Saturday, November 29, 2014

Centipedes genes sequenced

A collaborative study was conducted by over 100 scientist from 50 institutions looking at genes in the centipedes genome. It is the first time a centipede has been genetically sequenced. The scientist hoped that its DNA could provide insight into how life developed. The species of centipede sequenced was Strigamia maritima. 

Prof. Ariel Chipman is the co-author of the study and project leader at Jerusalem's Alexander Silbeman Institute of life science. The research wanted to look at the differences of arthropods and its early evolution of the species. They found genetic evidence of how creatures transitioned from sea to land. They also found that the use of different evolutionary solution to similar problems lead to myriapods and insects to adapt to dry air differently to each other. 

The comparison of the centipede and insect genome indicated that they evolved different solutions to the same problem of the transition of sea to land. Centipedes lack to olfactory gene family that insects use to smell the air. Centipedes instead developed their own air sniffing ability by expanding other gene families such as those involved with gustatory receptors.

The specific species of centipede sequenced lives underground and has lost their eyes. It is estimated that this centipede group lost 200 million years ago. Many of those genes for light receptors are missing. With the loss of those genes the centipede developed other enhanced sensory capabilities to recognize their environment. Chipman believes this study has provide answers to understanding biology and how it works over a long period of time. 

The study of the arthropods DNA is an interesting one because they have been around for over 500 million years. It provides good information on how life evolves over time and the genes can also provide other information as well. The centipede species that was sequenced was venomous so scientist may be able to find the venom gene. This gene might be useful to humans because drugs could be made to create medicine.

Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141125140807.htm
Related Article:  http://www2.bio.ku.dk/insect_genomics/project/

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