Comments on: Aphids get superpowers through sex http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/ Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:00:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: G http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-435 G Mon, 05 Apr 2010 08:31:47 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-435 "*Moran & Dunbar aren’t at U. Tucson, but U. Arizona" Thank you Seth, I wanted to point that out too. The University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona. “*Moran & Dunbar aren’t at U. Tucson, but U. Arizona”
Thank you Seth, I wanted to point that out too.

The University of Arizona is located in Tucson, Arizona.

]]> By: Seth http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-434 Seth Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:57:21 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-434 A couple addition/corrections to an otherwise great article: * Moran & Dunbar aren't at U. Tucson, but U. Arizona * B. aphidicola is also important for passing on necessary amino acids that are rare in the aphid diet of plant sap. A couple addition/corrections to an otherwise great article:
* Moran & Dunbar aren’t at U. Tucson, but U. Arizona
* B. aphidicola is also important for passing on necessary amino acids that are rare in the aphid diet of plant sap.

]]> By: David Harmon http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-433 David Harmon Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:36:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-433 After a recent hike, I started wondering if we could modify our own symbionts (say, skin or blood bacteria) to kill off ticks and other bloodsuckers. After a few dozen generations, I assume the parasites would evolve to avoid us in the first place.... After a recent hike, I started wondering if we could modify our own symbionts (say, skin or blood bacteria) to kill off ticks and other bloodsuckers. After a few dozen generations, I assume the parasites would evolve to avoid us in the first place….

]]> By: Ed Yong http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-432 Ed Yong Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:40:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-432 I'd be much more surprised to find a species of insect that *isn't* targeted by parasitic wasps... I’d be much more surprised to find a species of insect that *isn’t* targeted by parasitic wasps…

]]> By: Daddy Stegosaurus http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-431 Daddy Stegosaurus Mon, 23 Feb 2009 03:18:19 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-431 I'm just amazed that aphids are targeted by parasitic wasps. I guess even the fleas have fleas. I’m just amazed that aphids are targeted by parasitic wasps. I guess even the fleas have fleas.

]]> By: Crescent Roll http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-430 Crescent Roll Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:34:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-430 And so (insect) life <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYT7Pk04t9g" rel="nofollow">imitates Red Dwarf</a>. Mr. Fibble is pleased... And so (insect) life imitates Red Dwarf.
Mr. Fibble is pleased…

]]> By: freds http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-429 freds Mon, 23 Feb 2009 01:23:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-429 As usual, a fun article. But I have a terminological quibble. The term grub is normally limited to the larvae of scarab beetles. The wasp you refer to has a vermiform larva; The closest common term is maggot. If you want to be safe with terms for immature stages of insects with complete metamorphosis, use the term larva. You can use nymph for the rest. I know that you want to translate the science jargon into something the public can understand. I suspect that larva and nymph would probably meet your goal. As usual, a fun article. But I have a terminological quibble. The term grub is normally limited to the larvae of scarab beetles. The wasp you refer to has a vermiform larva; The closest common term is maggot. If you want to be safe with terms for immature stages of insects with complete metamorphosis, use the term larva. You can use nymph for the rest.
I know that you want to translate the science jargon into something the public can understand. I suspect that larva and nymph would probably meet your goal.

]]> By: Marc Abian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-428 Marc Abian Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:44:35 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-428 I think Aphids need bacteria to synthesise some amino acids too. If anyone cares... I think Aphids need bacteria to synthesise some amino acids too. If anyone cares…

]]> By: Lilian Nattel http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-427 Lilian Nattel Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:58:10 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-427 Good title--it made me click on the link in your more recent <a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2009/02/19/aphids-hide-from-parasitic-wasps-among-the-corpses-of-their-peers" rel="nofollow">aphid post</a>. And the post was not a let-down! Good title–it made me click on the link in your more recent aphid post. And the post was not a let-down!

]]> By: Ford http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-426 Ford Tue, 20 May 2008 19:45:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2008/05/17/aphids-get-superpowers-through-sex/#comment-426 Resistance to parasites is considered a major reason to reproduce sexually, but usually it only helps the offspring, who may inherit resistance genes from the father. With symbionts, the mother could benefit as well as her offspring, although I wonder about the net effect when you include sexually transmitted disease. Seems strange that a symbiont could give temperature tolerance, but that's also been seen with virus-infected fungal endophytes and plants. Resistance to parasites is considered a major reason to reproduce sexually, but usually it only helps the offspring, who may inherit resistance genes from the father. With symbionts, the mother could benefit as well as her offspring, although I wonder about the net effect when you include sexually transmitted disease.
Seems strange that a symbiont could give temperature tolerance, but that’s also been seen with virus-infected fungal endophytes and plants.

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