For the past couple months I have been helping Clay out in the lab transferring his Daphnia, maintaining his french jars - things no rational wife would ever do. I do it to be helpful. I do it to ensure that he gets time to do his other work as well. I do it to make sure he comes home for dinner.
Anyway, you might remember that a while back I got sucked into the whole scientific process when I noticed our Daphnia started producing resting eggs. I was amazed that such a tiny little creature could do such complicated things and that's when my brain started turning over the idea of running my own little experiment.
Well, the experiment is off and running. Someday I'll explain it all, but not today. The main point I need to make for this post is that in order to make my experiment work, I need male Daphnia. And for the past few weeks I've been working toward getting my little ladies to spawn some boys.
So, you can imagine my surprise when the other day I realized that Clay already had some fully grown male Daphnia....by accident. I was transferring the Daphnia when I came across a few that have been baffling me. They weren't growing as big as the others and they weren't producing eggs. It has been confusing me for weeks to be honest. And then I had an "A-Ha" moment. Everything clicked into place and I realized that those baffling Daphnia were in fact male which is why they weren't having babies.
I had kept them by accident, no knowing they were male, because I needed to replace some of the older females. To be sure, I checked them out under a scope and sure enough....we have boys!
Anyway, you might remember that a while back I got sucked into the whole scientific process when I noticed our Daphnia started producing resting eggs. I was amazed that such a tiny little creature could do such complicated things and that's when my brain started turning over the idea of running my own little experiment.
Well, the experiment is off and running. Someday I'll explain it all, but not today. The main point I need to make for this post is that in order to make my experiment work, I need male Daphnia. And for the past few weeks I've been working toward getting my little ladies to spawn some boys.
So, you can imagine my surprise when the other day I realized that Clay already had some fully grown male Daphnia....by accident. I was transferring the Daphnia when I came across a few that have been baffling me. They weren't growing as big as the others and they weren't producing eggs. It has been confusing me for weeks to be honest. And then I had an "A-Ha" moment. Everything clicked into place and I realized that those baffling Daphnia were in fact male which is why they weren't having babies.
I had kept them by accident, no knowing they were male, because I needed to replace some of the older females. To be sure, I checked them out under a scope and sure enough....we have boys!
Male Daphnia
Here's a picture of a female just for comparison.
Female Daphnia
The difference between the two is probably only apparent to people who study Daphnia - or if you're me - people who have stared at them many a time. The males have a flat face, hairy chest and look like they're smoking a cigar. Typical male, huh?
Anyway, to make this long story shorter my experiment is officially in full swing. I'll keep you posted on how it's going.
Today's lesson?
Accidental science is still a victory!
Anyway, to make this long story shorter my experiment is officially in full swing. I'll keep you posted on how it's going.
Today's lesson?
Accidental science is still a victory!
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