Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 11, 2026

Microdissection of Black Widow Spider Silk-producing Glands
09:47

Microdissection of Black Widow Spider Silk-producing Glands

Published on: January 11, 2011

16.4K

Spider Transcriptomes Identify Ancient Large-Scale Gene Duplication Event Potentially Important in Silk Gland

Thomas H Clarke1, Jessica E Garb2, Cheryl Y Hayashi3

  • 1Department of Biology, Washington & Lee University clarket@wlu.edu.

Genome Biology and Evolution
|June 11, 2015
PubMed
Summary

A major gene duplication event in spiders likely fueled the evolution of silk glands. This ancient duplication provided novel genes, enabling the development of specialized silk production and diversification in true spiders.

Keywords:
LatrodectusSteatodaTheridiidaeexpressionneofunctionalizationpatterns of selection

More Related Videos

Extraction of Venom and Venom Gland Microdissections from Spiders for Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analyses10:25

Extraction of Venom and Venom Gland Microdissections from Spiders for Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analyses

Published on: November 3, 2014

34.9K
Synthetic Spider Silk Production on a Laboratory Scale13:36

Synthetic Spider Silk Production on a Laboratory Scale

Published on: July 18, 2012

27.7K

Related Concept Videos

Gene Duplication and Divergence02:37

Gene Duplication and Divergence

The seminal work of Ohno in 1970 popularized the idea of gene duplication and divergence. DNA sequence comparison studies reveal that a large portion of the genes in bacteria, archaebacteria, and eukaryotes was  generated by gene duplication and divergence, indicating its critical role in evolution.
The duplicated copies of the gene are called Paralogs. Paralogs with similar sequences and functions form a gene family. Across several species, a large number of gene families are...
8.3K
Exon Recombination02:32

Exon Recombination

The evolution of new genes is critical for speciation. Exon recombination, also known as exon shuffling or domain shuffling, is an important means of new gene formation. It is observed across vertebrates, invertebrates, and in some plants such as potatoes and sunflowers. During exon recombination, exons from the same or different genes recombine and produce new exon-intron combinations, which might evolve into new genes. 
Exon shuffling follows “splice frame rules.” Each exon...
4.3K
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

3.7K
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.
9.5K
Gene Families01:57

Gene Families

Gene families consist of groups of genes proposed to have originated from a common ancestor. Typically these arise through events in which a gene or genes are mistakenly duplicated during cell division. Unlike their parent genes (which are subject to selection pressure to maintain function), these gene copies do not need to preserve their sequences and may evolve at a relatively faster rate.
Occasionally these regions can be adapted to take on new roles within the organism, becoming novel genes...
10.2K
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?02:05

Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?

3.8K