[quote]Scientists have discovered a way to activate genes in normal ants that turn them into "supersoldiers" with gigantic heads and jaws.
Only a few species of the genus Pheidole in northern Mexico and the southwest of the United States naturally produce the supersoldiers which fight off attackers and block entry to their nests.
But in a new study published in the journal Science researchers from Canada's McGill University activated the genes required by dabbing normal ant larvae with methoprene, a chemical that mimics an ant hormone.
The researchers say the supersoldier genes were active in a common ancestor of the all Pheidole species and have been retained as the ants have gone down different evolutionary paths.[/quote]
Source: [url]http://news.ninemsn.com.au/technology/8399270/scientists-discover-way-to-breed-supersoldier-ants[/url]
We do what we must because we can, for the good of all of us, except the ones who aren't ants.
oh god thats hilarious how big its head is
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xbqs7vfOIok[/media]
First thing that came to mind.
Next, mice, then monkeys, then humans.
ohgod I just looked at that picture what the christ
Because ants totally aren't already powerful rampant death machines already.
Seriously there are ant colonies that utterly destroy entire species around them.
Why would they do this? Destroy it and the research now! Before its too late!
[QUOTE=Ganerumo;34072991]Because ants totally aren't already powerful rampant death machines already.
Seriously there are ant colonies that utterly destroy entire species around them.[/QUOTE]
not to mention the 1 mile long colony in china or something like that
[img]http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/8628/0601antssp.jpg[/img]
What has science done?!
[QUOTE=Thlis;34073034][img]http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/8628/0601antssp.jpg[/img]
What has science done?![/QUOTE]
is this real or fake 97% of people guessed wrong!
I'm all for pushing the boundaries of science but remember what happened with the africanized killer bees? Don't make the same mistake twice
[QUOTE=Roof;34073028]not to mention the 1 mile long colony in china or something like that[/QUOTE]
I'm living on top of a 100 km (62 mi) super colony
[quote]Australian scientists are studying colonies in Perth and Adelaide to see if they share the same genetic structure and behaviour as the Melbourne ants.
If they do, [B]a super colony several thousand miles wide could spread across southern Australia.[/B][/quote]
[QUOTE=Thlis;34073034][img]http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/8628/0601antssp.jpg[/img]
What has science done?![/QUOTE]
Yeah, theres just about no way this [i]isnt[/I] a good idea.
:v:
It's probably very painful
I know I'm an ant doctor
Nightmare fuel.
If science starts fucking with spiders and makes them even more scary im leaving this god damn planet
[QUOTE=Miskav;34073153]Nightmare fuel.[/QUOTE]
i tend to like ants because they're fun to kill :v:
[QUOTE=Thlis;34073034][img]http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/8628/0601antssp.jpg[/img]
What has science done?![/QUOTE]
Big Head Mode on.
[QUOTE=Limed00d;34073338]Big Head Mode on.[/QUOTE]
007 Goldeneye 64
[QUOTE=Limed00d;34073338]Big Head Mode on.[/QUOTE]
I was getting so hopeful that I would be able to post that hahaha.
[QUOTE=Thlis;34073034][img]http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/8628/0601antssp.jpg[/img]
What has science done?![/QUOTE]
It looks like someone compared a gears of war character to a regular human
I'd hardly call these "supersoldiers". More "freakishly deformed" than anything.
I remember playing that one rts game from like the 90's where at one part of the campaign giant ant's started attacking and all.
[QUOTE=Justinx931;34073795]I remember playing that one rts game from like the 90's where at one part of the campaign giant ant's started attacking and all.[/QUOTE]
Red Alert Counterstrike?
[QUOTE=Limed00d;34073992]Red Alert Counterstrike?[/QUOTE]
That'd be the one.
i love that game when it was first out.
I keep a Pheidole pallidula colony, and the soldiers do have huge heads. The funny part is that the soldiers are always the first to run away.
This is my colony.
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/CcvqL.png[/IMG]
Soldiers are chosen to grow into their caste by the nurses. They did an experiment where two Pheidole colonies were seperated by a mesh, so they could put their antennae and legs through but not harm each other. The nurses begin to pay extra attention to certain larvae and provide them with more and better food, so that they become soldiers to counter the threat to the colony. If there is no perceived threat, then soldiers are rarely produced.
Soldiers aren't often used in combat, since they're quite 'expensive' to produce. They're mostly used as food storage for the rest of the colony.
If only I had the means to try that article's experiment myself.
[t]http://images.wikia.com/fallout/images/d/d7/Giant_soldier_ant.png[/t]
IT BEGINS
[QUOTE=Contag;34073100]I'm living on top of a 100 km (62 mi) super colony[/QUOTE]
If you need assistance fending yourself against the ant hordes, I'll send you shotgun shells and my machete.
[QUOTE=Amplar;34074285][t]http://images.wikia.com/fallout/images/d/d7/Giant_soldier_ant.png[/t]
IT BEGINS[/QUOTE]
The ants from Fallout are based on Camponotus pennsylvanicus, a real species. [sp]It says so in an Enclave field research file.[/sp]
It would be great if they really could breath fire though. :v:
[QUOTE=Cone;34073722]I'd hardly call these "supersoldiers". More "freakishly deformed" than anything.[/QUOTE]
They're not deformed though. They're a normal 'build' of an ant caste, so to speak.
And it is the 'soldier' caste.
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