Many animals form the body by segments in embryos, but it is not clear what was the path of evolution to develop this process. German researchers have found that genes that control segmental development are of the same type in mammals and some spiders. It is therefore possible that this type of development occurs before the spider and mammals divide into evolution.
These genes are called Notch genes. Biologists have blocked Notch genes from spiders causing malformations in embryos. Now scientists want to analyze whether the function of these genes in mammals is the same.