Activity for Anonymous
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question | — |
Why would an entire biosphere evolve to reproduce with three parents instead of two? So I have an alien biosphere in which trisexual reproduction predominates. As far as we can tell, trisexual reproduction does not offer an advantage when it comes to shuffling genes. The biological mechanics are already explained in detail, so I only need to answer the why. Why would the biosphere ... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
| Question | — |
Are reproductive and excretory systems inherently linked? Could life evolve differently? As far as I have been able to determine, the majority of life reuses the same plumbing for reproductive and digestive/excretory systems. In fact, the anus is believed to be derived from the male gonopore. This is seen in all vertebrates and arthropods, as the anus and reproductive organs are derived... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
| Question | — |
How does a species with three "sexes", where only two needed are at a time, determine the sex of its offspring? I am trying to figure out the sex-determination of a very foreign form of reproduction. A species has three sexes X, Y, and Z. X produces X gametes, Y produces Y gametes, Z produces Z gametes. They do not correspond to male or female, as any may impregnate or be impregnated. Only two parents of diff... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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What conditions are necessary to support lightless radiotrophic ecosystems? There are few examples of radiotrophic ecosystems on Earth. Of those discovered, the radiotrophs are limited to single-celled organisms and unique mutant fungi. The reason seems to be due to a lack of concentrated radiation. The Chernobyl reactor is an energy source similar to a star or steam vent, ... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
| Question | — |
What selective pressures would favor hermaphroditism in some individuals of an animal species which reproduces sexually? Some species which reproduce sexually will replace one sex with (or add) hermaphrodites. The coexistence of males and hermaphrodites is androdioecious, females and hermaphrodites gynodioecious, and all three trioecious. In the absence of a male or female to mate with, a hermaphrodite is capable of se... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
| Question | — |
Spherical symmetry in animals? Biradial symmetry occurs in ctenophores: the body plan consists of two halves which independently display radial symmetry. Spherical symmetry occurs in Volvox algae: any cut through the center of the body results in two identical halves. Hypothetically, an organism could display spherical symmetry. ... (more) |
— | almost 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
Plausibility of seahorse-like marsupials where the male carries offspring? This hypothetical marsupial species raises young in a manner loosely similar to seahorses. Only the males have pouches: after gestation the female deposits the fetus into his pouch to compete development. Is this adaptation competitive? EDIT: Here are some revisions to address problems brought up by... (more) |
— | almost 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
What selection pressures would favor isogametous reproduction requiring more than two parents? A hypothetical organism is tetraploid and isogametous. To reproduce, four haploid gametes must meet and fuse into a tetraploid zygote. Any four individuals are sexually compatible, barring self-incompatibility or mating types. What selection pressures would favor this method of reproduction over the... (more) |
— | almost 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
Are there any outstanding factors that would prevent marsupials from evolving civilization? Humans are derived from arboreal shrew-like animals that survived the cataclysm which wiped out the larger dinosaurs. As far as I am aware this series of events is entirely the result of chance. Would being marsupials have adversely affected the development of heuristics, tool use, civilization, etc?... (more) |
— | almost 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
Plausibility of a plant/animal organism with asymmetrical alternation of generations? A hypothetical organism alternates between plant and animal stages over its life cycle. The organism exhibits equally extreme sexual dimorphism. The generations are diplobiontic a la some species of red algae: gametophyte (androphyte and gynophyte), carposporophyte (microcarpophyte and megacarpophyt... (more) |
— | almost 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
Why would the males of a species exhibit polymorphism? A hypothetical species is divided into males and females that exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism. The males are further divided into multiple morphs (e.g. α-male, β-male, γ-male, etc). This polymorphism is extreme enough that a viewer unfamiliar with this species could mistake all these morphs f... (more) |
— | almost 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
Could aliens colonize Earth without realizing humans are people too? So aliens find Earth to be suitable for colonization and disregard humanity's claim. Not because they are racist, but because they are so different biologically and psychologically that humans simply don't fit their definition of people. Animals, certainly, but not sapient beings deserving of the rig... (more) |
— | almost 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
How does a female-to-male adaptor impregnate? A hypothetical species reproduces by females impregnating males a la seahorses. However, their reproductive system appears woefully ill-suited to this task. Their genitalia are outwardly similar to and compatible with placental mammalian genitalia. The mechanics of copulation are outwardly identical:... (more) |
— | about 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
What would terrestrial animals derived from cnidarian ancestors look like? I have wondered what a terrestrial ecosystem would look like dominated by cnidarians and ctenophores rather than insects and tetrapods. In order to fulfill the same niches I imagine they would need to be highly derived compared to their ancestral forms. Since their physiology is so different I am hav... (more) |
— | about 8 years ago |
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What conditions are necessary to support a vitriolic chlorine planet? I need a planet that is a combination of chlorine world and vitriolic world. The planet is extremely hot and under high pressure, covered in oceans of pure sulfuric acid and a chlorine/fluorine atmosphere replenished by silicon-based autotrophs. What are the optimal conditions for such a planet to f... (more) |
— | about 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
Are the properties of "element zero" feasible? I am trying to fact check a consistent set of properties and applications for the titular unobtainium from the Mass Effect games in order to avoid introducing contradictions. Certain sources I read claim it wouldn't allow for the applications it is used for. The in-game codex isn't detailed (it say... (more) |
— | about 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
Logistics of civilization with point-to-point superluminal travel calculating a pseudo-current map of the galaxy's navigational hazards An interstellar civilization has superluminal travel which allows for travel between two points, effectively without traversing the space in between so they don't crash into anything between them and their target. Navigation presents a problem: the visible stars only give a snapshot of their positio... (more) |
— | about 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
How could the alien hybrids from the "Species" movies be approximated under real physics? The hybrids were created when unseen aliens sent SETI a message explaining how to combine human and alien DNA. (Ignoring the scientific illiteracy and contradictions in the films) Under the constraints of real science, how could an engineered alien-human hybrid organism approximate the traits of the ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
Surrogate uteri (exaggerated brood parasitism) as an adaptation? Under what circumstances would a species develop an adaptation to employ surrogate wombs of their own species or others? The species implants its zygotes/eggs in the uterus/brood pouch of a surrogate mother/father, of its own species or another, which gestates and births to the offspring. This is n... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
What conditions would lead a hyperparasite (whose host is itself a parasite) to develop civilization? A hyperparasite is "a parasite whose host is itself a parasite" and is the closest analogy to an apex predator in the ecology of parasites. Human sociability, intelligence and status as apex predators allowed us to develop civilization. What conditions would pressure a hyperparasite (or hyperparasito... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Plausibility of telescoping generations with inter-generational insemination? Certain aphids and mites reproduce by telescoping generations, but do so in different ways (parthenogenesis and intercourse in utero, respectively), Hypothetically these methods could be combined. So this hypothetical arthropod reproduces like so: Virgin (parthenogenic female) impregnates herself ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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How could a vampire pathogen operate in hard science fiction? While the vampire is a monster of folklore, modern technothrillers (e.g. Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency, Ultraviolet, Blade, Underworld, Daybreakers) have portrayed vampires as humans infected by a pathogen that causes hematophagy, photosensitivity, and enhanced physical attributes (e.g. strength,... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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How plausible is a photosynthetic parasite that targets animal hosts? Real parasitic plants target only plant hosts and in certain species fungal hosts. How plausible are parasitic plants (or algae, lichen, or other photosynthetic organisms) that targets animal hosts similarly to parasitic fungi? What would be efficient survival strategies? What evolutionary pressures ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
A plant/fungus and an animal that form a single species? Two vastly dissimilar organisms turn out to be the same species upon gene sequencing. In this hypothetical animal species one or more components of the life cycle is a fungus, algae, plant, lichen or other vegetative organism. The species may transition from animal to vegetative or vice versa between... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
Alien analogues to the vertebrate ear? How could an auditory organ perceive sound waves with a completely different anatomy from the vertebrate ear (e.g. canal, typanum, bones) at the same effectiveness? (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
Could abiogenesis occur within software environments? Within software environments there is a variety of malware such as viruses, trojans, bots and so forth. This malware is created by human programmers to accomplish specific purposes (e.g. steal personal information, pointless terrorism, etc). However, given the right circumstances, is it not possible ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
How could a brain parasite enter the skull with minimal effort? So I have a brain parasite that needs to enter the skull of a host organism (in this case humans) with the least amount of effort, but is too large to enter through the circulatory system and must physically crawl inside a host. Drilling through the skull is the most difficult option and will likely ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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What would be the proper latin terminology for half-human anatomy configurations? Many half-human mythological creatures follow a few common anatomical schemes. Some consist of an animal with a human face, such as the sphinx, naga and manticore. Some consist of a human anterior and animal posterior, such as the satyr, faun, ipotane and mermaid. Some consist of an animal whose he... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
Plausibility and ramifications of a mammal with both rut cycles and induced ovulation? A hypothetical mammal has developed an unusual reproductive cycle. The females normally ovulate upon experiencing orgasm, whereas the males only display sperm production and heightened sex drive during a periodic rut. In other words, a reversal of our familiar male/female patterns. How plausible is ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
How plausible is a volcanic planet with a hundreds of miles tall atmosphere, flying mountains and radio interference? After reading The Ellimist Chronicles by K.A. Applegate, I wondered what conditions would have led to the environment found on the planet "Ket" featured in the story. Ket has the following properties: Turbulent, unlivable surface dotted with numerous volcanoes. An atmosphere that extends many hundr... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
Why would a body plan with multiple eating mouths evolve? Aside from very simple or colonial organisms, all animals on Earth have only one mouth for eating. Many organisms have multiple spiracles or even multiple anuses, but not mouths. (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
What series of evolutionary events would lead to isogamous (not isogynous) animals? Isogamy: "sexual reproduction by the fusion of similar gametes." Not to be confused with Isogyny, "marriage between people of similar status or age." All such species on Earth lack tissue-level organization, such as algae and fungi. What hurdles would an isogamous species need to overcome to achieve... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
What would be a plausible mechanism for conception involving an arbitrary number of gametes? I am attempting to devise a mechanism whereby a species may reproduce in a communal manner. A number of individuals, ranging from two to arbitrarily high, may contribute gametes to a mass spawning and the resulting offspring will be genetically related to all of the parents who contributed. This woul... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |