Spiders are characterized by a body divided into two halves by a narrow waist. Despite extensive research on similar developmental processes in insects and crustaceans, the specific genes involved in spider waist formation are not fully understood. The team sequenced genes in tarantula embryos and identified 12 genes that were differentially expressed in the waist region.
Among them was a gene called “waistless,” which is essential for waist development. The gene belongs to the Iroquois family of genes, known for their role in a variety of animals but not previously seen in spiders. The study shows that the “waistless” gene was lost in the common ancestor of insects and crustaceans, which explains why it had not been studied before.
The team said this discovery not only deepens our understanding of spider anatomy, but also highlights the role of ancient genes in shaping evolutionary traits.
Source: Ferra
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