Comments on: Question of the Day: How Do You Get Crabs From A Gorilla? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/ A blog about life, past and future. Written by DISCOVER contributing editor and columnist Carl Zimmer. Sat, 26 May 2012 01:25:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: The naked years | BioLogged http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-41612 The naked years | BioLogged Sat, 11 Sep 2010 12:32:25 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-41612 [...] Despite their claims of more sophisticated methodology we probably should be a touch cautious about these results. Some of the findings are weird (the gene flow from clothing to head lice) and conflict with earlier work (finding gene flow in the first place). The parallels between lice & men in terms of evolutionary history are both striking and suggestive, but lice are lice, and they may have their own wily ways. And let’s not forget the pubic lice, which tell a different set of stories. [...] [...] Despite their claims of more sophisticated methodology we probably should be a touch cautious about these results. Some of the findings are weird (the gene flow from clothing to head lice) and conflict with earlier work (finding gene flow in the first place). The parallels between lice & men in terms of evolutionary history are both striking and suggestive, but lice are lice, and they may have their own wily ways. And let’s not forget the pubic lice, which tell a different set of stories. [...]

]]> By: The naked years | Gene Expression | Discover Magazine http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-41472 The naked years | Gene Expression | Discover Magazine Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:20:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-41472 [...] Despite their claims of more sophisticated methodology we probably should be a touch cautious about these results. Some of the findings are weird (the gene flow from clothing to head lice) and conflict with earlier work (finding gene flow in the first place). The parallels between lice & men in terms of evolutionary history are both striking and suggestive, but lice are lice, and they may have their own wily ways. And let’s not forget the pubic lice, which tell a different set of stories. [...] [...] Despite their claims of more sophisticated methodology we probably should be a touch cautious about these results. Some of the findings are weird (the gene flow from clothing to head lice) and conflict with earlier work (finding gene flow in the first place). The parallels between lice & men in terms of evolutionary history are both striking and suggestive, but lice are lice, and they may have their own wily ways. And let’s not forget the pubic lice, which tell a different set of stories. [...]

]]> By: dougjnn http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4589 dougjnn Fri, 16 Mar 2007 05:55:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4589 Move OVER Howard Stern.... The SHOCK JOCK for smart people. (In their not sex obsessed moments. And for that substrate that suffer, and benefit, much less from that compulsion.) Move OVER Howard Stern….

The SHOCK JOCK for smart people.

(In their not sex obsessed moments. And for that substrate that suffer, and benefit, much less from that compulsion.)

]]> By: Ross http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4588 Ross Fri, 16 Mar 2007 05:06:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4588 >As a moral human being I believe I have a right to know which one of my ancestors was screwing gorillas. John, your questions echoes one asked by Bishop Wilberforce of Darwin, and I would reply as Huxley did. >As a moral human being I believe I have a right to know which one of my ancestors was screwing gorillas.

John, your questions echoes one asked by Bishop Wilberforce of Darwin, and I would reply as Huxley did.

]]> By: John http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4587 John Tue, 13 Mar 2007 21:44:27 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4587 As a moral human being I believe I have a right to know which one of my ancestors was screwing gorillas. Was it Orrorin tugenensis or was it Homo erectus? Can I be 99% sure that they are 95% sure they don't know? As a moral human being I believe I have a right to know which one of my ancestors was screwing gorillas. Was it Orrorin tugenensis or was it Homo erectus? Can I be 99% sure that they are 95% sure they don’t know?

]]> By: attotheobscure http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4586 attotheobscure Sun, 11 Mar 2007 05:54:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4586 A dagger? My bad....... I didn't really care either way, I'm not a monotheist. I just thought it was bizarre that they would have chosen a cross, however, if its supposed to be a dagger all the better. A dagger? My bad……. I didn’t really care either way, I’m not a monotheist. I just thought it was bizarre that they would have chosen a cross, however, if its supposed to be a dagger all the better.

]]> By: Monado http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4585 Monado Sun, 11 Mar 2007 03:41:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4585 Fascinating.... The little symbol for extinction is supposed to be a dagger. Fascinating….

The little symbol for extinction is supposed to be a dagger.

]]> By: Tentakles http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4584 Tentakles Sat, 10 Mar 2007 22:48:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4584 Thanks for the deeper explanation, CZ. It is fascinating. I noticed that in addition to the two louse extinction event that Dr. Reed identify's in his paper, he posits several more in orangutans and gibbons. I am (perhaps naively) surprised by this frequency of parasite extinction when the hosts persist. Obviously parasites can suffer from their own diseases, but I am still somewhat surprised. Perhaps that is because the parasite population should be several orders of magnitude larger than the host population. Upon further inspection, it appears that in the case of the two extinctions in the article, it was a case of competing populations, where Pediculus and Pthirus each won out in a different lineage. But that doesn't explain why orangutans and gibbons would be louse-less. Thanks for the deeper explanation, CZ. It is fascinating.

I noticed that in addition to the two louse extinction event that Dr. Reed identify’s in his paper, he posits several more in orangutans and gibbons. I am (perhaps naively) surprised by this frequency of parasite extinction when the hosts persist. Obviously parasites can suffer from their own diseases, but I am still somewhat surprised. Perhaps that is because the parasite population should be several orders of magnitude larger than the host population.

Upon further inspection, it appears that in the case of the two extinctions in the article, it was a case of competing populations, where Pediculus and Pthirus each won out in a different lineage. But that doesn’t explain why orangutans and gibbons would be louse-less.

]]> By: whitneymm http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4583 whitneymm Sat, 10 Mar 2007 19:55:31 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4583 There is also diversity among human pubic lice, which I known from personal experience. Because pubic lice survive better if they are hard to see, they have adapted to the color of the human they inhabit. In other words there are both black and white pubic lice. They may be the same species, but white people have have white lice and black people have black lice. Since it's much easier to get rid of lice that stand out on your skin, I post this as a plea for more interracial liasons! There is also diversity among human pubic lice, which I known from personal experience. Because pubic lice survive better if they are hard to see, they have adapted to the color of the human they inhabit. In other words there are both black and white pubic lice. They may be the same species, but white people have have white lice and black people have black lice. Since it’s much easier to get rid of lice that stand out on your skin, I post this as a plea for more interracial liasons!

]]> By: attotheobscure http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4582 attotheobscure Sat, 10 Mar 2007 17:10:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4582 <b>Why does the chart use a cross as a symbol for extinction? Why not a star of David? Or a crescent moon? Think of how ape shit people would go if the chart used the star of David as symbol for extinction. </b> Why does the chart use a cross as a symbol for extinction?

Why not a star of David? Or a crescent moon? Think of how ape shit people would go if the chart used the star of David as symbol for extinction.

]]> By: llewelly http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4581 llewelly Sat, 10 Mar 2007 16:30:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4581 <blockquote> I've worked in several STD clinics and we don't routinely (read: ever) sample the public lice populations we see there. </blockquote> Just like an STD clinic worker to refer to crabs as 'public' ...

I’ve worked in several STD clinics and we don’t routinely (read: ever) sample the public lice populations we see there.

Just like an STD clinic worker to refer to crabs as ‘public’ …

]]> By: Dieter http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4580 Dieter Sat, 10 Mar 2007 14:04:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4580 My hunch is that humanoids imitated both the frontal sex and upright walk of bonobos. Might they have obtained any lice from them too? My hunch is that humanoids imitated both the frontal sex and upright walk of bonobos. Might they have obtained any lice from them too?

]]> By: Richard Parker http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4579 Richard Parker Sat, 10 Mar 2007 13:49:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4579 Before speculating any further, try checking the actual dates published in the small print of Table 1 of the paper: <a href="http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1741-7007-5-7.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1741-7007-5-7.pdf</a> MRCA (clade number) Cox1 and EF1a --------------------------------------[Mya]-----[Spread] Pedicinus (3)-------------------------10.63----(7.08?14.94)-----[8MY spread] Pthirus (1) ---------------------------3.32-----(1.84?5.61)------[3.8My spread] P. schaeffi and P. humanus (2)---------6.39-----(3.94?9.96)------[6My spread] Pediculus and Pthirus (4)--------------12.95----(9.42?17.38)-----[8My spread] OWM/Ape Calibration -------------------22.50----(20.13?24.87)----[4.7My spread] The figures in [ ] are my clarifications of their table. So they can be 95% sure that: Gorilla and Human Pthirus diverged sometime between 1.84Mya and 5.61Mya. Chimp and human head lice diverged sometime between 3.94Mya and 9.96Mya The Pedicinus clade diverged sometime between 7.08 and 14.94Mya - but no more than that. Before speculating any further, try checking the actual dates published in the small print of Table 1 of the paper:

http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1741-7007-5-7.pdf

MRCA (clade number) Cox1 and EF1a
————————————–[Mya]—–[Spread]
Pedicinus (3)————————-10.63—-(7.08?14.94)—–[8MY spread]
Pthirus (1) —————————3.32—–(1.84?5.61)——[3.8My spread]
P. schaeffi and P. humanus (2)———6.39—–(3.94?9.96)——[6My spread]
Pediculus and Pthirus (4)————–12.95—-(9.42?17.38)—–[8My spread]
OWM/Ape Calibration ——————-22.50—-(20.13?24.87)—-[4.7My spread]

The figures in [ ] are my clarifications of their table.

So they can be 95% sure that:

Gorilla and Human Pthirus diverged sometime between 1.84Mya and 5.61Mya.
Chimp and human head lice diverged sometime between 3.94Mya and 9.96Mya
The Pedicinus clade diverged sometime between 7.08 and 14.94Mya

- but no more than that.

]]> By: Mullic@ http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4578 Mullic@ Sat, 10 Mar 2007 12:56:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4578 I am so pleased at the beauty of the findings of these authors. Even something as unlovely as body lice may show us more about who we are. I would love to see how this research resounds among those who would deny our evolution over the millennia. Thanks to those who supported this research! I am so pleased at the beauty of the findings of these authors. Even something as unlovely as body lice may show us more about who we are.

I would love to see how this research resounds among those who would deny our evolution over the millennia. Thanks to those who supported this research!

]]> By: Jessica L. http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4577 Jessica L. Sat, 10 Mar 2007 11:12:15 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4577 Wikipedia isn't necessarily wrong in it's definition of lice (although I've never heard "fly babies" before), but it does lack detail. Wikipedia also lumps information together regarding chewing lice and sucking lice. Here's a link to another reference from the "Tree of Life" webpage; I think it provides more helpful information: <a href="http://tolweb.org/Phthiraptera" rel="nofollow">http://tolweb.org/Phthiraptera</a> Here's another good site (I didn't read the article in full, but the author is a known expert in the field): <a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/phthiraptera-chewing-and-sucking-lice-biological-family" rel="nofollow">http://www.answers.com/topic/phthiraptera-chewing-and-sucking-lice-biological-family</a> Organutans and Gibbons don't have any lice all! Nothing! We can only hypothesize that either they had lice in the past and lost them (via a whole slew of possible reasons) or they never had them at all. Trying to reconstruct the evolutionary history of all primate lice will definitely help resolve this issue. Wikipedia isn’t necessarily wrong in it’s definition of lice (although I’ve never heard “fly babies” before), but it does lack detail. Wikipedia also lumps information together regarding chewing lice and sucking lice. Here’s a link to another reference from the “Tree of Life” webpage; I think it provides more helpful information: http://tolweb.org/Phthiraptera

Here’s another good site (I didn’t read the article in full, but the author is a known expert in the field):
http://www.answers.com/topic/phthiraptera-chewing-and-sucking-lice-biological-family

Organutans and Gibbons don’t have any lice all! Nothing! We can only hypothesize that either they had lice in the past and lost them (via a whole slew of possible reasons) or they never had them at all. Trying to reconstruct the evolutionary history of all primate lice will definitely help resolve this issue.

]]> By: curious C. (male) http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4576 curious C. (male) Sat, 10 Mar 2007 06:59:46 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4576 On the mtDNA-parasite (#6). Is the Y-chr. another one...? (lost in thoughts) On the mtDNA-parasite (#6). Is the Y-chr. another one…?
(lost in thoughts)

]]> By: Doug http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4575 Doug Sat, 10 Mar 2007 06:46:33 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4575 Tp Jessica L, RE: lice in Orangutans and Gibbons The Wikipedia has been known to be wrong, but "Lice (singular: louse), also known as fly babies, (order Phthiraptera) are an order of over 3,000 species of wingless phthiraptra. They are obligate ectoparasites of every mammalian and avian order, with the notable exceptions of Monotremata (the duck-billed platypus and the echidna or spiny anteater) and Chiroptera (bats).? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lice" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lice</a> Do Orangutans and Gibbons have any type of lice that might be compared to sucking lice? If not, do they have some kind of genetic or environmental advantage? Tp Jessica L, RE: lice in Orangutans and Gibbons

The Wikipedia has been known to be wrong, but “Lice (singular: louse), also known as fly babies, (order Phthiraptera) are an order of over 3,000 species of wingless phthiraptra. They are obligate ectoparasites of every mammalian and avian order, with the notable exceptions of Monotremata (the duck-billed platypus and the echidna or spiny anteater) and Chiroptera (bats).?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lice

Do Orangutans and Gibbons have any type of lice that might be compared to sucking lice?

If not, do they have some kind of genetic or environmental advantage?

]]> By: furly http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4574 furly Sat, 10 Mar 2007 03:56:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4574 Stephen said, "That's why your eyebrows (at least my eyebrows) don't have to be trimmed. When they get to full length, they fall out." Oh yeah, what about Leonid Brezhnev...or Andy Rooney for that matter? Anyway, fascinating article. Stephen said, “That’s why your eyebrows (at least my eyebrows) don’t have to be trimmed. When they get to full length, they fall out.”
Oh yeah, what about Leonid Brezhnev…or Andy Rooney for that matter? Anyway, fascinating article.

]]> By: Filipe http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4573 Filipe Fri, 09 Mar 2007 11:08:38 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4573 I just read the very interesting original paper. I like the figure pointing head and pubic lice to Darwin. One thing that I don't find clear from the paper is why the 3.3 million date could not mark an event within proto-gorilla populations. That way the lice could have jumped to humans more recently, and the 3.3 million host could be extinct. This could be solved by something the authors point in their conclusions: finding old lineages in humans like it was found for head lice. If David Reed is still reading this, maybe he can tell us if there is any hint of distinct lineages in human pubic lice? Well, I think I know the answer: David Reed needs more pubic lice! I just read the very interesting original paper. I like the figure pointing head and pubic lice to Darwin. One thing that I don’t find clear from the paper is why the 3.3 million date could not mark an event within proto-gorilla populations. That way the lice could have jumped to humans more recently, and the 3.3 million host could be extinct.

This could be solved by something the authors point in their conclusions: finding old lineages in humans like it was found for head lice. If David Reed is still reading this, maybe he can tell us if there is any hint of distinct lineages in human pubic lice? Well, I think I know the answer: David Reed needs more pubic lice!

]]> By: dale furno http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4572 dale furno Fri, 09 Mar 2007 10:38:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4572 yeah, that was a total joke by the way... i happen to be in the armed services which is a very diverse workplace, and i only posted that comment to get a rise out of my shipmates, no harm intended, thanks for being good sports fellas... yeah, that was a total joke by the way… i happen to be in the armed services which is a very diverse workplace, and i only posted that comment to get a rise out of my shipmates, no harm intended, thanks for being good sports fellas…

]]> By: rupert http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4571 rupert Fri, 09 Mar 2007 00:43:41 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4571 Impressive and thought-provoking it might be, but perhaps the most sobering part of the research is that some intern's summer job was harvesting pubic lice from chimpanzees. Unsung hero of science, I salute thee. R Impressive and thought-provoking it might be, but perhaps the most sobering part of the research is that some intern’s summer job was harvesting pubic lice from chimpanzees.

Unsung hero of science, I salute thee.

R

]]> By: Jessica L http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4570 Jessica L Fri, 09 Mar 2007 00:39:50 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4570 To respond to both Doug and Burt H: To our knowledge, no one has examined Bonobo lice. We are trying to get some samples through collaborators; these lice would be excellent additions to future studies. Orangutans and Gibbons are not known to be parasitized by sucking lice. They either never had lice, or the louse populations on these primates went extinct. We get most of our lice (Pediculus, Pthirus, and otherwise) from generous donations and long-term collaborations. We are ALWAYS looking to collaborate and we are ALWAYS in need of more samples. All author emails are available on the BMC Biology paper and everyone is more than welcome to contact us should they have specimens they would like to donate! To respond to both Doug and Burt H:
To our knowledge, no one has examined Bonobo lice. We are trying to get some samples through collaborators; these lice would be excellent additions to future studies. Orangutans and Gibbons are not known to be parasitized by sucking lice. They either never had lice, or the louse populations on these primates went extinct.

We get most of our lice (Pediculus, Pthirus, and otherwise) from generous donations and long-term collaborations. We are ALWAYS looking to collaborate and we are ALWAYS in need of more samples. All author emails are available on the BMC Biology paper and everyone is more than welcome to contact us should they have specimens they would like to donate!

]]> By: brightmoon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4569 brightmoon Thu, 08 Mar 2007 23:09:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4569 to dale furno FYI ... curly haired black peoples pubic hair doesnt look like the hair on their heads ......and no i didnt think that was a stupid question (ill agree it was an ignorant one )and yes im black answer... its possible to get any kind of lice, including those from other species, anywhere on the human body ...but they tend to die to dale furno FYI … curly haired black peoples pubic hair doesnt look like the hair on their heads ……and no i didnt think that was a stupid question (ill agree it was an ignorant one )and yes im black

answer… its possible to get any kind of lice, including those from other species, anywhere on the human body …but they tend to die

]]> By: Sean Watson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4568 Sean Watson Thu, 08 Mar 2007 23:02:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4568 The scientific community is in complete denial on this topic. Even until very recently tribes in Central Africa have had sex with monkeys. There was even a profession which trained certain types of monkeys/apes to have sex with men. A touring caravan of trained monkeys moves from remote village to remote village. My father observed one such troupe himself in the 1970s, with young men lining up outside a hut about to take their turn. Amongst young men bestiality is widely practised (chickens etc) and should be talked about more openly. At the moment political correctness prevents any discussion. They always talk about butchering of animals, (sleeping in the same hollows etc) causing the transmission jump of HIV. Repeated sexual encounters between apes/monkeys and humans is far more likeley a method of transmission especially as its part of the behaviour pattern. Pubic lice from Gorrilas seems another part of the same pattern. Given our genetic programming - to kill males and capture and sexually enslave females of our species and other hominids its not that surprising. The scientific community is in complete denial on this topic.

Even until very recently tribes in Central Africa have had sex with monkeys. There was even a profession which trained certain types of monkeys/apes to have sex with men. A touring caravan of trained monkeys moves from remote village to remote village. My father observed one such troupe himself in the 1970s, with young men lining up outside a hut about to take their turn.

Amongst young men bestiality is widely practised (chickens etc) and should be talked about more openly. At the moment political correctness prevents any discussion.

They always talk about butchering of animals, (sleeping in the same hollows etc) causing the transmission jump of HIV. Repeated sexual encounters between apes/monkeys and humans is far more likeley a method of transmission especially as its part of the behaviour pattern. Pubic lice from Gorrilas seems another part of the same pattern.

Given our genetic programming – to kill males and capture and sexually enslave females of our species and other hominids its not that surprising.

]]> By: Burt Humburg http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/comment-page-1/#comment-4567 Burt Humburg Thu, 08 Mar 2007 23:00:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2007/03/07/question-of-the-day-how-do-you-get-crabs-from-a-gorilla/#comment-4567 Quick question for the authors of the study: where did you get your samples? I've worked in several STD clinics and we don't routinely (read: ever) sample the public lice populations we see there. We just try to kill em. So where did you get your samples? And are you "recruiting" for more? (I knew a medical entymologist once who accosted me for putting a patient's sample between two layers of stickytape when I could have simply put the buggers in ethanol. (Yeah. That's a lot easier to ship.) Do you need docs to start helping you get more of these guys? Or do you have the problem, for lack of a better phrase, well in hand? Great article, Carl. Yeeeach. BCH Quick question for the authors of the study: where did you get your samples? I’ve worked in several STD clinics and we don’t routinely (read: ever) sample the public lice populations we see there. We just try to kill em.

So where did you get your samples? And are you “recruiting” for more? (I knew a medical entymologist once who accosted me for putting a patient’s sample between two layers of stickytape when I could have simply put the buggers in ethanol. (Yeah. That’s a lot easier to ship.) Do you need docs to start helping you get more of these guys? Or do you have the problem, for lack of a better phrase, well in hand?

Great article, Carl. Yeeeach.

BCH

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