#HarvardMIT #MITBioBootCamp for #HowToGrowAlmostAnything https://docs.google.com/
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An #IncredibleNextStep in growing a #RealisticVirtualEarthForAgingReversal in this#HarvardMIT #MITBioBootCamp for #HowToGrowAlmostAnything https://t.co/Q1z1wrS544 w #PythonProgrammingLanguage on F 1/24/25 & in growing a #RealisticVirtualEarthForGenetics & #AgingReversalMachine ~ https://t.co/Y5DLDImlvT
— WorldUnivandSch (@WorldUnivAndSch) January 25, 2025
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@davidsunkong
·
Jan 7
I’m thrilled to announce that the application for the 2025 edition of our
@medialab
and global synthetic biology course, “How to Grow (Almost) Anything” is now open! Application link in thread
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HTGAA 2025 BioBootCamp
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YhwSAjz6cwbYmRG7y1h-YYZSjI_454Sk-KV6XmEUrdk/edit?usp=sharing
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All 200 countries (Olympics) All 7164 living langs #ReinventUniversities w #GrowWithGoogleWUaS research & teaching #MITOCW-centric wiki @WorldUnivAndSch #RevolutionizingEducation w #MLandAI #ToolifyAIWUaS https://t.co/tkjQyy8mW7 w #RealisticVirtualEarth #RealisticVirtualHarbin ~ https://t.co/Ws3T16xCe3
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In Santa Cruz, CA, today Sat Jan 25 2025, I asked Google Gemini AI a number of evolutionary biology and natural history questions about the Monarch butterfly and got GREAT replies ...
The ability of monarch butterflies to return to the same specific overwintering sites like Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz, California, is a remarkable feat, especially considering that individual butterflies don't complete the entire migration. Here's a breakdown of the hypotheses:
Why they return to the same places:
Environmental Cues:
- Sun and Magnetic Fields: Monarchs are believed to use the sun's position and the Earth's magnetic field as compasses for navigation. This internal "GPS" helps them orient themselves and maintain a general flight direction.
- Landmarks: Visual landmarks, such as mountain ranges, coastlines, and rivers, likely play a role in guiding monarchs along their migratory routes.
- Olfactory Cues: Some research suggests that monarchs may also rely on scent cues from plants or other environmental factors to refine their navigation.
Inherited Memory:
- This is a more complex hypothesis. It suggests that some navigational information might be encoded in the monarch's genes, passed down through generations. This "inherited memory" could help guide subsequent generations back to the same overwintering sites. However, the exact mechanisms of this inherited memory are still largely unknown.
How they find specific sites:
- "Butterfly Trees": Monarchs often congregate in specific groves of trees, such as the eucalyptus trees at Natural Bridges. These trees provide ideal microclimates for overwintering, offering shelter from wind and rain while allowing for sufficient sunlight.
- Social Cues: Once a group of monarchs begins to cluster in a particular location, they may release pheromones that attract other butterflies to the same site. This social aggregation behavior helps them form large clusters for warmth and protection.
Important Considerations:
- Climate Change: Climate change poses a significant threat to monarch migration. Shifting weather patterns can disrupt migration timing and alter the availability of food sources and overwintering sites.
- Habitat Loss: The loss of milkweed plants, the sole food source for monarch caterpillars, is a major factor contributing to the decline of monarch populations.
It's crucial to remember that:
- Research is ongoing: Scientists are still actively researching the intricacies of monarch migration and the factors that influence their remarkable navigational abilities.
- Conservation efforts are vital: Protecting and restoring monarch habitat, including milkweed plants and overwintering sites, is essential for the survival of this iconic species.
Disclaimer: This information is based on current scientific understanding, and research in this field is constantly evolving.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you'd like to delve deeper into any specific aspect of monarch migration.
The origin of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) is traced back to the American Tropics, roughly 2 million years ago.
- Common Ancestor: While pinpointing the exact common ancestor is complex, it's understood that the monarch evolved from a lineage of tropical butterflies.
Key Points:
- Tropical Origins: The monarch's evolutionary journey likely began in the tropics, where the warm climate and abundant food sources provided favorable conditions for their development.
- Migration: Over time, some populations likely migrated northwards, adapting to cooler climates and developing the remarkable long-distance migration patterns we see today.
It's important to note: The exact evolutionary history of the monarch is still an area of ongoing research.
Monarchs typically go through four generations in a year. Here's how their unique migration cycle works:
Overwintering Generation:
- This generation migrates south from the US and Canada to overwinter in oyamel fir forests in central Mexico.
- They are the longest-lived monarchs, surviving for 7-9 months.
Spring Generation:
- Emerges in Mexico, migrates north, and lays eggs in the southern US.
- This generation lives for a shorter time, typically 2-5 weeks.
Summer Generations (2-3 generations):
- These generations live and breed in the US and southern Canada.
- They have short lifespans, typically 2-6 weeks.
Migratory Generation:
- This generation emerges in late summer/early fall.
- They undergo physiological changes that allow them to live for 4-8 months, enabling them to make the long journey back to Mexico to overwinter.
Key Points:
- No single butterfly makes the entire round trip. Each generation contributes a small part to the overall migration.
- Laying Eggs: Monarchs lay their eggs on milkweed plants, the sole food source for their caterpillars.
- Migration Route: Their migration route generally follows a north-south path, with the overwintering sites in Mexico and breeding grounds extending throughout the US and southern Canada.
This multi-generational migration is a remarkable feat of nature, showcasing the incredible adaptations of these butterflies.
Mating:
- Monarch butterflies mate during the spring and summer months.
- Males typically pursue females in flight, and mating usually occurs on the ground.
Mating in Santa Cruz:
- While monarchs do overwinter in Santa Cruz, they do not typically breed there.
- The primary breeding grounds for monarchs are in the southern United States, where they lay their eggs on milkweed plants.
Migration and Mating:
- Monarchs do not mate during their long migration to Mexico.
- The generation that migrates to Mexico in the fall does not reproduce.
- Instead, they focus on conserving energy for the long journey.
Overwintering and Mating:
- Monarchs spend the winter in Mexico, clustered together in oyamel fir forests.
- They remain dormant during this time and do not mate.
Spring Migration and Mating:
- In the spring, a new generation of monarchs emerges from their overwintering sites in Mexico.
- This generation migrates north, breeding along the way.
Northward Migration and Breeding:
- As monarchs migrate north, they lay eggs on milkweed plants.
- This process continues throughout the spring and summer, with multiple generations of monarchs being born and continuing the northward journey.
Southernmost Range:
- The southernmost range of the monarch butterfly extends into South America.
Northernmost Range:
- The northernmost range of the monarch butterfly extends into southern Canada.
In summary: Monarch butterflies primarily mate during the spring and summer months in the United States and southern Canada. They do not mate during their migration to or from Mexico, nor do they typically mate at their overwintering sites.
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https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowhead_whale
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowhead_whale
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Balaena_mysticetus
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