Cassandra G. M. Extavour

This study identifies extensive horizontal gene transfer in the fungus gnat Bradysia coprophila, showing these genes contribute to stress tolerance and ecological adaptation.

The paper shows that the Hox code enforces invariant gonad subunit number in the milkweed bug by linking gonad development to segmental patterning.

The paper compares laboratory and wild Drosophila sechellia to assess if lab strains retain specialization phenotypes from their natural environment.

This paper develops an efficient transgenesis system in the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus using nuclear targeting and piggyBac, enabling genetic manipulations and expanding its use as a model organism.

The paper identifies 104 novel genes in arthropods formed by fusing horizontally transferred sequences with endogenous genes, showing they are expressed and under selection.

This study identifies de novo genes in crickets that arise from repetitive sequences, showing that such sequences are important in early gene evolution but not after gene establishment.

The paper develops an in silico model to show that optimal heterotypic adhesion between migrating and substrate cells enhances transepithelial migration efficiency, supported by in vivo experiments in Drosophila.

The paper shows that non-optimal codons are preferentially used in sex-biased genes of Drosophila melanogaster and are linked to protein disorder.

This paper reviews the evolution of germ cell specification in Panarthropoda by analyzing historical data and proposing new hypotheses about its developmental trajectory.

This paper provides standardized laboratory protocols for maintaining Carausius morosus, including husbandry, egg care, and colony sustainability.

This paper presents a high-quality chromosome-scale genome assembly for Gryllus bimaculatus using long-read sequencing and Hi-C data, significantly improving contiguity and gene annotation completeness.

This study uses Twitter data to track phenological patterns and public sentiment toward four insect species over 11 years, showing potential for ecological research.

The paper investigates how square cell grids form in crustacean embryos, showing that lineage-specific and supracellular mechanisms coordinate this process.

This study identifies the OSK domain of D. virilis Oskar as the cause of interspecies incompatibility with D. melanogaster Oskar, linking protein sequence evolution to functional divergence.

The paper develops a duplex PCR assay to determine the sex and mating status of Ixodes scapularis ticks using DNA sequence markers identified through whole-genome resequencing and restriction site-associated DNA sequencing.

This paper investigates the role of the gcl gene in germ cell development across three insect species, finding divergent functions in germ cell specification and number.

The paper identifies chinmo as a novel regulator enabling differential response to Hippo signaling between germ line and somatic cells in Drosophila larval ovary development.

The paper tests Oskar variants in vivo to assess their role in germ plasm assembly, finding that the LOTUS domain is critical for mRNA recruitment despite the current model attributing this function to the OSK domain.

The paper establishes a CRISPR/Cas9 method for targeted gene knock-in in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, enabling functional genetic studies in a hemimetabolous insect.

The paper analyzes gene expression dynamics in germ line and somatic tissues during ovariole morphogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster, revealing distinct temporal patterns of differential gene expression.

The paper compares cricket genomes to understand the evolutionary drivers of large genome sizes and DNA methylation in hemimetabolous insects.

This study shows that local nuclear density, not cytoplasmic flows or synchronized divisions, drives nuclear movements during syncytial blastoderm formation in cricket embryos.

The paper analyzes codon and amino acid usage in highly expressed cricket genes to understand translational functions and their adaptation across tissues and sexes.

The paper uses network analysis to identify genetic sub-networks regulating reproductive capacity in Drosophila by integrating functional genetic data with protein-protein interactions.

This study shows Hox genes restrict germ cell formation to specific abdominal segments in Gryllus bimaculatus, revealing a segmental Hox code for PGC placement.

The paper presents the milkweed bug genome and comparative analyses to study molecular evolution and feeding ecology in Hemiptera.

The paper introduces OMMAwell, a low-cost, customizable device for high-throughput live-imaging of embryos and tissues across multiple species.

The paper analyzes the house spider genome to identify an ancient whole-genome duplication shared by spiders and scorpions, distinct from horseshoe crab duplications.

The paper sequences and annotates the genome of Parhyale hawaiensis, identifying key genes for development, immunity, and lignocellulose digestion, providing a resource for comparative studies.