Prashant P. Sharma
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    • Phylogenomics >
      • Chelicerate phylogenomics
      • Scorpion phylogenomics
      • Sea spider phylogenomics
    • Developmental genetics
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      • Systematics >
        • Arthropod systematics >
          • Cyphophthalmi
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          • Basal Opiliones phylogeny
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          • Basal bivalve phylogeny
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        • Sandokanidae
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      • Evo-devo >
        • Harvestman Hox genes
        • Scorpion Hox genes
        • Evolution of the chelicera
        • RNAi in Phalangium opilio
        • Deutocerebral appendages
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Gene silencing in the harvestman
Establishment of functional techniques is a key step toward testing hypotheses in evolutionary developmental biology. Through an EDEN fellowship in 2012, I recently established a protocol for zygotic RNAi in the harvestman Phalangium opilio.


Knockdown of the leg gap gene Distal-less results in a classic phenotype with distal appendage truncations.
Picture
Sharma et al. (2013) Evol. Dev. 15: 228-242.
Following up on the gene expression work on the cheliceral dachshund domain, this gene was also silenced in developing embryos. Consistent with its function as a canonical leg gap gene in insects, knockdown of dachshund results in the loss of the podomeres femur and patella in the pedipalps and legs. Additionally, a two-segmented chelicera is associated with the strong knockdown phenotype.
Picture
Sharma et al. (2013) Evol. Dev. 15: 228-242.
These data suggest conservation of leg gap gene activity in patterning the proximo-distal appendage axis of evolutionarily distant arthropods.
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