|
Evolution is pretty cool
|
View this Thread in Original format
| Sunsnail |
"The Lancet liver fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum) is a parasite which lives its life in three animals.
First stage: D. dendriticum starts life as eggs found in the dung of cattle. This dung is fed upon by snails which allow the eggs to enter the snail's intestine. Once inside, the eggs hatch and burrow into the digestive gland of the snail. The flukes reproduce in this gland and are expelled from the snail in slime trails.
Second Stage: Ants happen upon the slime and consume it as a source of moisture thus taking the new flukes into their system. Once inside the parasite shows an interesting tactic. By controlling nerve centers of the ant they are able to control its behaviour. When the sun sets and temperatures drop the ant is compelled to attach itself to a tall blade of grass by its mandibles. Here it lies in wait to be ingested by some grazing animal. If the ant survives the night the sun prompts it to return to the colony and live its life normally, until the next night. Eventually the ant is eaten by some grazing animal.
Final Stage: Flukes living within ants are eaten by cattle while grazing. The flukes will enter the digestive system and force their way into the cow's liver, here they will continue to grow to adults capable of producing eggs."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dicrocoelium_dendriticum
CORE VERSION:
A germ's life cycle goes through snails, ants, and cows. It controls ants to do things that I will not tell in the core version. |
|
|
| Demoted |
| Jesus made sand feel funny in vaginas. |
|
|
| DjConfessions |
| whats the nou version? |
|
|
| Yan |
I learned about this in Resident Evil 4. :wtf:
LUIS's MEMO
There are some parasites that have the ability to control their
hosts. It's basic knowledge among biologists but not much is
known as to how the parasites do it. Studying these parasites
specifically might reveal some clues to as to how the powers of
the Las Plagas work. And perhaps provide more insight on the
victimes of the Las Plagas, the Los Ganados. Here is a list of
some of the parasites that have the ability to manipulate the
behavioral patterns of their host.
Dicrocoelium = Once the larvae of this parasite migrates to the
ant's esophagus, it alters the behavior of the ant. When the
temperature drops in the evening, the infected any climbs to
the top of a plant and clamps onto a leaf using its mandible.
It stays there immobile until the next morning, placing the ant
where it's most vulnerable to be eaten by a browsing herbivore
such as sheep. One could conclude that the parasite is
manipulating the host's behavior to its way into the body of
its definitive host.
Galactosomum = The larvae of this parasite makes its home inside
the brain of a fish such as the yellowtail and the parrot bass.
Once infected, the fish make their way up to the water's surface
where they'll swim until eaten by seabirds. Once again, the
peculiar behavior can only be explained by the parasite's desire
to get into the bodies of the seabirds.
Leucochlordium = This parasite's sporcysts develop in the snail's
tentacles. The sporocysts are vivid in color and pulsate continually
somewhat like a worm. Surprisingly the infected snail makes its
way to the top of a plant where it is most visible to the eyes of
birds, therefore more likely to be eaten. Once eaten by a bird,
the parasite will complete its metamorphosis into an adult. |
|
|
| kadomony |
| quote: | Originally posted by Yan
Leucochlordium = This parasite's sporcysts develop in the snail's
tentacles. The sporocysts are vivid in color and pulsate continually
somewhat like a worm. Surprisingly the infected snail makes its
way to the top of a plant where it is most visible to the eyes of
birds, therefore more likely to be eaten. Once eaten by a bird,
the parasite will complete its metamorphosis into an adult. |
saw this on tv, looked weird! sorta like a multi-colored lavalamp. |
|
|
| Lira |
That's one of the most interesing things I've ever read in the CORe, regarding biology.
(even though competition is not that fierce :p) |
|
|
| Sunsnail |
| I thought it was interesting enough to warrant at least 10 posts. guess not |
|
|
| ::TranceVanDyk:: |
bio-robotics?
freaky. What if a human consumes the parasite? |
|
|
| Sunsnail |
| quote: | Originally posted by ::TranceVanDyk::
bio-robotics?
freaky. What if a human consumes the parasite? |
My brother got it once. He kept going outside at night to bite the grass |
|
|
| ::TranceVanDyk:: |
| quote: | Originally posted by Sunsnail
My brother got it once. He kept going outside at night to bite the grass |
Well, if evolution is true, and this parasite is so highly evolved, it would eventually make your brother bite a tiger, so as to be eaten. Cows don't eat humans you know... |
|
|
| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by ::TranceVanDyk::
Well, if evolution is true, and this parasite is so highly evolved, it would eventually make your brother bite a tiger, so as to be eaten. Cows don't eat humans you know... |
Erm... the human would be the last stage (just as sheep, cows and birds are) - why the heck would the parasyte want to be eaten by a tiger if humans already poop and close the cycle? :p |
|
|
| Sunsnail |
| quote: | Originally posted by ::TranceVanDyk::
Well, if evolution is true, and this parasite is so highly evolved, it would eventually make your brother bite a tiger, so as to be eaten. Cows don't eat humans you know... |
oh yes. this parasite is a definite argument AGAINST evolution :p. |
|
|
|
|
