正如一些研究人员所想像的那样,如果蜘蛛是群居的素食动物,那么我们今天的世界也许将会是一个完全不同的样子。蜘蛛是大自然中的纺丝能手,在数百万年以上的进化过程中,它们所吐出的丝对人类有着众多的用途,从带粘性的牙膏到坚固而有弹性的牵引绳索。“我们谈论的并不仅仅只是某一种材料,”从事蜘蛛丝进化遗传学研究的生物学家、加州大学的谢 As some researchers imagine, if the spiders are gregarious vegetarians, our world today may be a completely different one. Spiders are spinners in nature and have been used by humans for many millions of years in the evolutionary process, from viscous toothpaste to sturdy and flexible traction ropes. “We’re talking more than just a material,” said Biologist, Ph.D., of Evolutionary Genetics, University of California