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04-16-2009, 10:25 AM | #1 |
Master Dwellar
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 4,412
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No Men?!!!!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wil...ical-ants.html
Females get along fine without males - in the world of tropical ants A type of tropical ant has dispensed with males altogether, according to scientists, and only the female of the species exists. By Alastair Jamieson Last Updated: 3:04PM BST 16 Apr 2009 The Mycocepurus smithii ant is the first known to be a male-free species Experts have discovered a South American species that is exclusively female and reproduces asexually by cloning the queen. Reproduction without sex is fairly common in the ant world, but the Mycocepurus smithii is the first known to be a male-free species. The phenomenon takes the stress out of finding a mate and may help keep the peace in colonies, the scientists believe. Researchers were first drawn to Mycocepurus smithii by its skill at cultivating various different fungal crops for food but closer inspection raised questions about the ants' sex life. Six separate tests on the ants failed to uncover any males, researchers led by Anna Himler at the University of Texas at Austin wrote in the British journal Proceedings of the Royal Society. The findings run counter to scientific theories that say asexuality is an evolutionary disadvantage because it eliminates mutations and generates genetic diversity more slowly than sexual reproduction. The researchers carried out half a dozen tests, including field surveys of colonies from Panama to Argentina, examining the reproductive system of queen ants, and testing the genes of clones and their mothers. They also tested whether bacteria could be the cause of the ants' asexuality and whether treating females with antibiotics or changing the fungus they fed on would stimulate the production of males. One possible advantage of asexual reproduction is that it avoids the need to find a mate and the efforts associated with mating, according to the researchers.
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04-16-2009, 11:11 AM | #2 |
Your Bartender
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04-16-2009, 11:34 AM | #3 | |
Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya?
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Quote:
I'm sorry, did I type that out loud?
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04-16-2009, 11:55 AM | #4 | |
lives inside a Mobius strip
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Some types of whiptail lizards reproduce without males, though I think an occasional dude lizard shows up. There's more info in one of my several books are weird animal facts. Meanwhile, I love that for ants
Quote:
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04-16-2009, 12:18 PM | #5 |
Slattern of the Swail
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a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle, right Gloria?
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In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum |
04-17-2009, 03:02 AM | #6 |
May Ter Dee
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: The retirement home
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To be fair ants have never been big on gender differences. More into the whole one girl, five guys and a army of slaves thing.
... Ants are into S&M?... |
04-17-2009, 06:40 AM | #7 |
Slattern of the Swail
Join Date: Jul 2004
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In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum |
04-17-2009, 08:40 AM | #8 |
Your Bartender
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04-18-2009, 05:28 AM | #9 |
The future is unwritten
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Imagination hell, that's from her diary.
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The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. |
04-18-2009, 06:20 AM | #10 |
Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya?
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Actually, it is part of a book I am working on: The Ants Go Munching One By One
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A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby |
04-22-2009, 10:29 AM | #11 |
I'm still a jerk
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"Without deviation from the norm progress is not possible." - Frank Zappa It is the ignorance of ignorance that lead to the death of knowledge The Virgin Mary does not weep for her son, for he is in paradise. She weeps for the world , for we are in suffering. |
04-22-2009, 08:55 PM | #12 |
Beware of potatoes
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Actually, ants around here keep aphids as cattle, and harvest their honeydew. Aphids reproduce asexually, so maybe it's diet, or they use aphids as role models?
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04-23-2009, 07:58 AM | #13 |
May Ter Dee
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Even an ant should feel superior to an Aphid.
They're like miniture sheep, exept the excrement tastes even better. |
04-23-2009, 08:15 AM | #14 |
Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya?
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Yeah, but ant wool is a bitch to remove.
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A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby |
04-23-2009, 08:27 AM | #15 |
The future is unwritten
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I don't think I want to know how you know this.
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The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump. |
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