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

This paper presents the first chromosome-level genome assembly of Mastigoproctus giganteus, revealing evidence of an ancient whole genome duplication.

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 paper investigates the function of Hox genes lab and Dfd in chelicerates, showing their role in head segment patterning and homeotic transformations through RNAi experiments and expression analysis.