Biology Department Newsletter Issue 10: week commencing 15 June 2020
Biology in the news with Mrs Oatridge The accelerating threat of a “sixth mass extinction” New evidence that the disappearance of wildlife is happening is an at alarming rate has reignited fears of a human-prompted “sixth mass extinction”. Using available population data for 29,400 terrestrial vertebrate species, researchers report that of 543 extinctions since 1901, 173 took place between 2001 and 2014. Furthermore, it is likely that the extinction rate will only accelerate, as 515 species are classed as critically endangered with populations of under 1000. Examples include the Hainon gibbon (around 30 left) and the Sumatran rhino (less than 100 left). Not only does the future look bleak for biodiversity but the researchers are also concerned about the impact on humanity: “when humanity exterminates other creatures, it is sawing off the limb on which it is sitting” says Prof Paul Ehrlich at Stanford University. The power of a bee’s bite Researchers is Switzerland have published evidence suggesting that a bee’s bite can encourage early blooming in flowers. Bees can make a series of incisions on leaves and in a series of experiments, they found that pollenstarved bumblebees were more likely to do so that bees from well-fed colonies. Plants exposed to the nibbling were also found to flower considerably earlier: by a whole month for tomato plants! Why the bees bite has an effect is unknown, but the scientists suggest it could be providing a cue to the plant that is “bee-specific”. Summaries adapted from ‘The Week’
Reintroducing glow worms Glow worms are set to be reintroduced to the British countryside as a way of supporting their dwindling population. Take a look here to read why these fascinating little beetles are so important The Times.
There’s no genetic basis for race It's been used to define and separate people for millennia. But the concept of race is not grounded in genetics. Read this article in National Geographic to find out more about why race is a human construction.