“Dark DNA” can explain the unusual variety of dance spiders

Not only dazzling colors and smooth movements of Australia’s dance spiders make them special.

There are more than 100 different types of peacocks, while most animals have only five.

Researchers believe that this is partly to the “dark DNA” of the spider – the mysterious part of the animal genetic code, and they study it to find out more.

They believe that this dark DNA can allow it to adapt quickly to the changing environment, turning into new species.

What scientists can learn can help explain why there are so many variations in the natural world.

“We are interested in how spiders are developing to become such a diverse,” John Walker from the Sanger Institute said.

“When you go outside, you see so many variations in the species of plants and animals,” he said.

“Peacock spiders are at the end of this. And so by studying them, we can use this extreme case to try to understand what processes are produced at all.”

Peacock spiders are found throughout Australia, and each of them is the size of the pin. It is so called because of the shiny colors that men have on the stomach, which they demonstrate in the affected mating ritual.

They create a drum sound, all kinds of spiders and rhythmically move, showing their dazzling patterned features. These creatures are characterized by how diverse they are in their form, songs and dance movements.

Mr. Walker was afraid of spiders, but he overcome his phobia because he was so attracted to science that behind the spiders and took the project as part of the Doctor of Science.

“When I told my friends and my family that I was going to study spiders in Australia, I was concerned about my gaze, and I obviously feared myself. But just a few seconds of dancing was enough for any fears to be washed.”

Mr. Walker worked with his group leader, Dr. Joanna Meyer and the international team to gather each of the species so far.

Then they painstakingly classified the exact details about each behavior, movement and song. The last part of the jigsaw was the intersection of all this information from the DNA of each species.

Comparing the results of each species, they hope to find out what genes are responsible for each trait, and eventually why there are so many different types of peacock.

The study is a job, but the team already has a strong scientific bringing for further investigation.

“These are early days, but one of the annoying things we have found is that it can be not only the genes responsible for the diversity, but also the bits between them the so-called” dark DNA “that can affect how spiders develop,” says Mr. Walker.

DNA consists of a long line of molecules. Some of them are involved in solving specific features. In the case of people, they can determine the height or color of the eyes. These sections are called genes.

But the main part of the DNA sections are not genes, and no one really knows what they do. Sanger researchers believe that this so -called dark DNA can be responsible for the variety of peacock spiders.

They have three times darker than people.

Some butterflies and moths also have an exceptionally large number of species. Dr. Meyer has already deciphered DNA A thousand species of butterflies and butterflies.

But spiders, butterflies and moths are just the beginning of one of the most ambitious genetic projects that are started. The plan is to decipher the genetic code of each plant, animals and mushrooms on the planet in the next 10 years.

“Like all plants, animals and mushrooms, we have a very similar DNA,” said D -Rer BBC News.

“Understanding the DNA of all different organisms, we will learn about the general principles of how genes work and what a dark DNA function, and therefore it also helps us learn a lot about ourselves”

Researchers have decoded DNA 3000 different species so far Project on the Biogeneom of the Earth.

The goal is to decipher 10,000 next year and complete all 1.8 million live species in the next decade. Scientists gained, knowledge that hopes will allow them to gain an unprecedented understanding of how all the living and complex relationships developed between them.