Ask a Biologist Thread

[Animavore]

Here's one: what is the adaptive value of this?

It's an SEM of a beetle penis from Pharyngula. It's covered in spikes, all the better to tear the shit of a female beetles reproductive tract. I remember reading why many male insects have penises like that, but I don't remember the explanation. Something about females trying to collect sperm and use that of the best male to fertilize their eggs, and males trying to circumvent that.

Help!

I wish my cock was like that

[soul_biscuit]

I wish my cock was like that

Like the guy in Se7en?

[Animavore]

I wish my cock was like that

Like the guy in Se7en?

Yes but, organic.

It's one of the things I look forward to in hell.

[ScholasticSpastic]

Here's one: what is the adaptive value of this?

It's an SEM of a beetle penis from Pharyngula. It's covered in spikes, all the better to tear the shit of a female beetles reproductive tract. I remember reading why many male insects have penises like that, but I don't remember the explanation. Something about females trying to collect sperm and use that of the best male to fertilize their eggs, and males trying to circumvent that.

Help!

In some cases the barbs don't actually damage the female, but can scoop out sperm packets which have already been deposited in her- ensuring that the last male to mate with her is the one who will fertilize the most of her eggs.

In this case it's probably to damage the female so that she cannot mate with any other males. Females are often the limiting resource when it comes to reproduction, so a male which can impregnate as many females as possible while ensuring that other males don't have access to those females will be more successful.

Lacking penile spikes, the best we human males can manage is deep emotional trauma.

[soul_biscuit]

It's one of the things I look forward to in hell.

Giving or receiving?

In some cases the barbs don't actually damage the female, but can scoop out sperm packets which have already been deposited in her- ensuring that the last male to mate with her is the one who will fertilize the most of her eggs.

That's what I remember reading. In dragonflies, I think.

In this case it's probably to damage the female so that she cannot mate with any other males. Females are often the limiting resource when it comes to reproduction, so a male which can impregnate as many females as possible while ensuring that other males don't have access to those females will be more successful.

Lacking penile spikes, the best we human males can manage is deep emotional trauma.

But then how can we know their offspring will survive to reproductive age?

[Psi Wavefunction]

More on http://tolweb.org/Euglenozoa/2405

Those are Euglena and its relatives...


PS: Wow I epic fail... wrong thread...of my own threads too!!! Need more sleep...

[Psi Wavefunction]

Come on guys, ask shit

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Come on guys, ask shit

How did life begin on Earth?

[Psi Wavefunction]

Come on guys, ask shit

How did life begin on Earth?

On the first day I said, "Let there be light!"...

And then I realised I should be more careful with what I wish for. :hum:

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Come on guys, ask shit

How did life begin on Earth?

On the first day I said, "Let there be light!"...

And then I realised I should be more careful with what I wish for. :hum:

Okay, then.

Are Genetically Modified crops safe?

[Feck]

Come on guys, ask shit

How did life begin on Earth?

On the first day I said, "Let there be light!"...

And then I realised I should be more careful with what I wish for. :hum:

Okay, then.

Are Genetically Modified crops safe?

Probably as safe to eat as any .Could be really bad for enviroment ,ideally care should be taken to limit a modified set of genes spread into the enviroment.Most if not all GM crops seem to be "improved" only in that they are tolerant to a branded weedkiller ,not only is this not the best use for a wonderful science but leaves problems if the trait spreads to other species/hybrids .
Monsanto and other companies involved in this field have shown no care for laws,guidelines.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Probably as safe to eat as any .Could be really bad for enviroment ,ideally care should be taken to limit a modified set of genes spread into the enviroment.Most if not all GM crops seem to be "improved" only in that they are tolerant to a branded weedkiller ,not only is this not the best use for a wonderful science but leaves problems if the trait spreads to other species/hybrids .
Monsanto and other companies involved in this field have shown no care for laws,guidelines.

Yeah, but all the Frankenfood stuff, what about that?

[Feck]

Probably as safe to eat as any .Could be really bad for enviroment ,ideally care should be taken to limit a modified set of genes spread into the enviroment.Most if not all GM crops seem to be "improved" only in that they are tolerant to a branded weedkiller ,not only is this not the best use for a wonderful science but leaves problems if the trait spreads to other species/hybrids .
Monsanto and other companies involved in this field have shown no care for laws,guidelines.

Yeah, but all the Frankenfood stuff, what about that?

Well you won't grow into a 40' lizard if your corn-dog has GM maize in it

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Probably as safe to eat as any .Could be really bad for enviroment ,ideally care should be taken to limit a modified set of genes spread into the enviroment.Most if not all GM crops seem to be "improved" only in that they are tolerant to a branded weedkiller ,not only is this not the best use for a wonderful science but leaves problems if the trait spreads to other species/hybrids .
Monsanto and other companies involved in this field have shown no care for laws,guidelines.

Yeah, but all the Frankenfood stuff, what about that?

Well you won't grow into a 40' lizard if your corn-dog has GM maize in it

Sigh, oh sigh. 50 METER Mutant Fire-breathing Lizard-thingy.

Anyway, they put all those animal genes into the plants, don't they? So what's to stop them from putting genes in to control our minds or turn us into monkeys?

[Feck]

Probably as safe to eat as any .Could be really bad for enviroment ,ideally care should be taken to limit a modified set of genes spread into the enviroment.Most if not all GM crops seem to be "improved" only in that they are tolerant to a branded weedkiller ,not only is this not the best use for a wonderful science but leaves problems if the trait spreads to other species/hybrids .
Monsanto and other companies involved in this field have shown no care for laws,guidelines.

Yeah, but all the Frankenfood stuff, what about that?

Well you won't grow into a 40' lizard if your corn-dog has GM maize in it

Sigh, oh sigh. 50 METER Mutant Fire-breathing Lizard-thingy.

Anyway, they put all those animal genes into the plants, don't they? So what's to stop them from putting genes in to control our minds or turn us into monkeys?

UM marketing already controls our minds and we ARE monkeys .
other than that if you don't want your children GM don't mate with plants .