Evolution Message Board - Msg: 27863847

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Evolution

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next

From: Greg or e	1/5/2012 10:47:59 PM
	Read Replies (1) of 69300

Welcome to a brave new world: Genetic scientists create freakish man-made monster ants with huge heads and jaws Ancient genes activated by dab of hormones Ants seem to contain a 'toolkit' for creating monsters May be a throwback to ancestors from millions of years ago By Rob Waugh Last updated at 9:13 PM on 5th January 2012 Comments (215) Share Nightmarish 'supersoldier' ants with huge heads and jaws have been created by activating ancient genes. Scientists believe the monster ants may be a genetic throwback to an ancestor that lived millions of years ago. Scientists say they can create the supersoldiers at will by dabbing normal ant larvae with a special hormone - the larvae then develop into supersoldiers rather than normal soldier or worker ants. A supersoldier next to a normal ant: Scientists say they can create the supersoldiers at will by dabbing normal ant larvae with a special hormone - the larvae then develop into supersoldiers rather than normal soldier or worker ants Supersoldier ants can occur naturally in the wild, but only rarely. In the deserts of America and Mexico, their job is to protect the colony from raids by invading army ants. The supersoldiers use their enormous heads to block the nest entrance and attack any enemy ants that get too close. More... . . . meanwhile, meet the 'chimeric' monkeys made from the cells of SIX different animals Scientists showed that ordinary ants of the species Pheidole morrisi contain all the genetic 'tools' needed to turn them into supersoldiers - they just need a hormonal push. The research is reported today in the journal Science. Scientists created the monster ants in the laboratory by activating ancient ancestral genes Authors Dr Rajendhran Rajakumar, from McGill University, Canada, and colleagues wrote: 'We uncovered an ancestral development potential to produce a novel supersoldier subcaste that has been retained throughout a hyperdiverse ant genus that evolved 35 to 60 million years ago.' The results suggest that holding on to ancestral development toolkits may play an important role in evolving new physical traits, say the researchers. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2082799/Supersoldier-ants-gigantic-jaws.html#ixzz1ideXkUcx

Report TOU Violation

Share This Post

Public Reply Prvt Reply Mark as Last Read File

Previous 10 Next 10 Previous Next