User Panel
Posted: 1/5/2012 5:35:18 PM EDT
Welcome to a brave new world: Genetic scientists create freakish man-made monster ants with huge heads and jaws
By Rob Waugh Last updated at 9:13 PM on 5th January 2012 Nightmarish 'supersoldier' ants with huge heads and jaws have been created by activating ancient genes. A supersoldier next to a normal ant: Scientists say they can create the supersoldiers at will by dabbing normal ant larvae with a special hormone - the larvae then develop into supersoldiers rather than normal soldier or worker ants Scientists believe the monster ants may be a genetic throwback to an ancestor that lived millions of years ago. Supersoldier ants can occur naturally in the wild, but only rarely. In the deserts of America and Mexico, their job is to protect the colony from raids by invading army ants. The supersoldiers use their enormous heads to block the nest entrance and attack any enemy ants that get too close. Scientists showed that ordinary ants of the species Pheidole morrisi contain all the genetic 'tools' needed to turn them into supersoldiers - they just need a hormonal push. The research is reported today in the journal Science. The full story |
|
|
|
|
Wait til some scientist does this to fire ants, they get out, and start to mutate into the general fire ant population.
|
|
Since birds are supposedly the descendants of dinosaurs, I wonder if they can isolate the hormone with which to inject into a robin's egg to hatch a baby T-rex?
|
|
I guess it's the beginning of the end.
ETA: Shit, that was grasshoppers. |
|
|
|
Quoted:
Since birds are supposedly the descendants of dinosaurs, I wonder if they can isolate the hormone with which to inject into a robin's egg to hatch a baby T-rex? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QVXdEOiCw8 |
|
Maybe they should work on fixing the killer bee thing before doing this stuff again....
|
|
Quoted:
I'm gonna need a larger magnifying glass. I lol'd hard. |
|
Quoted:
No way anything bad could come of this. They're just activating genes already present in the genome. This isn't really all that innovative/manipulative. It says these supersized ants sometimes appear naturally in the wild, the scientists have just figured out which hormone can make it happen on a regular basis. We can already do similar things with other social insect species. It is cool though. |
|
Maybe we can swab some bald-faced hornet larvae with this special hormone.
Science isn't about why, it's about why not! |
|
Quoted:
I'm gonna need a larger magnifying glass. And a welding hood. |
|
Quoted:
My first thought. Due to the physiology of insects, ants that size are next to impossible. |
|
|
|
|
I have eaten ants.
They do need some more meat on those bones, so I say keep up the good work! |
|
I'm waiting for the talented folks who use photo shop to add a picture of themselves with thier favorite AR to this photo, thus saving this chick from certain doom....
|
|
Quoted:
Maybe we can swab some bald-faced hornet larvae with this special hormone. Science isn't about why, it's about why not! What a ridiculous statement. You don't even comprehend what you're criticizing. |
|
Bull shit that's just a Cornnut with some roach legs attached.
|
|
Quoted:
WHY WOULD YOU CREATE SUCH A THING!? First we figure out how to make ant heads bigger. Then we apply that knowledge towards making other heads bigger. |
|
They're testing super soldier serum on the lower life forms first.
|
|
I, for one, welcome our ant overlords. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Maybe we can swab some bald-faced hornet larvae with this special hormone. Science isn't about why, it's about why not! What a ridiculous statement. You don't even comprehend what you're criticizing. Why do you hate science? |
|
Quoted:
I have eaten ants. They do need some more meat on those bones, so I say keep up the good work! No bones, exoskeleton. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
I have eaten ants. They do need some more meat on those bones, so I say keep up the good work! No bones, exoskeleton. Well, They did crunch a bit, I just assumed they were bones and I guess that is why there wasn't any meat on them |
|
just because you could does not mean you should
add this to the mold/spore/plant thng that turns ants into zombies and we are fucked |
|
I bet the same biological tweak is the reason my genitals are so much larger than those of the average male.
I have super soldier junk. |
|
I believe the process is similar to the royal jelly that helps a regular apis mellifera larvae grow into a queen. I say royal jelly, but it is probably a mixture of many things the bees produce.
Quoted:
Quoted:
Maybe we can swab some bald-faced hornet larvae with this special hormone. Science isn't about why, it's about why not! What a ridiculous statement. You don't even comprehend what you're criticizing. |
|
Quoted:
I, for one, welcome our freakish, big headed ant overlords. in gratitude..... They will kill you last |
|
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.