
Category: General Zoology
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The chemistry of milk
Image Credit: Compound Interest Milk is a complex mixture of Water, fat, proteins, minerals and other compounds. As fats and water don’t mix well, fat and water form an emulsion in milk.
Triglycerides make up the fats in milk. These are molecules with a glycerol backbone and three fatty acid chains attached. Most common fatty acids in milk are palmitic, oleic, stearic, and myristic acids. The variations in the amounts of these acids are a consequence of what cows eat.
Proteins are another important component in milk that gives milk its white appearance. Casein is the main type of protein among hundreds of others.
In milk, proteins cluster together to form structures called micelles. They grow from small clusters of calcium phosphate, which held the proteins together. The micelles are on average about 150 nanometres in diameter, and are able to scatter light that hits them. This scattering gives the milk its white colour.
Other compounds found dissolved in milk are vitamins, minerals and a sugar called lactose. Lactose is a sugar found only in milk and dairy products.
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Top 20 Zoology blogs for students and educators
Handpicked collection of top zoology blogs
Useful selection of top zoology blogs for students and teachers of zoology. These handpicked blogs range from General zoology, Evolution, Marine biology, cryptozoology and many more. Any student of zoology will be interested in this list.
Zooborns
Photographic blog showcasing the newest and cutest baby animals from zoos and aquariums around the world. It is maintained by two people Chris and Andrew.
Tetrapod Zoology
Written by blogger Darren Naish, Tetrapod Zoology focusses on sharing information related to Amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals – living and extinct with special interest to dinosaurs.
Independent Zoology News
All the latest breaking news on animals and zoos.
Animal World news feed
Animal World’s blog features everything from the land to the sea and specializes in pet care. Along with pets, you can learn new things about exotic animals as well.
Deep-Sea News
A group of bloggers committed to deliver news related to ocean science from a scientific view point.
IAS Zoology
Maintained by veteran Professor Dr. Girish Chandra, IAS Zoology is a website for any student studying Zoology. With well-arranged topics and categories, there is endless material needed for any zoology student.
Real Monstrosities
Maintained by Joseph Jameson-Gould, this blog explores a collection of weird, ugly and monstrous members of the natural world, creatures strange in body or habit.
10,000 Birds
A blog about birds, pictures of birds, and people who write about birds, birding, conservation, and much more.
Conservation Bytes
A blog highlighting, discussing and critiquing the science of biodiversity conservation. Maintained by CJA Bradshaw, this blog goes a step deeper with conservation research.
Gwen Pearson
A blog on Wired Science written by and science writer Gwen Pearson. Focus subjects are entomology evolution and ecology. Find more writings by Gwen from here https://muckrack.com/gwen-pearson/portfolio
Evolving Thoughts
Written by John Simpson Wilkins, this blog shares thoughts on evolution, science, and philosophy.
Primatology
Primatology is a blog run by a group of volunteers interested in the research, preservation, and conservation of primates. The aim to post current research, news, book reviews, videos, and other forms of media that are related to primates.
Centre for Fortean Zoology
The CFZ is a blog dedicated to unknown animals, or cryptozoology. It also examines unusual and aberrant animal behavior, animal mutilations, animal colour variants, teratology, and animal folklore.
ZSL Blog
A blog featuring animals of the world and is maintained by Zoological Society of London (ZSL), an international scientific, conservation and educational organization whose mission is to promote and achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats.
Penguinology
Maintained by Lin Kerns, this blog is devoted to the study of penguins past and present.
Anole Annals
Anole Annals is written and edited by scientists who study Anolis lizards. This blog disseminates new scientific research, natural history anecdotes, and a wide range of other items related to the study of Anolis lizards.
Journal of Zoology Blog
Official blog of Journal of Zoology, which publish papers in areas of zoology that are novel and interdisciplinary. It embraces many disciplines including anatomy, behaviour, ecology, physiology, genomics, developmental biology, systematics and genetics, including phylogenetics.
Cryptozoology Online
Edited by Corinna Downes of Centere for Fortean Zoology, this blog features a lot of materials related to Cryptozoology.
The Zoological
Harvey, a zoologist uses this website as a way of keeping up to date with the most interesting discoveries in science and conservation. This blog features some nice articles related to Zoology.
Carl Safina’s Blog
Safina, Professor at Stony Brook University, documents the changes occurring in the world’s oceans and the implications of those changes for both animals and humanity.
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Sea turtle thanks divers for rescuing
Colin Sutton and Cameron Dietrich were diving off the coast of Mexico when they found a sea turtle tangled up in the rope attached to a buoy. Though the impressive turtle is nearly as large as the divers, he was unable to free himself and the two men spent quite some time removing the rope from his fin, allowing him to swim away without a scratch.
But before he swam out of sight, the creatures turned around and surprised his rescuer with a sweet show of gratitude. Watch the video and see for yourself — who knew turtles could say “thank you”?
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These electron microscopic images of human body will astonish you
Artery
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a a small artery (blood vessel) cut open with RBCs (red coloured) rushing outside.
Blood Clot
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of red blood cells (erythrocytes) trapped in a fibrin mesh (yellow). The production of fibrin is triggered by cells called platelets, activated when a blood vessel is damaged. The fibrin binds the various blood cells together, forming a solid structure called a blood clot. A blood clot is a normal response, preventing an excessive loss of blood. However, inappropriate clotting is a major cause of heart attacks and strokes.
Red Blood Cells (RBC)
They look like little cinnamon candies here, but they are actually the most common type of blood cell in the human body – red blood cells (RBCs). These biconcave-shaped cells have the tall task of carrying oxygen to our entire body; in women there are about 4 to 5 million RBCs per micro liter (cubic millimeter) of blood and about 5 to 6 million in men. People who live at higher altitudes have even more RBCs because of the low oxygen levels in their environment.
WBC engulfing fungal spores
A neutrophil (white) phagocytosing (engulfing and destroying) spores from the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus (green). Neutrophils are the most abundant white blood cell and are part of the body’s immune system. Aspergillus fumigatus is common in dust, soil, and on plants and plant products such as hay or grain. It can cause a number of different diseases in humans, including allergic disorder, respiratory infection and invasive disease.
Human Bone
Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of cancellous (spongy) bone. Bone tissue can be either cortical (compact) or cancellous. Cortical bone usually makes up the exterior of the bone, while cancellous bone is found in the interior. Cancellous bone is characterised by a honeycomb arrangement, comprising a network of trabeculae (rod-shaped tissue). These structures provide support and strength to the bone. The spaces within this tissue contain bone marrow (not seen), a blood forming substance.
Human Tooth – Dentine
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of dentine (substantia eburnea), mineralised connective tissue found in a tooth’s enamel. The pulp, the soft tissue containing nerves and blood vessels that makes up the inner part of the tooth, has been removed to reveal the grey mesh of new and partially formed dentine. This is a thin layer that separates the old dentine from the living cells of the pulp.
Eye lashes
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of eyelash hairs (green). The surrounding skin surface has cells which are being shed. Hairs grow from follicles in the under- lying layer of skin (the dermis). The portion of the hair protruding from the skin is made up of dead tissue and the protein keratin. Eyelashes prevent foreign bodies from entering the eye.
Eye anatomy
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) showing part of the ciliary body (red) and iris (right) of an eye. The ciliary body is a ring-shaped structure that surrounds the iris and joins to ligaments that hold the lens in place behind the iris. It also contains the ciliary muscle that is contracted to alter the curvature of the lens and focus light on the retina at the back of the eye. Magnification: x20 when printed 10 centimetres wide.
Iris pigment epithelium of eye
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a section through the iris of an eye, showing the iris pigment epithelium (IPE). The IPE is a layer of cuboidal cells (pink) that lies behind the iris. Each cell contains numerous large melanosomes (blue), which contain the pigment melanin. The concentration of this melanin is one of the factors that determine the colour of a person’s eye. Magnification: x3,300 when printed 10 centimetres wide.
Middle ear bone (Stapes)
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the human middle ear, showing the stapes (ring-shaped). The stapes is one of three bones (known as the ossicles) in the middle ear that conduct sound waves from the outer ear to the inner ear. Vibrations from the eardrum are passed to the malleus and then the stapes via the incus. The stapes transmits these vibrations to the fluid-filled cochlear of the inner ear where they are converted to nerve impulses. Magnification: x100
Inner ear hair cells
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of sensory hair cells from the inner ear. These cells are surrounded by a fluid called endolymph. As sound enters the ear it causes waves to form in the endolymph, which in turn cause the hairs to move. The movement is converted to an electrical signal that is passed on to the brain. Each crescent-shaped arrangement of hairs lies atop a single cell.
Taste bud
Colour-enhanced image of a taste bud on the tongue. Human tongue has about 10,000 taste buds that are involved with detecting salty, sour, bitter, sweet and savory taste perceptions.
Bacteria on tongue
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of bacteria on the surface of a human tongue. Large numbers of bacteria can form a visible layer on the surface of the tongue. The mouth contains a large number of bacteria, most of which are harmless or even beneficial. However, some bacteria can cause throat infections or cause the formation of plaque deposits on the teeth, which may lead to decay.
Skeletal muscle fibres bundle
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a skeletal, or striated, muscle fibre. It consists of a bundle of smaller fibres called myofibrils, which are crossed by transverse tubules (yellow) that mark the division of the myofibrils in to contractile units (sarcomeres). Skeletal muscle is under the conscious control of the brain.
Nerve bundle
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a freeze-fractured section through a bundle of myelinated nerve fibres. Myelin sheaths (yellow) can be seen surrounding the axons (blue). Perineurium (connective tissue, pink) surrounds the nerve bundle while endoneurium divides the individual fibres.
Spinal cord
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a cross section through a spinal cord. It has a central region of grey matter (red) that contains nerve cell bodies and their associated fibres. The outer zone of white matter (yellow- brown) consists solely of tracts of nerve fibres. There is an outer covering of meninges (white), specialized connective tissue layers. The spinal cord is enclosed in the vertebral column (backbone, not seen). It consists of nerves connecting all parts of the body with the brain. Magnification: x45 at 6x7cm size.
Human Sperm on the surface of an ovum
Scanning electron microscopy image of numerous sperm trying to fertilise a human egg. In order to successfully fertilise the egg they need to find their way through the tough zona pellucida, the membrane that surrounds and protects the egg. Credit: Yorgos Nikas, Wellcome Images.
Seminal Vesicles and sperm
Sperm production site. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) showing sperm cells in a seminiferous tubule of the testis. The tubule has been freeze fractured to show its cross section. Seminiferous tubules are the site of sperm production (spermatogenesis) by the process of meiotic cell division. Sperm begin their development towards the outside of the tubule (beige) and move inwards (pink) as they mature. Mature sperm cells are seen here with their heads embedded in the tubule and their long tails pointing outwards.
Fertilisation of Human Sperm and Ovum
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a sperm (blue) attempting to penetrate a human egg (orange). The sperm (spermatozoan) has a rounded head and a long tail with which it swims. Women usually release one egg (ovum) per month, whereas men release millions of sperm in each ejaculation. Only one of these sperm can penetrate the egg’s thick outer layer (zona pellucida) and fertilise it. Fertilisation occurs when the sperm’s genetic material (deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA) fuses with the egg’s DNA. When this occurs the egg forms a barrier to other sperm. Magnification: x700 when printed 10 centimetres wide.
Human Embryo – 3 days old
Human embryo after zona drilling – coloured Colour-enhanced scanning electron micrograph of a human embryo at day 3. The egg has been fertilised in vitro and has developed to this stage in culture. The coat around the egg (zona pellucida) has been treated with acid Tyrodes solution to make a hole so an individual cell can be removed. This cell can then be used for genetic diagnosis before the embryo is transferred to the womans uterus. This allows the selective implantation of embryos that do not carry the genetic disease in question. Credit Yorgos Nikas, Wellcome Images
Human Embryo – 4 days old
Human embryo exposing the embryonic cells Scanning electron micrograph of a human embryo at day 4. The protein coat surrounding the egg (zona pellucida, gold) has been slit to expose the embryonic cells inside (red). These cells go on to form the embryo and can be harvested and cultured to give rise to embryonic stem (ES) cells. Microvilli are visible on the surface of the embryonic cells (blastomeres) and numerous sperm (blue) are still visible on the outside of the zona pellucida. Credit Yorgos Nikas, Wellcome Images
Human Embryo Implantation
Coloured Image of a 6 day old Human Embryo Implanting itself onto the wall of the uterus.
Alveoli of lungs
A colour-enhanced image of the inner surface of human lung. The hollow cavities are alveoli. Each alveolus is a site for gas exchange between the air in the air sac and the blood in adjacent capillaries. Red blood cells (erythrocytes) can be seen through the walls of the alveoli. Oxygen diffuses from the inhaled air across these walls into the red blood cells. It binds with haemoglobin and is delivered to the body’s cells for respiration. Carbon dioxide is returned from the cells to the lungs and diffuses out of the blood to be exhaled.
Fat tissue
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of fat cells (adipocytes, round) surrounded by fine strands of supportive connective tissue. Adipocytes are among the largest cells in the human body, each cell being 100 to 120 microns in diameter. Almost the entire volume of each fat cell consists of a single lipid (fat or oil) droplet. Adipose tissue forms an insulating layer under the skin, storing energy in the form of fat, which is obtained from food. Magnification: x300 when printed
Intestinal villi
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of villi on the lining of the small intestine. Villi are finger-like projections that line the surface of the small intestine and increase the surface area available for the absorption of nutrients from digested food. Magnification: x135 when printed 10 centimetres wide.
Sweat gland pore
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a sweat gland pore (red) opening onto the surface of human skin. This pore brings sweat from a sweat gland to the skin surface. The sweat evaporates, removing heat and playing a vital role in cooling the body and preventing it from overheating. Skin cells can be seen flaking off the skin around the pore opening. Sweat pores vary in shape and size over the body. Magnification: x500 when printed 10cm wide.
Trachea lining
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a section through the wall of a trachea (wind pipe). The trachea links the larynx to the lungs. The lining consists of mucus-secreting goblet cells (one seen at centre, pink) and epithelial cells (vertical) that are covered in cilia (hair-like). Mucus traps debris, such as dust particles or bacteria, in the inhaled air, while the beating of the cilia moves the mucus and particles upwards out of the respiratory tract. This helps to keep the lungs and airways clear and prevent infection.
Human chromosomes and nucleus
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Chromosomes are a packaged form of the genetic material DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). The DNA normally exists in a non-condensed form in the cell nucleus (upper right). It condenses into chromosomes (centre and lower left) during cell replication. In humans, there are 46 chromosomes, consisting of 23 chromosome pairs. Magnification: x4350 when printed at 10 centimetres across.
Human Hair
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM). Hair shafts growing from the surface of human skin. The shafts of hair (yellow) are anchored in their individual hair follicles (not seen) below the surface of the skin. Hair is made up of a fibrous protein called keratin. The outer skin layer, the stratum corneum, consists of dead keratinized cells that detach from the body giving this flaky appearance. Magnification: x140 when printed 10cm high.
Fingernail
Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of a delaminated section of fingernail. The flattened structures are dead keratinised epithelial cells produced by the mitotic epithelium of the nailbed. The dead cells are linked firmly together by keratin attachments forming a hard protective layer. It takes about six months for a fingernail to grow from base to tip. A similar process occurs in the growth of a hair from its follicle. Magnification: x315 at 6x7cm, x220 at 6×4.5cm size. x740 at 8x6inch size. x395 at 10x7cm master size
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12 Myths about animals
Myth 1
Myth 2
Myth 3
Myth 4
Myth 5
Myth 6
Myth 7
Myth 8
Myth 9
Myth 10
Myth 11
Myth 12
Image courtesy: 9gag.com
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Greenland sharks: the longest living vertebrate?
Greenland shark, Somniosus microcephalus of the family Somniosidae (“sleeper sharks”), is one of the largest living species of shark living on earth. Their distribution is mostly restricted to the waters of the North Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean. It is characterized by its large, heavy-set body which gives it a sluggish appearance and movement. It has a short, rounded snout, thin lips, and very small eyes. The dorsal and pectoral fins are very small, and it lacks spines in its dorsal fins. The gill openings are very small in comparison to its size and are located low on the sides of the shark’s head. The Greenland shark varies between a black, brown, and grey colour. Although the shark is usually uniform in colour, it may often be marked with dark lines or white spots along its back and sides.[1] They can grow to 6.4 m (21 ft) and 1,000 kg.[2]
In the 1930s, a fisheries biologist discovered that these sharks grow only about 1 cm a year. Yet scientists had been unable to figure out just how many years the sharks last. Now a recent study published in science[3] reveals an estimate about their age.[4]
For many fishes, the age can be examined by counting patterns of concentric rings seen inside otoliths, which are calcified structures seen inside ears. Many sharks like Great Whale have calcified tissue that grows in layers on their back bones can be used to determine their age. But the Greenland shark is a very soft shark – it has no hard body parts where growth layers are deposited. So it was believed that the age could not be investigated.
In the recent study, scientists employed radio carbon dating of eye lens protein to estimate the age of these sharks. In vertebrates, eye lens nucleus is composed of metabolically inactive crystalline proteins. These proteins in the centre are formed during prenatal development. Thus eye lens nucleus retains the proteins formed when the shark was still inside the mother’s body. So the presence of radioactive isotopes like C-14, N-15 etc. represents the isotope signatures of the diet of shark’s mother.
Now they employed a novel technique, they looked for ‘bomb pulse’ signatures in eye lens proteins of these organisms. Nuclear bomb testing in 1950s left behind high amounts of C-14 in earth’s surface and it infiltrated ocean ecosystems in early 1960s. This period of rapid radiocarbon increase is a well-established time stamp for age validation in marine animals and is called a ‘bomb pulse. The idea is that, bomb pulse can be detected in the eye lens of sharks, which can be attributed to a particular period.
Of the total 28 sharks collected, two – both less than 2.2 meters long, were born after 1960s and one small was born around 1963. Then the research team used these dated sharks to create a growth curve, keeping the fact that new-born Greenland sharks are 42 cm long. Moreover, these sharks grow only about 1 cm a year. Then they correlated the radiocarbon dates with shark length to calculate the age of collected sharks.
The oldest shark was estimated with an age of 392 ± 120 years. It was also estimated that the sexual maturity would be achieved by 156 ± 22 years (reported sexual maturity at lengths >400 cm). This places Greenland shark as the longest lived vertebrate recorded. The next oldest recorded vertebrate is the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus), at 211 years old.[5]
The study reveals that the life expectancy of Greenland sharks is exceeded by only one marine bivalve, Ocean quahog (Arctica islandica) at 507 years. The long life expectancy and reproductive maturity makes the survival of these species vulnerable and conservation efforts are important to keep this population from disappearing.
Photos & Video courtesy: Julius Nielsen
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References
1.Somniosus microcephalus :: Florida Museum of Natural History (2016). flmnh.ufl.edu. Available at: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/discover/species-profiles/somniosus-microcephalus (accessed on 16 August 2016).2.Somniosus microcephalus (Greenland shark) (2016). Animal Diversity Web. Available at: http://animaldiversity.org/site/accounts/information/Somniosus_microcephalus.html (accessed on 16 August 2016).3.Nielsen J., Hedeholm R.B., Heinemeier J., Bushnell P.G., Christiansen J.S., Olsen J., Ramsey C.B., Brill R.W., Simon M., Steffensen K.F. & Steffensen J.F. (2016). – Eye lens radiocarbon reveals centuries of longevity in the Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus). Science, 353 (6300), 702–704. doi: 10.1126/science.aaf17034.Pennisi E. (2016). – Greenland shark may live 400 years, smashing longevity record. Science. doi: 10.1126/science.aag07485.Dovey D. (2015). – 200-Year-Old, Cancer-Resistant Whale May Help Us Live Longer. Medical Daily. Available at: http://www.medicaldaily.com/can-marine-biology-help-us-live-forever-bowhead-whale-can-live-200-years-cancer-316424 (accessed on 16 August 2016).