sexual reproduction

How secondary sex characters can drive origin of species

harminka — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 13:12:14 -0500

The ostentatious, sometimes bizarre qualities that improve a creature's chances of finding a mate may also drive the reproductive separation of populations and the evolution of new species, say two Indiana University Bloomington biologists.

Seminal fluid proteins influence competitive ability of sperm

harminka — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 09:05:42 -0500

Seminal fluid contains protein factors that, when transferred from a male to a female at mating, affect reproductive success. This is true of many different animals, from crickets to primates. In fruit flies, for instance, seminal fluid proteins influence the competitive ability of a male's sperm, and alter the female's post-mating behavior by dampening her interest in other males and cueing her to lay eggs.

Population policy needed for the UK in order to combat climate change

harminka — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:08:53 -0500

The biggest contribution UK couples can make to combating climate change would be to have only two children or at least have one less than they first intended, argues an editorial published on BMJ.com today.

Pollination habits of endangered Texas rice revealed to help preservation

harminka — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:11:40 -0500

A type of wild rice that only grows in a small stretch of the San Marcos River is likely so rare because it plays the sexual reproduction game poorly, a study led by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin has revealed.

Promoting sexual and reproductive rights

harminka — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:09:53 -0500

Elsevier announced today Reproductive Health Matters' May 2008 issue on the theme of "Conflict and Crisis Settings: Promoting Sexual and Reproductive rights".

Earth's earliest animal ecosystem was complex, included sexual reproduction

harminka — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 07:52:53 -0500

Two paleontologists studying ancient fossils they excavated in the South Australian outback argue that Earth’s ecosystem has been complex for hundreds of millions of years – at least since around 565 million years ago, which is included in a period in Earth’s history called the Neoproterozoic era.

Frog-killing fungus could be greater threat

harminka — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:18:11 -0500

A deadly fungus that has decimated populations of mountain yellow-legged frogs in the Sierra Nevada can likely be spread by sexual reproduction, seriously complicating efforts to save the frogs from extinction, according to a new genetic analysis led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.

Parents seeking sex abandon 1 in 3 offspring

harminka — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 10:03:43 -0500

The eggs of the penduline tit Remiz pendulinus are frequently abandoned as both parents go in search of new sexual conquests, a study published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology has found.

Males have adapted to battle with competing sperm

harminka — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 01:52:46 -0600