I learned a few things over this past weekend. (That would be my weekend--Sunday through Tuesday.) Here are a few fun things going on in the realm of biology.
Hybrid offspring of the blue and fin whales have been suspected, based on morphology, since at least 1986:
This was recently confirmed by comparison of suspected hybrid offspring DNA sequences with that of both blue and fin specimens:
If I remember correctly, the mitochondrial DNA matched blue whale sequences, meaning its mother was a blue. Unfortunately, this hybridizing may be a sign of severely low population density. Large-bodied species are usually most susceptible to extinction.
Check out the bimodal distribution of gross male morphology in the giant cuttlefish (Sepia apama). This one's for you, mom:
Read this abstract on research that led to the understanding of non-random sperm use in this species:
http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/272/1567/1047.abstract
The rest will have to wait for later. Animals are fun.
The rest will have to wait for later. Animals are fun.
Maybe post something the rest of us will understand next time... ;)
ReplyDeleteVery nice! It's what any father of an Entomologist would be proud of...Dad
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