Humans share certain genomic similarities with the creepy-crawlies, finds a study.
There's a 'Spiderman' in all of us! Researchers have for
the first time sequenced the genome of the spider and
found that humans share certain genomic similarities
with the creepy-crawlies.
Researchers at Denmark's Aarhus University and the
Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) worked with two types
of spiders, representing two of the three main groups in
the spider family. One of these is a small velvet spider
and the other is a tarantula.
The researchers succeeded in sequencing the velvet
spider's genome, while there are still some unsolved
gaps in the genetic map of the tarantula.
"The idea was that, by comparing their genetic makeup,
we'd try to see whether we could say anything in
general terms about what makes a spider a spider," said
Kristian W Sanggaard from Aarhus University.
However, it is almost 300 million years since the two
types of spiders had a common ancestor, so the
researchers could only find a limited number of
similarities.
"But we found a number of genes - about two to three
hundred - that have only been found in these two types
of spiders and not in other organisms. They could be
candidates for genes specific to spiders," said Jesper S
Bechsgaard, also from Aarhus University.
Researchers also looked at the protein composition of
silk and venom production in spiders.
Many researchers would like greater insight into areas
such as how the spider makes its silk of thin, but
incredibly strong thread, and how its venom works.
By understanding the underlying mechanisms, it is
possible to convert this to industrial use in the long
term, for purposes such as manufacturing biomaterials
or developing medicine and pesticides.
By describing the genome, the researchers have
acquired a much better tool than they previously had for
studying spiders.
The researchers now intend to use the genome for
further work with studies of the spider's digestive
enzymes and immune system.
The study is published in the journal Nature
Communications.
There's a 'Spiderman' in all of us! Researchers have for
the first time sequenced the genome of the spider and
found that humans share certain genomic similarities
with the creepy-crawlies.
Researchers at Denmark's Aarhus University and the
Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) worked with two types
of spiders, representing two of the three main groups in
the spider family. One of these is a small velvet spider
and the other is a tarantula.
The researchers succeeded in sequencing the velvet
spider's genome, while there are still some unsolved
gaps in the genetic map of the tarantula.
"The idea was that, by comparing their genetic makeup,
we'd try to see whether we could say anything in
general terms about what makes a spider a spider," said
Kristian W Sanggaard from Aarhus University.
However, it is almost 300 million years since the two
types of spiders had a common ancestor, so the
researchers could only find a limited number of
similarities.
"But we found a number of genes - about two to three
hundred - that have only been found in these two types
of spiders and not in other organisms. They could be
candidates for genes specific to spiders," said Jesper S
Bechsgaard, also from Aarhus University.
Researchers also looked at the protein composition of
silk and venom production in spiders.
Many researchers would like greater insight into areas
such as how the spider makes its silk of thin, but
incredibly strong thread, and how its venom works.
By understanding the underlying mechanisms, it is
possible to convert this to industrial use in the long
term, for purposes such as manufacturing biomaterials
or developing medicine and pesticides.
By describing the genome, the researchers have
acquired a much better tool than they previously had for
studying spiders.
The researchers now intend to use the genome for
further work with studies of the spider's digestive
enzymes and immune system.
The study is published in the journal Nature
Communications.
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