Advertisement
Help Keep Boards Alive. Support us by going ad free today. See here: https://subscriptions.boards.ie/.
If we do not hit our goal we will be forced to close the site.

Current status: https://keepboardsalive.com/

Annual subs are best for most impact. If you are still undecided on going Ad Free - you can also donate using the Paypal Donate option. All contribution helps. Thank you.
https://www.boards.ie/group/1878-subscribers-forum

Private Group for paid up members of Boards.ie. Join the club.

A World Without Men? - Ants Lead the Way

  • 21-04-2009 06:09PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,746 ✭✭✭✭


    I taught this might give some of you a good laugh.
    Save the males? Too late for Mycocepurus smithii.

    This leaf-cutter ant species is all female and thrives without sex of any kind—ever—according to a new study. The ants have evolved to reproduce only when queens clone themselves.
    "They appear to have evolved a new mode of reproduction, and the genetic mechanisms have yet to be worked out," said lead study author Anna Himler, a research associate at the University of Arizona.

    http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/04/090417-female-ants-picture.html

    Interesting way of life. How would you all feel if humankind were to go down this route?
    Tagged:


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 911 ✭✭✭994


    Surely it's an all-asexual species rather than an all-female species?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,756 ✭✭✭Jules


    Tbh, a world without would be extrememly boring and i think visa versa!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,746 ✭✭✭✭Galvasean


    994 wrote: »
    Surely it's an all-asexual species rather than an all-female species?

    They still have vestigial female reproductive organs. However it's not certain if they would be ale to work anymore.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,816 ✭✭✭Acacia


    God, I would hate that, how dull. I love men (see my heavy posting on the male form and strangely attractive threads!:pac:), it really would be quite crap without them. I'd rather have a baby than a clone of myself in fairness. Though I suppose we have an emotional side that the female ants probably don't miss or have any need for! :p


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,650 ✭✭✭✭minidazzler


    I agree with Jules, both genders compliment eachother. Each would be crap without the other.


    Now a world where I was the ONLY male..............


  • Advertisement
  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,181 ✭✭✭LouOB


    If it was all female - would we still need to get periods
    mmmmmmmmmmmm

    This could change alot of things


Advertisement