Rice Science Friday: Amoeba Know Their Relatives

As a proud alum of Rice University (class of 1977), I’m always happy  to highlight their latest scientific advances.

This latest comes from the biology department.

Amoeba have the ability not only to recognize their own family members but also to selectively discriminate in favor of them.

(I know, this explains Aggie loyalty, right?) The lead author on this study is postdoctoral researcher Natasha Mehdiabadi. She was assisted by Joan Strassmann and David Queller. (Larry Summers, take note again please.) Strassman is actually Dr. Strassman, a full professor, chair of the department of ecology and evolutionary biology. But note please that she didn’t grab credit for Natasha’s work. Credit where it’s due, not just to the top of the chain.

Hey, if amoeba can do it, why can’t professors?

The study is important because most people have
always assumed that familial relationships came from the brain, and of
course one-cell organisms don’t have brains. The study was also set up
to detect altruistic behavior, self-sacrifice for a greater good.

Of course, if one-cell organisms without brains exhibit behavior
previously associated with sentient beings, what does this mean for our
claim to being the only being that matters on our world?

There is a lot to think about it.

I’ll give you the weekend. Don’t watch any amoeba porn. <g>

Have a great one.