Hi all,
as part of our Museum's programme of public events involving its
scientists, I have been voluntered to give a talk "about parasites"!
Although I work on Schisto, the only time I see one when I take it out of a
cryotube and stick it in proteinase K solution to get the DNA out. Hence
this appeal to those of you with a broader background.
Under the title "Against the Odds", I want to do 2 things, (1) to get
across the concept of life cycles, (2) to try to convince my audience that,
even if they can't get to love parasites like we do, they ought, at least,
to respect them for the wonderful adaptations they have evolved to maximise
reproductive success/continuation of the life cycle. I am, therefore
looking for nominations for your favourite wierd, wonderful and whacky
adaptations and life cycles to illustrate my talk with; phenomenal
reproductive output, alteration of host behaviour, parasites of parasites.
You name it, I would be grateful to hear about it (with follow-up
references if possible).
Thanks in advance, I'll be happy to summarise responses
DAJ
David A. Johnston
Dept of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road,
South Kensington, London SW7 5DB. England
(tel 071 9389297, fax 071 9388754, email daj at nhm.ac.uk)
