Interspecies blood transfusions are theoretically possible but require a complicated process to remove all antigens and foreign bodies. The cost would be prohibitive and the risk of serious illness or death is high. Attempts in the past have resulted in deaths and rejection of grafted glands. The ABO blood typing system made it clear that […]
Insects are the most diverse group of animals on Earth, with over one million described species and an estimated 6-10 million total. They are found in almost every above-ground environment, including Antarctica. Insect species range in size from 0.139 mm to 55.5 cm. Insects are a success story, with a global biomass estimated at 1012 […]
Bacteria can be pathogenic or beneficial, with various shapes and structures. Dangerous species include H. pylori, streptococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, clostridium botulinum, Escherichia coli, and Legionella pneumophila. Different subspecies of bacteria constantly emerge. There are countless species of bacteria, some of which are pathogenic and some of which are essential for life. Pathogens cause disease in […]
There are around 75,000 known species of fungi, but scientists believe there could be up to one million unidentified species. Accurately classifying them is difficult and requires DNA sequencing. Fungi are eukaryotes and are classified into seven phyla, including chytrids, zygomycota, and club fungi. Some fungi are plant pathogens, while others have a symbiotic relationship […]
There are approximately 1.25 million identified animal species, but there could be up to 30 million unidentified insect species and 1 million mite species. The number of animal species on Earth is declining due to human-caused events such as the Holocene Extinction Event. There are approximately 1,250,000 identified animal species. This includes 1,190,200 invertebrates, including […]
Plants include 375,000 species, with 297,326 identified, and are photosynthetic with chloroplasts. They consist of green algae and terrestrial plants, with vascular plants being the most dominant and bryophytes being less advanced. Seeds allowed plants to colonize drier areas, and flowering plants evolved to involve mobile animals in pollination. There are an estimated 375,000 plant […]
Estimating the number of bacterial species is impossible with current technology. Using DNA reassociation and mathematical models, estimates range from 10 million to 1 billion species. Sequencing fragments is more cost-effective than whole genomes, and one survey found 20,000 species in 1 quart of seawater. Estimating the exact number of species of bacteria is impossible […]
Scientists have successfully sequenced DNA from a 120-135 million-year-old weevil found in Lebanese amber, but reviving larger and older animals remains difficult due to the challenge of finding intact DNA. Soft tissue from Pleistocene species is available, making the revival of Neanderthals and other species feasible. The technology raises ethical questions, but human curiosity is […]
Madagascar is a large island off the southeast coast of Africa, known for its high rate of endemic species. It contains 5% of the world’s animal and plant species, with 80% being endemic. Famous species include lemurs, fossas, and tenrecs, with many others in need of conservation efforts. Madagascar is a large island, about 140% […]
Genome size varies greatly within and between organisms, with no clear relationship to complexity. Junk DNA partially solves the “C-value conundrum.” Genome size is measured by weight and base pairs, with notable exceptions such as bacteria and plants having larger genomes than humans. The size of the genome differs in different organisms for reasons not […]
Birds evolved from small predatory dinosaurs in the Jurassic Period, with Archaeopteryx being the earliest known bird. Ratites were large flightless birds, including ostriches and emus, while phorusracids, or “terror birds,” were dominant predators in South America. The largest extinct bird was the elephant bird, while terror birds are the one category of extinct bird […]
