This article details a study regarding the convergent evolution of silk production in a few different arthropods. In particular, the study selected a type of butterfly, three types of caddisfly, and a type of spider. They each had different uses for their types of silk. They found that the variation in silk gene alleles are relatively consistent when compared between organisms which have long since been independently evolving. They suggested that this means there are common mechanisms for the formation of those genes within organisms. The researchers stress that they would like to repeat this study with other organisms which share similar traits but evolved independently.
The topic of convergent evolution is one that has always intrigued me. I am particularly interested in the pathways that evolution takes to develop similar traits despite independent evolution of organisms… As well as the fact that the above study could be replicated and utilized to study other traits relative to convergent evolution. Not only am I interested in the replication of this study, but the evolution of silk producing glands and maintenance of them in arthropods is such a cool concept. Overall, I look forward to seeing what other types of evolutionary genetic comparisons these researchers go on to make.
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