Question

Describe two methods of studying the evolution of silk production and use in spiders. In other words, how could you gain insight into how this complex morphological and behavioral suite of characters evolved?

Please answer the question completely, but easily in a simple way. Thank you very much in advance for you help. Please give a chance to other expert to answer this question if you are not really sure what the question asks for. Thank you :)

Answer 1

In the evolutionary context, spiders may seem boring compared to insects. All spiders are predators, some spiders are bigger and huskier than others but all spiders have a basically similar body plan. Silk has made the spider's adaptation to these different environments possible. As spiders have evolved, they have developed many ways of using silk to protect themeselves and their eggs to detect and catch prey to travel to new habitats. They use some silks as glue some as watertight packaging some as rappelling rope and some as super flexible impact absorbing snare netting. When spiders use silk as trip lines or webs, they are able to extend their energy, their senses and even their physical reach without chanaging the outlines of their anatomy. Modifications to the strength, flexibility, stickiness and appearance of silk are equivalents of the flea's jumping power, the stick insect's camouflage, the butterfly's wings, the wasp's venom.

Silk is a protein, a substance made from highly complex molecules that are constructed from smaller molecules called amino acids. Different combinations of amino acids give rise to different proteins each with specific properties. Spider silks thus offer us a rare chance to see how natural selection shapes evolution. In spiders a new gene evoves from an one as a result fewer isects will break through a web and the spider will nab more prey. This spider is therefore more likely to live long enough to reproduce and pass its genetic novelty on to subsequent generations.