Why do organisms make different proteins? The Darwin’s bark spider on the left makes proteins that result in spider silk with high flexibility. The Darwin’s bark spider on the right makes proteins that result in spider silk with low flexibility. Using the space below, explain why you think this happens.
Organisms make different proteins because they have different genetic information and specific functional needs. The variation in proteins allows them to perform various functions and adapt to their specific environments.
In the case of the Darwin's bark spiders, the difference in proteins leading to different silk flexibility could be attributed to their ecological requirements. Spider silk is used for various purposes, including building webs, capturing prey, and protecting eggs. Therefore, the flexibility of the silk is crucial for these spiders in their specific habitat and lifestyles.
The bark spider on the left may require high flexibility in their silk to accommodate the dynamic and unpredictable nature of their environment. They might build their webs in areas with strong winds, or they may need their silk to stretch and absorb shock when capturing large prey. Consequently, the proteins produced by this spider could be specially engineered to create silk with high flexibility and elasticity.
On the other hand, the bark spider on the right might inhabit an environment with less need for flexibility in their silk. These spiders could inhabit areas with fewer wind movements or rely on different hunting strategies that do not require highly flexible silk. Therefore, their bodies produce proteins that result in silk with low flexibility, fulfilling their specific functional requirements.
Overall, the difference in protein composition and resulting silk properties among these spiders is likely a result of natural selection acting upon their genetic variations, allowing them to adapt to the specific challenges and demands of their respective ecological niches.