01Oct 2015 by Vincent Summers 5 Comments

Do Black Snakes and Copperheads Crossbreed?

animals
Some country dwelling old timers give warning of a dangerous crossbreeding of two snakes — the copperhead and the black snake. The resulting combination is worse than a mere copperhead! This story is convincing to many young newcomers. Why would these old-timers misinform others suggesting they should eliminate both varieties of snake from their properties. Is the tale true? Do black snakes and copperheads crossbreed, or, even though sincerely believed, just a myth? Blacksnakes and Copperheads: Cellular Level References listed below assure us it is not only a myth but also an impossibility. These two snake varieties are of different species (strike one). Blacksnake cells differ fundamentally from those of the copperhead in their number of chromosomes (strike two). A difference in chromosome count is critical when it comes to…
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19Feb 2015 by Vincent Summers 15 Comments

Why Dogs Pee on Tires

animals
[caption id="attachment_6570" align="alignright" width="480"] Where are the tires? Where, huh? Where![/caption] It's a given. Dogs pee on tires. Unfortunately, the public guess as to the reason for the action has been accepted as a given. This is probably due to the assumption that a dog pees on tires for the same reason or reasons it pees on trees or on fire hydrants. But there is a common bumper sticker that discusses our tendency to assume. Common Sense Isn't Always Right No, I’m not convinced such a weak conclusion is totally accurate. I think there’s more to it. On approaching a tree, a male dog is nonchalant – whereas they demonstrate real zeal when they spy an automobile tire. You can be sure a dog is more than willing to travel…
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17Feb 2015 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Anatomy of a Dog’s Tail

animals
I have long wondered how a dog's tail wags tail. Clearly the process involves bones [and/or cartilage] and muscles. I was pleased to find, when Googling on the subject, that Highlights for Children put the same question out there – for children. Dog's Tail - A Kid's Perspective What is the anatomy of a dog's tail? Highlights suggested a tail is a string of bones [vertebrae] like a string of beads, and that there are muscles attached to the bones. That’s a nice generalization suitable for kids, but let’s try to go just a little past that. An Adult Point of View Pet Place says that tail vertebrae are highly mobile. They are “enclosed” in muscles that enable delicate tail movements, including lifting, dropping, and left and right movement, plus…
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29Jul 2013 by Vincent Summers 9 Comments

Wilted Cherry Leaves Kill

animals
It is widely known that, to cows, wilted cherry leaves are deadly poisonous. Every cattle farmer is well acquainted with this fact. Yet, I, as a chemist, for years have wondered why. Surely it has to be a matter of chemistry, I realized. Indeed, that is the case. Cherry Fruits Wild cherries are bitter, but to the aficionado (and I am one), the tiny fruits called wild cherries, are quite delicious, especially when made into the intensely-flavored wild cherry jelly. Curiously, these fruits contain substances that could be quite dangerous, except for the lack of substances called enzymes that would convert them into poisons. One of those chemicals is amygdalin, seen in the image below. Note—in the upper right-hand corner of the molecule—are two atoms. One of the atoms is…
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