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Scorpion genome decoded

Arachnid’s DNA reveals how the animal survives its own venom

IN ITS DNA  Deciphering the complete genetic makeup of the scorpion Mesobuthus martensii (shown) reveals how it uses its tail, resists its own venom and handles plant toxins.

Wenxin Li

By Tina Hesman Saey

- More than 2 years ago

This may sting a little: Scorpions have about 10,000 more genes than humans do.

The Chinese golden scorpion, Mesobuthus martensii, has at least 32,016 genes, Zhijian Cao of Wuhan University in China and colleagues report October 15 in Nature Communications.