Posted on 08/04/2021 8:22:54 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The researchers isolated two genes involved with leg development. Under a microscope, they were able to see the two genes were activated in the legs while the spider was still an embryo. Next, using RNA interference, they were able to block the activation of the two genes in several samples. The spiders grew up with short legs, and the short legs became pedipalps, limbs typically used for handling food.
The researchers also identified and disabled another gene linked to leg development, which led to spiders with short legs that did not become pedipalps but who did lose their tarsomeres—joints that allow a spider's legs to wrap around objects. They suggest this work could lead to a better understanding of the development of prehensile legs in a wide range of spiders.
The researchers also suggest that as more of the genes involved in leg development in P. opilio and other long-legged species are discovered and studied, it becomes more likely that an explanation for the development of their long legs will be found.
(Excerpt) Read more at phys.org ...
Change the name.
Not quite “The Island of Doctor Moreau” but still intersting.
Getting perilously close, imo.
They will be using it to engineer humans to be comfortable on airline flights.
This is dangerous science. What if they tamper with the functionality of viruses and one gets out of the lab?
I’m holding out for genetically modified beans providing me with my own built-in jetpack.
When you change the bug’s morphology, how do you change its instinct?
You don’t.
We are so materialistic and hung-up on the physical, we’re probably doing a lot of stupid things.
Great movie, and a great scene.
I have never ‘forgiven’ this actor for playing the lead in The Fly. That final result was Uber-repulsive.
The Fly is on a short list of Movies I refuse to purposely go see. The Alien is on there too. The first one. That Alien emerging from somebody’s stomach was a dealbreaker for me.
Non-egg laying spider short legs.
It was.
Saw it once.
That was enough.
Alien was also a one-time thing, despite featuring a “Newt”.
LOL, then don't see Spaceballs.
And this helps to increase knowledge, how?
I was entranced by the brontosaurus eating leaves on the tall trees...
I shall refrain from posting animated GIFs of those scenes.
Why won’t they leave nature alone?
Who pays for these idiotic experiments?
Why don’t they do something with cockroaches? (Weird name since they’re not all male...)
Shall we be soon hearing the libs crying that daddy long legs are going extinct and we should stop doing _____________ to save them?
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