How to Set Up Protozoan Mating Swarm, Bacteria Style

At the University of California, Berkeley, scientists were researching Salpinogoeca rosetta cells when they suddenly began to form mass mating swarms after exposure to an aphrodisiac produced by a bacteria. The bacteria in question that created the aphrodisiac was Vibrio fischeri. The bacterium creates chonodroitin sulfate (CS) lyase, in which is then released as a chemical signal that causes the cells to quickly aggregate and begin cell and nuclear fusion while duplicating and recombining their genetic material. 

According to researchers, Nicole King and Ariel Woznica, this discovery has led to researchers to believe the possibility that environmental bacteria or bacterial symbionts can influence mating in animals as well. Part of the research at Berkeley was exploring the origins of multicelluarlarity. The research was mostly conducted on choanoflagellates such as the S. rosetta cells. Generally, researchers would monitor shared characteristics and behaviors that was common for evolution in animals. Based on the research, scientists have discovered symbiotic and pathogenic relationships between bacteria and multi-cellular animals. This relationship has been dated to even prehistoric times.

With this research, choanoflagelletes can serve as an excellent model organism in order to discover more information regarding the origins of multicelluarlity. By using these organisms, it can have an advantageous adaptation and uses in medicine. Supposedly, researchers can use choanoflagelletes as a means of mass drug production for cures by instilling the gene for the drug. By using bacteria to induce the cells to mass mating, it can cause a rapid supply of drugs based on a natural process within bacteria. This can certainly be very useful in the field of medicine.   

Spiders That Aren't Dying to Reproduce

It is commonly known that there is sexual cannibalism in mating, especially with specific species of spiders. Female spiders can decide to eat the males before, during or after mating. Male spiders have tired to find different ways to distract the female to avoid being eaten, which has led to a new type of defense. They tie up the female before sex with their spider silk so they can escape before the female gets free. Alissa G. Anderson, a graduate student in biology at the University of Nebraska, said that she had not witnessed any cannibalism in the nursery. This could have been because these spiders always wrapped up the females so there was never a chance for them to be eaten. Males with shorter legs and ones that couldn’t produce silk were eaten more often. Results have shown that females who are wrapped up have a higher number of eggs which has benefits in both sexual and evolution terms.    

When it comes to mating behavior of the ruff its all in the genes

Using Genome sequences, researchers at the University of Sheffield have identified a 'super gene' that  determines the mating behaviors of certain ruff birds.  The ruff birds display three distinct types of mating behaviors: territorial males, non-territorial 'satellite' males, and 'cross dressing' males which mimic females.  A team of researchers identified a 'super gene' that contains a hundred or more genes which encodes for these distinct mating behaviors.  The researchers state the gene was created several million years ago due to chromosomal rearrangement which allowed the female mimics to coevolve with the territorial males.  They further state the alternative form of the super gene combined to give rise to the satellite males; the super gene encodes for multiple traits including hormones, feathering, color and size.

This article provides an interesting example of how genes can directly influence the behavior of animals and how the two ( genetics and behavior) are not mutually exclusive.  Furthermore this article also provides an excellent example of how evolution propagates the selection of advantageous  genes and how those genes are passed from one generation to the next.        

Attraction and Our Genes

“Opposites attract” is a common phrase applied to the realm of dating, however, our genes may dictate the contrary. Several universities conducted a joint analysis of mating patterns and found that individuals have a tendency to have partners with similar DNA. This is called assortative mating. The similar genetic ancestry is a stronger factor that socioeconomic status or educational levels when choosing a mate. The genetic ancestry was so similar that the average couple shared the genetic equivalence of third or fourth cousins.

            One could argue that assortative mating is common because individuals are ethnically or racially similar tend to live in the same population. It is obvious that we have some conscious control over who we choose to date. Some are more selective than others. Some show a similar trend while others don’t. Ultimately, it’s neither solely by choice or genetic predisposition, but a comprehensive spectrum.

http://news.discovery.com/human/genetics/attraction-guided-by-our-genes-151019.htm

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-05/esoh-oa052109.php

"Whether you're territorial, a girlfriend stealer or a cross dresser, it's in your genes"

          

  Certain gestures and behaviors have known to be major contributors to the realm of mating, especially in birds. It was discovered that some male birds may be geneticly disposed to behave one way over another in pursuit of a female. Researchers at University of Sheffield identified the genes, of a wading bird called the ruff, that determine mating behavior. The male ruff dedicate their lives to attracting females with no desire for parental care. Within the mating system, three types of males were discovered. The territorial males have impressive plumes with great, distinguishable color. The non-territorial males have white feathers and make attempts to steal mates from the garish territorial males. Then, there is the ‘cross-dressers’. These males mimic females to avoid territorial aggression while stealing mates. It was determined that these genes were encoded by a ‘supergene’.

            My first thought after reading this was how the same concept may apply to humans. How much of our own mating behaviors influenced by genetics versus the environment? Would the genetic disposition only be applicable to males or females as well? In that case, we must also consider sexuality in its entirety. Does it vary between regions? Ages? I would be interested to follow and learn more about the expansion of this concept.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/11/151116112456.htm

http://www.nature.com/ng/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ng.3443.html

Attraction Guided by Our Genes

     We have all heard the common saying "opposites attract," whether it be in elementary school science class or our parents talking to us about relationships.  This theory seems logical; why would you want to be around someone just like you? We are all led to believe that this deems true, but it turns out, it is not. The idea that we attract people who are actually similar to us is known as assortative mating. This includes mating based on age, race, facial characteristics, and body type which all have to do with our genes. Couples tend to seek partners with similar DNA, and this is proven more common than seeking a partner based on socioeconomic status or education level, which was believed prior to this. Researchers studied single nucleotide polymorphisms which is where humans differ in DNA. It was found that married couples were more genetically similar than those chosen at random.

     I find this article very interesting because it is now making me rethink my prior relationships and ones that may friends have been in and are currently in. I have always thought that the saying "opposites attract" rang true, but now that I think about it, my friends and their significant others are very similar. They may differ in certain interests, but when it comes down to it on a more personal level, they are very similar. It's amazing what we can discover with science, and the ideas that researchers come up with are definitely incredible.

Related Article
Original Article

Aggressive Chimpanzees More Likely to be Fathers

Based on the genetic evidence of paternity, a new study in the Cell Press journal Current Biology suggests that male chimpanzees that treat females aggressively have more offspring over time than males that are not aggressive. This could explain why male chimpanzees are generally very aggressive to the females in the environment.

"I'm not that aggressive!"

For the study, Joseph Feldblum of Duke University along with his colleagues looked at a community of chimpanzees in Tanzania's Gombe National Park. This park has been under close observation so the researchers knew who the biological fathers were of nearly all the chimps born in the community based on parental genetic tests. The findings showed that males had a higher reproductive success when they showed long term patterns of intimidation. The study shows what might be the first genetic evidence of sexual coercion as an adaptive strategy in social mammals.
This article is extremely interesting but readers should be warned that this does not have explanations for mating behavior in human society because the way a chimpanzee society is ran is different from how human society is. So although nice guys finish last in a chimpanzee community, it does not explain the idea that nice guys finish last in human society if you believe that. Also do not treat females aggressively just because chimps do.

Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141113122939.htm

WILL YOUR DANCE MOVES AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO FIND A MATE?

Researchers at Northumbria University and the University of Gottingen examined the science of dancing in order to determine what draws a women to a male dancing partner. Dancing ability, specifically of men, may serve as a factor in mate quality. The researchers conducted an experiment in which they recruited 30 men to dance to a drum for 30 seconds while their movements were recorded via a motion-capture system. The dance of each participant was computed into a “featureless, gender-neutral” avatar. 37 women were then asked to rate each performance based on a seven-point scale.

FINDINGS: The women favored men who showed larger and more variable movements of the head, neck and torso. In addition, there was a positive response to quick leg movements that displayed coordination. The study suggests that although more research is needed, men’s dance moves could carry “honest signals of traits such as health, fitness, genetic quality and developmental history.”

Genetics and the Influences on Dance

Sex steroids including testosterone are responsible for sex differentiation during the development of a male body. A reference provided in the original study found that prenatal levels of testosterone may not only play a role in male facial development but also male dance movement.

Past research on selections in human mating acknowledge many cues that utilize phenotypes to evaluate men. For example, studies show that males with prominent facial features are associated with higher testosterone levels and are, therefore, perceived to be more masculine and dominant. Preferences for a more masculine face may reflect the chance of selecting for heritable immunity to infectious disease, since testosterone is noted to have immunosuppressant effects. Overall, evolutionary theory suggests that the prevalence of T-related secondary traits reflect a man’s reproductive viability.

I found this article to be very interesting. Although you would not normally associate something such as dance moves in the quality of a partner this study shows its actual significance. Further, in reviewing other articles referenced in the study it is apparent that several heuristic studies have been conducted that examine mate selection. More research still needs to be done in order to strengthen the findings, however, this information provided is in intriguing topic that links genetics to mate selection in today’s society.

References: 

Article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/03/24/what-women-want-on-the-dance-floor-according-to-science/

 

Study: https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/static/5007/neave_dance.pdf

 

Reference provided in study : http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019188690600290X