Creepy Centipede's Genome Reveals How Life Might Have First Evolved

How did life first evolve? Creepy, crawly centipedes may hold the answer. Scientists have examined this arthropod's DNA and have been given new insight into how life first developed on our planet.

The arthropods are a group that include numerous species such as insects, spiders and other animals. Until now, though, the only class of arthropods not represented by a sequenced genome was the myriapods, which include centipedes and millipedes. That's why scientists decided to take a closer look at these creatures.

The scientists sequenced the genome of the centipede Strigamia maritima. This animal possesses primitive features that could help researchers understand more about complex arthropods. The scientists found that the genetic data revealed how these creatures transitioned from the sea to land.

"The use of different evolutionary solutions to similar problems shows that myriapods and insects adapted to dry land independently of each other," said Ariel Chipman, one of the researchers, in a news release. "For example, comparing the centipede and insect genomes shows that they independently evolved different solutions to the same problem shared by all land-dwelling creatures-that of living in dry air."

Despite being closely related to insects, the centipede lacks the olfactory gene family used by insects to smell the air. Instead, the centipede developed its own air-sniffing ability by expanding other gene families that aren't present in insects.

That's not all, either. This specific group of centipedes live underground and have lost their eyes together with almost all vision genes and genes involved in the body's internal clock. Instead, they maintain enhanced sensory capabilities that allow them to capture prey.

The findings reveal a bit more about the evolution of both insects and centipedes. This, in turn, tells a bit more about the evolution of the arthropods in general. The new study could pave the way for future evolutionary research.

The findings are published in the journal PLOS Biology.

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