Evolution of compound eye cell types shapes visual behaviors across Heliconius butterflies

/in ,

Lu, W., N. W. VanKuren, C. Catalano, M. S. Levine, C. Wallsten and M. R. Kronforst. 2026. Evolution of compound eye cell types shapes visual behaviors across Heliconius butterflies. bioRxiv 2026.07.22.740151.

Emerging patterns in the functional and developmental genetics of mimicry supergenes

/in , ,

Sheikh, S. I., N. W. VanKuren and M. R. Kronforst. 2026. Emerging patterns in the functional and developmental genetics of mimicry supergenes. Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology 42: In press.

Functional genetic elements of a butterfly mimicry supergene

/in , , ,

VanKuren, N. W., S. I. Sheikh, C. L. Fu, D. Massardo, N. N. Service, W. Lu and M. R. Kronforst. 2025. Functional genetic elements of a butterfly mimicry supergene. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 122: e2509864122. bioRxiv preprint  UChicago News

Hidden in plain sight: (Re)definition of a key lepidopteran color patterning gene

/in , ,

VanKuren, N. W. and M. R. Kronforst. 2024. Hidden in plain sight: (Re)definition of a key lepidopteran color patterning gene. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 121: e2419749121.

Supergene evolution via gain of auto-regulation

/in , ,

VanKuren, N. W., S. I. Sheikh, D. Massardo, W. Lu and M. R. Kronforst. 2024. Supergene evolution via gain of auto-regulation. bioRxiv 2024.01.09.574839.

Acute and long-term consequences of co-opted doublesex on the development of mimetic butterfly color patterns

/in , ,

VanKuren, N. W., M. M. Doellman, S. I. Sheikh, D. H. Palmer Droguett, D. Massardo and M. R. Kronforst. 2023. Acute and long-term consequences of co-opted doublesex on the development of mimetic butterfly color patterns. Molecular Biology and Evolution 40: msad196. bioRxiv preprint

Divergent expression of aristaless1 and aristaless2 during embryonic appendage and pupal wing development in butterflies

/in , ,

Bayala, E. X., I. Cisneros, D. Massardo, N. W. VanKuren and M. R. Kronforst. 2023. Divergent expression of aristaless1 and aristaless2 during embryonic appendage and pupal wing development in butterflies. BMC Biology 21: 104. bioRxiv preprint

aristaless1 has a dual role in appendage formation and wing color specification during butterfly development

/in , ,

Bayala, E. X., N. VanKuren, D. Massardo and M. R. Kronforst. 2023. aristaless1 has a dual role in appendage formation and wing color specification during butterfly development. BMC Biology 21: 100. bioRxiv preprint

Butterfly mimicry rings run in circles

/in ,

Sheikh, S. I., N. W. VanKuren and M. R. Kronforst. 2023. Butterfly mimicry rings run in circles. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 120: e2220680120.

Divergent expression of aristaless1 and aristaless2 is associated with embryonic appendage and pupal wing development in butterflies

/in , ,

Bayala, E. X., I. Cisneros, D. Massardo, N. W. VanKuren and M. R. Kronforst. 2022. Divergent expression of aristaless1 and aristaless2 is associated with embryonic appendage and pupal wing development in butterflies. bioRxiv 2022.09.28.509918.