A spider named for Stephen Colbert has a genome about 50% larger than ours

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have discovered that the trapdoor spider Aptostichus stephencolberti, named after comedian Stephen Colbert, possesses a remarkably large genome. The spider's genetic material measures approximately 4.6 billion base pairs, which is about 50% larger than the human genome. This study, led by professor Jason Bond, marks the first time a member of this spider family has had its genome fully sequenced, providing new insights into arachnid biology.