Close Menu
NERDBOT
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Subscribe
    NERDBOT
    • News
      • Reviews
    • Movies & TV
    • Comics
    • Gaming
    • Collectibles
    • Science & Tech
    • Culture
    • Nerd Voices
    • About Us
      • Join the Team at Nerdbot
    NERDBOT
    Home»News»Scientists Bio Engineer Spider to Create the Daddy Short Legs
    Wikimedia Commons
    News

    Scientists Bio Engineer Spider to Create the Daddy Short Legs

    Breana CeballosBy Breana CeballosAugust 9, 20212 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

    I was taught as a general rule that you shouldn’t mess with a Daddy Long Legs spider. Not because they would hurt you or anything but because they do more good than harm. They help by catching other bugs that may be in the proximity. For me, the spider is not a nuisance and I honestly never wondered why they had such long legs. But that isn’t the case for everyone, and now scientists have gone out of their way to create the Daddy Short Legs.

    A daddy long legs with short legs, because SCIENCE!

    Researchers, led by Guilherme Gainet from the University of Wisconsin Madison, decided to go ahead and mess with them. The reason was to understand what makes the legs grow in their DNA. If experts can figure this out, it will reveal how spiders develop their particular evolutions and body plans. As well as reveal how daddy long legs make their distinct long legs.

    “We anticipate that the genome of P. opilio will facilitate the development of more sophisticated tools for functional genetics, toward refining the understanding of how daddy long-legs make their long legs,” said the researchers in their published study.

    In order to do this they first sequenced the genome of the Phalangium opilio which is instead just a close relative to a spider. Next they used a process called RNA interference which turned off a pair of genes which were associated with the development of the legs. They did this in hundreds of daddy long legs embyros and they got interesting results.

    Six of the daddy short legs’ eight legs were about half the size of their normal legs. They were also seemingly transformed into pedipalps. Pedipalps are generally used in handling food for the arachnids.

    “Looking forward, we are interested in understanding how genes give rise to novel features of arachnids, such as spider fangs and scorpion pinchers, and also leveraging the genome to develop the first transgenic harvestmen,” Guilherme Gainett told CNET.

    I’m not exactly sure what this will accomplish in the long run, but the idea of a cute daddy short legs is endearing. Also if you go to the published study you can see all kinds of images of the shorter legged spider. I recommend checking them out.

    Do You Want to Know More?

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
    Previous ArticleClancy Brown Has Joined the Next “John Wick” Movie!
    Next Article Revolution x PEBBLES Makeup Collab Celebrates 50 Years of Cereal!
    Breana Ceballos
    • Website

    Anime enthusiast, Hearthstone Battleground addict.

    Related Posts

    Gamification of Entertainment: How are new Technologies changing Indoor Game Activities?

    July 10, 2025

    Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne Farewell Concert Raises $190 Million

    July 9, 2025
    Space Shuttle Discovery in orbit

    Smithsonian, Texas Fight for Ownership of Space Shuttle Discovery

    July 9, 2025

    Body Found in Pasadena, CA Goodwill Donation Bin

    July 8, 2025

    Convicted Felon Billy McFarland Lists Fyre Fest for Sale on eBay

    July 8, 2025

    James Gunn’s “Superman” Brings Updated Meaning to the Man of Steel [Spoiler-Free Review]

    July 8, 2025
    • Latest
    • News
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Reviews

    Understanding Human Behavior: How AI Analyzes and Predicts Decision-Making

    July 10, 2025

    Benefits of Leveraging Pharmacokinetics Services

    July 10, 2025

    Best 3-Point and PTO Stump Grinders for Tractors (2025 Buyer’s Guide)

    July 10, 2025

    Best Site to Play Cash Poker Games: GGPoker or Bodog? (2025 Comparison)

    July 10, 2025

    Gamification of Entertainment: How are new Technologies changing Indoor Game Activities?

    July 10, 2025

    Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne Farewell Concert Raises $190 Million

    July 9, 2025

    Body Found in Pasadena, CA Goodwill Donation Bin

    July 8, 2025

    Convicted Felon Billy McFarland Lists Fyre Fest for Sale on eBay

    July 8, 2025

    First Trailer for Millennium’s “Red Sonja” Hits

    July 10, 2025

    Cameras Are Rolling on “Dune Part 3”

    July 8, 2025

    James Gunn’s “Superman” Brings Updated Meaning to the Man of Steel [Spoiler-Free Review]

    July 8, 2025

    Jon M. Chu to Direct Live-Action “Hot Wheels” Movie

    July 7, 2025

    “Outlander” Prequel Series “Blood of My Blood” Gets Trailer

    July 10, 2025

    Netflix “Monster” Season 4 May Focus on Lizzie Borden

    July 8, 2025

    CD Projekt Red Confirm “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2” with Teaser

    July 5, 2025

    “South Park” Creators Call Paramount-Skydance Merger ‘S***show’

    July 4, 2025

    James Gunn’s “Superman” Brings Updated Meaning to the Man of Steel [Spoiler-Free Review]

    July 8, 2025

    The F11PRO 2 Drone – Pro-Level Performance Meets Sleek Design

    July 3, 2025
    "M3GAN," 2025

    “M3GAN 2.0” A Sequel That Forgets to Have Fun [Review]

    June 29, 2025

    “F1: The Movie” Thrilling Cars, Crash and Burn Story [Review]

    June 28, 2025
    Check Out Our Latest
      • Product Reviews
      • Reviews
      • SDCC 2021
      • SDCC 2022
    Related Posts

    None found

    NERDBOT
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    Nerdbot is owned and operated by Nerds! If you have an idea for a story or a cool project send us a holler on [email protected]

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.