Favorite Animal?

Freebase Dali · 08-27-2009, 05:12 PM

Yea I realized I'd said that in my own post. But if there's a better term out there, I'm willing to learn.

Guybrush · 08-27-2009, 05:49 PM

Insect colonies such as ant and bee colonies was a biological puzzle for quite a while because of what looked like altruism which is not adaptive. If you take honey bees as an example, typically there's only two individuals who reproduce, the queen and her male sperm donor. From that perspective only, the worker bees seem very altruistic, working hard to keep the queen satisfied while not reproducing themselves .. doesn't sound like it could evolve.

It wasn't until one understood and took into account inclusive fitness and the genetic relationship between the bees that it finally made sense. Traditionally, kids learn that having a high fitness is adaptive and that you gain that by reproducing, but it's not entirely correct. You gain a higher fitness when your genes are replicated, but not necessarily from your own reproduction. In a beehive, the bees are so genetically related that each worker bee gains a benefit to her own fitness from servicing the queen, helping her make them more sisters.

The reason they're so related is bee males are haploid and have only one set of genes which is always passed on. All his sperm contain the same genetics. When the male fertilizes the queen's eggs, she gets diploid female offspring which becomes worker bees. Because the only genetic variability between sisters comes from the queen, worker bees are so closely related that they share ~75% of their genes on average. Sisters themselves are more related to eachother than they would be to their own offspring would they have them (~50%). Because of that, it becomes adaptive for any worker bee to help the queen make her more sisters rather than getting her own offspring.

.. I think it's quite interesting

Dr.Seussicide · 08-27-2009, 06:02 PM

Pandas. And these mother****ers right here:

Guybrush · 08-27-2009, 06:06 PM

^Chow chows? I wonder if the really do taste good.

edit : Meh, chow chow means puffy-lion dog. Someone told me it was the chinese equivalent to "yum-yum" once. It did seem a bit cruel to simply name something "tasty".

Dr.Seussicide · 08-27-2009, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toretorden

^Chow chows? I wonder if the really do taste good.

=O

Leave the chow chows out of this dude... =/

~~James~~ · 10-15-2009, 05:46 PM

ARMADILLOS FTW
hippos are also epic

Pillowmint · 10-15-2009, 06:53 PM

http://a0.vox.com/6a00c225256b2c604a...a798685e-500pi

Pillowmint · 10-15-2009, 06:53 PM

why doesn't that ever work... It's a tapir. Tapirs are amazing.

Guybrush · 10-16-2009, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pillowmint

why doesn't that ever work... It's a tapir. Tapirs are amazing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pillowmint

Fixed

You have to use the img-tags : [img]http://address.to/picture/here.jpg[/img]

BBCode Tutorial

dollarsandcents · 10-16-2009, 07:12 AM

Probably strange to most people, but my favourite animal would have to be bats.

I've studied them in depth as pat of my degree, and they really are fascinating. Not only are they amazingly diverse (more than 1,200 species which makes up ~20% of all classified mammals) but they're the perfect vector to explain all of the major functions and models involved in biology. This can range from their fascinating dual evolution, the amazing ability to echolocate which can incorporate evolutionary niches as well as bioacoustics, as well as being able to be used to explain hibernation, roosting patterns, altruistic behaviour, conervation and a variety of breeding behaviours. In a way they're an ideal model species, and I was lucky enough to work alongside one of the leading World researchers in this area, being able to handle them, take blood samples and ring them to monitor populations year by year.

They're even kind of cute when you get used to them! There's some amazingly weird species out there.

08-27-2009, 05:12 PM	#111 (permalink)
Freebase Dali Partying on the inside Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 5,584	Yea I realized I'd said that in my own post. But if there's a better term out there, I'm willing to learn. __________________

08-27-2009, 05:49 PM	#112 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	Insect colonies such as ant and bee colonies was a biological puzzle for quite a while because of what looked like altruism which is not adaptive. If you take honey bees as an example, typically there's only two individuals who reproduce, the queen and her male sperm donor. From that perspective only, the worker bees seem very altruistic, working hard to keep the queen satisfied while not reproducing themselves .. doesn't sound like it could evolve. It wasn't until one understood and took into account inclusive fitness and the genetic relationship between the bees that it finally made sense. Traditionally, kids learn that having a high fitness is adaptive and that you gain that by reproducing, but it's not entirely correct. You gain a higher fitness when your genes are replicated, but not necessarily from your own reproduction. In a beehive, the bees are so genetically related that each worker bee gains a benefit to her own fitness from servicing the queen, helping her make them more sisters. The reason they're so related is bee males are haploid and have only one set of genes which is always passed on. All his sperm contain the same genetics. When the male fertilizes the queen's eggs, she gets diploid female offspring which becomes worker bees. Because the only genetic variability between sisters comes from the queen, worker bees are so closely related that they share ~75% of their genes on average. Sisters themselves are more related to eachother than they would be to their own offspring would they have them (~50%). Because of that, it becomes adaptive for any worker bee to help the queen make her more sisters rather than getting her own offspring. .. I think it's quite interesting __________________ Something Completely Different

08-27-2009, 06:02 PM	#113 (permalink)
Dr.Seussicide FakingSuicideForApplause Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: I live in a van down by the river Posts: 1,365	Pandas. And these mother****ers right here: __________________ I'll stay if I ever could, and pick up your pieces babe, because there's never a perfect day. Don't fret, baby, we're simply growing And my darling, I wouldn't mind to die like this.

08-27-2009, 06:06 PM	#114 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	^Chow chows? I wonder if the really do taste good. edit : Meh, chow chow means puffy-lion dog. Someone told me it was the chinese equivalent to "yum-yum" once. It did seem a bit cruel to simply name something "tasty". __________________ Something Completely Different

10-16-2009, 07:12 AM	#120 (permalink)
dollarsandcents more tea vicar? Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England Posts: 193	Probably strange to most people, but my favourite animal would have to be bats. I've studied them in depth as pat of my degree, and they really are fascinating. Not only are they amazingly diverse (more than 1,200 species which makes up ~20% of all classified mammals) but they're the perfect vector to explain all of the major functions and models involved in biology. This can range from their fascinating dual evolution, the amazing ability to echolocate which can incorporate evolutionary niches as well as bioacoustics, as well as being able to be used to explain hibernation, roosting patterns, altruistic behaviour, conervation and a variety of breeding behaviours. In a way they're an ideal model species, and I was lucky enough to work alongside one of the leading World researchers in this area, being able to handle them, take blood samples and ring them to monitor populations year by year. They're even kind of cute when you get used to them! There's some amazingly weird species out there. __________________ My Blog: You And Whose Army?

10-15-2009, 05:46 PM	#116 (permalink)
~~James~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Scotland Posts: 4,483	ARMADILLOS FTW hippos are also epic

10-15-2009, 06:53 PM	#117 (permalink)
Pillowmint I Am the Lizard Queen Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 134	http://a0.vox.com/6a00c225256b2c604a...a798685e-500pi

10-15-2009, 06:53 PM	#118 (permalink)
Pillowmint I Am the Lizard Queen Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 134	why doesn't that ever work... It's a tapir. Tapirs are amazing.