Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

MyDogEli t1_ivgbnsb wrote

Reply to comment by bossonhigs in English company Oxitec has released a simple, easy to distribute commercial product they say cuts Dengue Fever spreading mosquito populations by 96%. By just adding water, genetically modified mosquito eggs mature into males whose sperm cannot result in viable female larvae. by lughnasadh

That’s a theory/opinion. The statement assumes an intent by nature as if it was somehow cognizant of its actions.

13

bossonhigs t1_ivgpww9 wrote

It doesn't have to be. Evolution is underlying law it abides. One with cognition might observe and draw conclusions. Have you ever watched Planet Earth, that episode with ants in the forest?

Cordiceps fungy infects ant wandered too far, when it returns to colony it becomes zombie but again it goes away and climbs on a branh and spread spores.

Practically, it keeps ant colonies from spreading too much, keeping a buffer zone between ant colonies.

There is some grand design there.

It's not like fungus kills whole colony. It keeps them in check.

−6

GentleFriendKisses t1_ivhbvan wrote

You're just describing the ecology of parasitism/pathogens. If the fungus killed the whole colony, it would have no hosts and go extinct. A fungus that did that would therefore be selected against, as it would not be able to pass on its genes following the extermination of its hosts. The evolutionary role of the fungus isn't to keep ant colonies in check, it's to pass on its genes. As killing entire colonies quickly would be detrimental to passing on its genes, it's not something that would occur sustainably.

2