Homosexual Fungus Able to Reproduce
From Science Daily:
DURHAM, N.C., April 20 (UPI) — A deadly fungus that mates only with members of the same sex is still able to reproduce, report Duke University Medical Center researchers in North Carolina.
Infection by Cryptococcus neoformans can kill humans and a better understanding of how the fungus spreads might help counter its lethal power.
In fungus, sexual identity is determined by so-called “mating type loci,” genes arranged contiguously, but which typically do not span an entire chromosome. C. neoformans has two mating types.
Researchers found that, in C. neoformans, members of the same “sex” type can mate and produce offspring. The ability may help the fungus spread even if the balance between the sexes is off.
“The findings suggest for the first time that the fungus has developed a novel type of sexual cycle, allowing sexual reproduction between members of the same mating type,” said Dr. Joseph Heitman, one of the study investigators.
“That ability might confer an advantage for the fungus because patients infected with it predominantly harbor a single mating type, reducing the possibility of normal fungal sexual reproduction,” Heitman said.
A description of the findings appears in the April 21 issue of Nature.
Copyright 2005 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
I’m pretty set on not becoming a mother (at this time, anyway), but if a woman got me pregnant I’d be keeping that baby.
Yea, well, I’ve looked at your photo, dear, and you — most definitely — are NOT a fungus. Still, here’s to wishing! :)
::grin:: I always like to leave you the option to take it anyway you want it! However, if I’m forced to tip my hand as to my actual motive — yes, it was intended as a compliment. :)
I’m gonna take “NOT a fungus” as a compliment. Although, it does leave quite a bit of room for me to be many other things. LOL