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Scientists have altered the genes of the animals colloquially known as daddy long legs and turned them into 'daddy short legs.'
Utilizing RNA interference, researchers at the University of Wisconsin Madison were able to sequence the genome of Phalangium opilio and modify six of the arachnids' eight legs and turn them into half their normal size.
Known as Opiliones or harvestmen, these animals - which are not spiders, though they are closely related - saw their long legs transformed into pedipalps (used for food) as a result of the genetic transformation.
Scientists altered the genes of daddy long legs and shortened their legs, according to a new study
They use RNA interference to sequence the genome and turn six of eight legs into half their normal size (pictured in Q). The legs were transformed into appendages known as pedipalps, used for food
'We've shown… how the combinations of these genes create a blueprint in the embryo to differentiate between what's going to be a leg that is used for walking and what is going to be a pedipalp, which can be used to manipulate food and assess the surroundings,' the study's lead author, Guilherme Gainett at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said in an interview with New Scientist.
Daddy long legs are harvestmen and not spiders, though they are closely related
Harvestmen have been on Earth for around 400 million and there are 6,500 species. However, not much
