How Much DNA Do We Share With Cockroaches?
WouterCockroaches are extremely resilient creatures. They can survive nuclear explosions and are even believed to inherit the Earth after the apocalypse. They also thrive in urban kitchens around the world. The study of the genome of an American cockroach has revealed that certain genes contribute to their wild evolutionary success. These genes include Toll, which helps the cockroach protect itself against disease. The research also indicates that certain genes are important for the cockroach to regenerate broken limbs.
The cockroach genome contains nearly 60 percent of repetitive elements, with over twenty thousand protein-encoding genes. Of these, over ninety percent are involved in the production of proteins. Many of these genes are used to help cockroaches navigate their environment, and many are involved in sensory reception. For example, cockroaches have over 1,000 chemical receptor genes. These receptors help them detect the taste of food and smell it. These genes also play a role in the cockroach’s immune system, which helps it to withstand various pathogens and protect itself from the harmful odours.
Cockroaches’ DNA is more similar to human DNA than other insects. Cockroaches have an expanded set of specialized genes, including immunity genes, chemical sensing genes, and detoxification genes. Compared to other insects, the American cockroach genome is about the size of the human genome.
