RT-qPCR Gene Expression Dataset for Daphnia pulex (Predator-Induced, LG, 2019)

This dataset contains RT-qPCR measurements of relative gene expression in the freshwater crustacean *Daphnia pulex* collected during a summer fellowship research project conducted in Japan in 2019. The study investigated transcriptional responses across developmental stages under predator-induced conditions using linoleoyl glycine (LG) as a chemical cue, compared with untreated control samples. Gene expression was examined for a set of developmental and signaling pathway genes, including members of the **Wnt signaling pathway**, **Sox transcription factors**, and **Armadillo (β-catenin)**, which are associated with embryonic development and morphological regulation. Three life stages were analyzed: embryo, first instar, and second instar. For each life stage and treatment combination, three biological replicates were included. Total RNA was extracted and reverse-transcribed to cDNA, and gene expression was quantified using RT-qPCR using reference gene normalization. Crossing point (Ct/Cp) values were determined using the second derivative maximum method implemented in the instrument software. The dataset includes raw Ct values, sample metadata, and associated experimental information. These data provide insight into developmental stage–specific transcriptional responses of *Daphnia pulex* to predator-associated chemical cues and may be useful for comparative studies of inducible defense mechanisms, developmental gene regulation, and stress-related gene expression.