Untangling the genetic web?

PA 87/09 They are large, hairy and some are big enough to devour lizards, mice and birds. Despite their fearsome reputation spiders such as tarantulas — and even the tiny money spider — are now helping researchers at The University of Nottingham carry out a range of studies in the field of genetics and evolution. Nearly 30 tarantulas have set up home in a SpiderLab on University Park in the School of Biology. This unique facility was established by research geneticist and RCUK Research Fellow Dr Sara Goodacre who studies the evolutionary genetics of spiders. Dr Goodacre said: "It is assumed we know so much, we've been to the moon but we don't yet fully understand how the spider turns liquid protein into silk. Spiders are sometimes overlooked in scientific terms yet they lead such fascinating lives." Among the residents of SpiderLab is the Goliath Bird Eater — the largest of all the tarantulas; a highly aggressive Tanzanian Orange Baboon Tarantula; and a Chilean Rose Tarantula — commonly kept as a pet. But they aren't alone; they share their SpiderLab with a variety of other types of spider.