Profiles

Dr Sara Goodacre is a research geneticist from the Institute of Genetics at the University of Nottingham. She works on the DNA of spiders and knows everything there is to know about them.

"They do lack in charm when you first look at them, I agree, but if you look at some of their characteristics they are absolutely great."

Studying spiders

In her very own 'spider lab' at the Queen's Medical Centre Sara is looking into why and how different varieties of spider came into being and is trying to learn how they'll change or adapt in the future.

"Lots of aspects of their biology is really interesting, from any perspective, not just from the perspective of the spider."

Scary spiders

An interesting question about spiders is why we are so afraid of them.

Sara believes that a fear of snakes is probably an inbuilt survival instinct. However, when it comes to a fear of spiders it's far more irrational.

She would like to remove this fear as spiders are actually beneficial to everyone.

"Spiders are great. They are fantastic. They are nature's little hoovers. They won't hurt you. All they will do is eat the things you don't like."

You can hear more unusual stories from interesting people on BBC Radio Nottingham's Morning Show with Frances Finn (Weekdays, 9:00 - 12:00).