International Team of Scientists Map the Spider Genome
May 14, 2014| |
Researchers at Aarhus University in Denmark and the Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) in China have successfully sequenced the genome of the African social velvet spider, Stegodyphus mimosarum. A draft genome of the Brazilian white-knee tarantula, Acanthoscurria geniculata, was also included in the report published in the journal Nature.
The velvet spider's genome has about 2.5 billion base pairs, while the tarantula's genome has roughly 6.5 billion. An analysis of the spiders' genetic codes identified new proteins involved in spider silk production and in producing toxins in their venom. Spider silk has long held the interest of scientists and engineers because of its strength, and the analysis could lead to the development of stronger synthetic materials that could emulate the properties of natural spider silk. Further understanding of the neurotoxins in spider venom, which kill specific insects, could provide a basis for greener, more selective pesticides.
For more details, read the news release available at: http://scitech.au.dk/en/current-affairs/news/show/artikel/mapping-of-the-spider-genome/.
| |
Biotech Updates is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. It is distributed for free to over 22,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.
-
See more articles:
-
News from Around the World
- Global Commercial Seeds Market Expected to Reach USD53.32B in 2018
- Study Says Some Crops are Less Nutritious as CO2 Levels Rise
- AATF Partners with Nigeria's Agri Ministry to Advance Agri
- Discussion on Benefits of Biotech Crops in Egypt
- Study Finds Hormone's Dual Role in Plant Flowering
- AgriLife Research Maps Curl Mite Resistance Genes in TAM 112
- Transgenic American Chestnuts Exhibit Intermediate Resistance to Chestnut Blight
- Technique for Temperature-Dwarfed Corn
- Canadian Farmers to Access Enlist Corn
- Filipino Crop Scientists Discuss Climate Change Adaptation Techniques
- Metal-Eating Plant Discovered in the Philippines
- Europe's Agri-Food Businesses Call for EU Policy Shift Towards Innovation
- UK Consortium to Work on Cropping Systems that Will Harness Soil Phosphorous
-
Research Highlights
- Milk-Bundle Proteins Improve Seed Nutritional Quality of Transgenic Soybean
- Overexpressed Sweet Potato Gene Results in Higher Arabidopsis Seed Yield
-
Beyond Crop Biotech
- International Team of Scientists Map the Spider Genome
- Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) Stimulates Release of Fibroblast Growth Factors in Diabetic Mice
- Scripps Scientists Add New Letters to DNA Alphabet
-
Announcements
- Meeting on Frontiers in Integrative Plant Biotechnology
-
Resources
- New Pocket K on Nitrogen Efficient Use Biotech Crops
-
Read the latest: - Biotech Updates (April 24, 2024)
- Gene Editing Supplement (April 24, 2024)
- Gene Drive Supplement (February 22, 2023)
-
Subscribe to BU: - Share
- Tweet