It's not just the dazzling colours and slick moves of Australia's dancing spiders that make them special. There are more than 100 different species of the peacock spider, whereas most animals have only five or ten. Researchers believe that's partly down to the spider's 'dark DNA' - a mysterious part of the animal's genetic code, and they are studying it to find out more. They think that this dark DNA might enable it to adapt rapidly to changing environmental circumstances by developing into new species.
What the scientists find out, they say, might help to explain why there is so much variation in the natural world. We are interested in how the spiders evolve to become that diverse, Jonah Walker, from the Sanger Institute, told BBC News. When you go outside you see so much variation in species of plants and animals. Peacock spiders are at the extreme end of that. And so, by studying them, we can use that extreme case to try to understand what processes produce variation in general.
Peacock spiders are found across Australia and each one is the size of a pin head. They create a drumming sound with their feet, moving rhythmically while displaying their dazzlingly patterned features. Mr. Walker, who initially had a fear of spiders, became fascinated by their science and took on the project as part of his PhD research.
By comparing the DNA sequences and the observed behaviors of each species, the research team hopes to identify the genes responsible for the extraordinary variety among peacock spiders. Their early findings indicate that it may not just be the genes that contribute to diversity, but also the non-coding regions of DNA, termed 'dark DNA'—of which these spiders possess three times more than humans.
This research forms part of a larger initiative aimed at decoding the DNA of every species on Earth in the next decade, which could offer unprecedented insights into evolution and biodiversity.
What the scientists find out, they say, might help to explain why there is so much variation in the natural world. We are interested in how the spiders evolve to become that diverse, Jonah Walker, from the Sanger Institute, told BBC News. When you go outside you see so much variation in species of plants and animals. Peacock spiders are at the extreme end of that. And so, by studying them, we can use that extreme case to try to understand what processes produce variation in general.
Peacock spiders are found across Australia and each one is the size of a pin head. They create a drumming sound with their feet, moving rhythmically while displaying their dazzlingly patterned features. Mr. Walker, who initially had a fear of spiders, became fascinated by their science and took on the project as part of his PhD research.
By comparing the DNA sequences and the observed behaviors of each species, the research team hopes to identify the genes responsible for the extraordinary variety among peacock spiders. Their early findings indicate that it may not just be the genes that contribute to diversity, but also the non-coding regions of DNA, termed 'dark DNA'—of which these spiders possess three times more than humans.
This research forms part of a larger initiative aimed at decoding the DNA of every species on Earth in the next decade, which could offer unprecedented insights into evolution and biodiversity.
