Birds becoming gay because of mercury in their diets.
Researchers in Florida and Sri Lanka studied the effect of the metal in white ibises’ diets to find out why breeding was down.
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Chinese Scientist Exploring Cloning to Save the Endangered Giant Panda
The Giant Panda is the world’s most endangered species.
China has been exploring every possible means of saving giant pandas, one of the world’s most endangered species, from becoming extinct, even if it means resorting to cloning them. Chen Dayuan, a senior scientist who specializes in cloning at the institute of zoology in the Chinese Academy of Sciences, introduced the idea of performing cloning techniques on giant pandas in 1998.
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How Americans’ Diets Have Changed Over the Past Century
A recent issue of a US Department of Agriculture publication includes an examination of how America’s food choices have changed over the past one hundred years. As you can see from one of the charts provided in the article, we’re eating a lot more chicken. The authors explain why:
Chicken availability over the past 100 years illustrates the effects of new technologies and product development. Increased chicken availability from 10.4 pounds per person in 1909 to 58.8 pounds in 2008 reflects the industry’s development of lower cost, meaty broilers in the 1940s and later, ready-to cook products, such as boneless breasts and chicken nuggets, as well as ready-to-eat products, such as pre-cooked chicken strips to toss in salads or pasta dishes.
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Lizard Moms Choose the Right Genes for the Right Gender Offspring
The male of this species can be two to three times the mass of the female, but the females seem to be in control of the genetic destiny.
Two Dartmouth biologists have found that brown anole lizards make an interesting choice when deciding which males should father their offspring. The females of this species mate with several males, then produce more sons with sperm from large fathers, and more daughters with sperm from smaller fathers. The researchers believe that the lizards do this to ensure that the genes from large fathers are passed on to sons, who stand to benefit from inheriting the genes for large size.
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Opposites Attract: Monkeys Choose Mating Partners With Different Genes
Mandrills. The world’s largest species of monkey ‘chooses’ mates with genes that are different from their own to guarantee healthy and strong offspring, according to a new research study.
The world’s largest species of monkey ‘chooses’ mates with genes that are different from their own to guarantee healthy and strong offspring, according to a new research study.
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World’s Most Endangered Parrot Population Increasing
Kakapo parrot
Just under 100 of New Zealand’s most endangered parrot, the kakapo remain but hopefully that number will increase thanks to the 26 hand-reared chicks that are returning to New Zealand. The baby chicks will spend six more weeks on a predator free island, Codfish Island living in an outdoor pen before returning to their natural habitat.
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Should Tiger Farming Be Legal?
“Domestic trade in tiger parts and derivatives has been banned across the world since the late 1990s”
Dismayed by dwindling numbers, some experts say tiger farming can stem the burgeoning illegal trade in the endangered cat’s pelts, bones and body parts but others argue that this will only fuel demand.
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Race Is On To Stop Fungus That Could Wipe Out 80% Of World’s Wheat
Scientists working to develop wheat varieties resistant to a strain of “stem rust”
The Ug99 fungus, called stem rust, could wipe out more than 80% of the world’s wheat as it spreads from Africa, scientists fear. The race is on to breed resistant plants before it reaches the U.S.
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Hummingbird Declared Fastest Animal On Earth
Anna’s Hummingbird is the fastest animal in the world, scientists have discovered.
Researchers have found that the spectacular courtship dive of the Anna’s Hummingbird makes it comparatively speedier than a jet fighter at full throttle or the space shuttle re-entering the atmosphere. (video)
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Japanese Scientists Create World’s First Transgenic Primates
Japanese scientists announced they had created the world’s first transgenic primates, breeding monkeys with a gene that made the animals’ skin glow a fluorescent green.
In a controversial achievement, Japanese scientists announced on Wednesday they had created the world’s first transgenic primates, breeding monkeys with a gene that made the animals’ skin glow a fluorescent green.
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Domesticated Foxes Becoming Latest Pet Craze In Russia
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAV6ywEDfNE&eurl=http://arbroath.blogspot.com/&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
A new kind of pet is gaining popularity in Russia – the domesticated fox. The animals are being bred at a research institute in Siberia. Although these foxes are human-friendly, they’ve still got many wild habits.Martyn is a Russian Silver Fox who has never lived in the wild and whose home is a three-bedroom Moscow flat. He’s domesticated but still has some wild habits, like hiding and digging holes.
Being a city fox does come with its challenges, say its owners, Larisa and Boris, who wanted a unique pet.
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Pedigree Dogs Are Becoming Stupid
I just yelled “BANG”and look what happened!
Pedigree dogs have become increasingly stupid as they are now bred for their looks, not their brains, according to new research.
Their mental and physical agility of many breeds is being eroded as owners now look for docile, pretty pets to live in their homes.
In the 19th century dogs were more likely to be selected for their strength and skills, so they were able to earn their keep guarding homes and livestock and fetching the quarry on a hunting trip.
But a significant change in breeding trends has meant the ancestors of these proud working dogs are now less responsive to commands and not as alert or attentive.
Scientists in Sweden have found strong evidence that breeding for appearance has led to a decline in intelligence.
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