Comments on: To find out why this beetle has a spiky penis, scientists shaved it with lasers http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/10/25/to-find-out-why-this-beetle-has-a-spiky-penis-scientists-shaved-it-with-lasers/ Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:00:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Malcolm http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/10/25/to-find-out-why-this-beetle-has-a-spiky-penis-scientists-shaved-it-with-lasers/#comment-16275 Malcolm Mon, 29 Oct 2012 08:11:28 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=7872#comment-16275 The duo found that males with the shorter spines were indeed less likely to successfully fertilise the females.<--- could it because of the injuries sustained from the laser operation? The duo found that males with the shorter spines were indeed less likely to successfully fertilise the females.<— could it because of the injuries sustained from the laser operation?

]]> By: Entomologist http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/10/25/to-find-out-why-this-beetle-has-a-spiky-penis-scientists-shaved-it-with-lasers/#comment-16274 Entomologist Fri, 26 Oct 2012 15:59:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=7872#comment-16274 It's not just "certain flies" - MANY insects can only be identified to species by the shape of the aedeagus (what we call a penis). It’s not just “certain flies” – MANY insects can only be identified to species by the shape of the aedeagus (what we call a penis).

]]> By: Andrea http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/10/25/to-find-out-why-this-beetle-has-a-spiky-penis-scientists-shaved-it-with-lasers/#comment-16273 Andrea Fri, 26 Oct 2012 14:32:53 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=7872#comment-16273 "It seems that Arnqvist isn’t done with his terrifying beetles yet." Seems like that ought to read, "It seems that Arnqvist isn’t done terrifying his beetles yet." “It seems that Arnqvist isn’t done with his terrifying beetles yet.”

Seems like that ought to read, “It seems that Arnqvist isn’t done terrifying his beetles yet.”

]]> By: Greg Smith http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/10/25/to-find-out-why-this-beetle-has-a-spiky-penis-scientists-shaved-it-with-lasers/#comment-16272 Greg Smith Fri, 26 Oct 2012 13:45:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=7872#comment-16272 Hmm, there's a character "Archimandrite Luseferous" in Iain Bank's 2004 novel "The Algebraist" who has had similar capabilities added via genetic modification. Creepy. Hmm, there’s a character “Archimandrite Luseferous” in Iain Bank’s 2004 novel “The Algebraist” who has had similar capabilities added via genetic modification. Creepy.

]]> By: Peryite http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/10/25/to-find-out-why-this-beetle-has-a-spiky-penis-scientists-shaved-it-with-lasers/#comment-16271 Peryite Fri, 26 Oct 2012 05:56:07 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=7872#comment-16271 That picture is terrifying. To think I usually consider beetles cute. That picture is terrifying. To think I usually consider beetles cute.

]]> By: Brian Too http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2012/10/25/to-find-out-why-this-beetle-has-a-spiky-penis-scientists-shaved-it-with-lasers/#comment-16270 Brian Too Fri, 26 Oct 2012 00:11:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=7872#comment-16270 If this isn't a penis Friday item, I don't know what is! If this isn’t a penis Friday item, I don’t know what is!

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