In humans, male and female sex chromosomes both contribute to the biological sex of their children. Meanwhile, studies reveal that the sex of some species in the animal kingdom, such as ants, can be determined by only one parent’s genes. The author explains that unlike male ants, queen ants carry two copies of the relevant genomes, which they can pass on to their offspring, making them entirely male or female. Aside from genes, the author also mentions that the availability of food can possibly influence the sex of ant colonies. Read full article here
Science
An Eerie Poisonous Fog
If you’re visiting a farm, keep an eye out for an ominous-looking bronze fog. Nitrogen tetroxide, a red-orange gas, is made by certain bacteria during fermentation when oxygen is lacking in the crop. The lack of oxygen causes the bacteria to use the nitrate within the crops, which then produces nitrogen tetroxide. Inhalation of the gas is known to cause permanent lung damage or kill people and livestock. To prevent this, farmers have started performing nitrate tests after four weeks of fermentation. Read full article here
Merv
November 30, 2022
