Latest Blog Posts for As Many Exceptions As Rules

• Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow
  on Aug 31, 2016 in adaptation animal exception kidney osmoregulation plant water
  Biology concepts – osmoregulation, tonicity, phytohormones, avian kidney, pinnieds, cetaceansAfrican elephants are larger than asian elephants, but their urine production is similar. A 2007 study found that African elephants can differentiate famil...
• Keeping Your “Ion” The Ball – Salts and Life
  on Aug 24, 2016 in action potential chloride osmosis potassium sodium transpiration
  Biology concepts – salts in biology, osmotic potential, action potential, transpirationDietary salt – crucial for survival; Veruca Salt – not so much.In Latin, verruca means wart, so RoaldDahl was probably trying to tell us somethingwhen he wro...
• Sorry, I Don’t Drink
  on Aug 17, 2016 in adaptation animal exception kidney plant trichome water
  Biology concepts – water conservation, kidney function, metabolic water, adaptation, water uptake“Koala” in aborigine means “no drink.” The moist eucalyptus leaves are poisonous to most animals, but koalas have a special bacteria...
• Gimme Some Dihydrogen Monoxide
  on Aug 10, 2016 in cytoplasm exception transpiration water
  Birds need water just like the rest of us, but beaks make it harder. They may suck it up like a straw or scoop it up like a bucket, or by leaning back and letting the rain fall in.At some point or another we've all said, “I’m about to die of thir...
• No Introductions Necessary?
  on Aug 3, 2016 in adaptation animal exception introduces species invasive species plant
  Biology concepts – introduced species, invasive species, The United States is a melting pot, and it is one of ourgreatest strengths. The questions is, is it also a goodidea for plants and animals?The United States is an amazing place to live; nearl...
• What Do You Know, I Wrote A Book!
  on Jul 30, 2016
  This post has little to do with biological exceptions, but if you find the writing on this blog at all appealing, then perhaps you will like this topic as well. I have finished a book for Springer Scientific Publishing, and this book is now ready for...
• The Nature Of Science Of Nature
  on Jul 27, 2016 in nature of science plant
  I have judged many a science fair project in my day. It is a learning experience, so adherence to the steps of the scientific method taught in most classes is O.K. But the students should realize that there isn’t just one scientific method. This yo...
• Take Off Your Coat And Stay Awhile
  on Jul 20, 2016 in ectotherm endotherm evolution exception hair mutation thermoregulation
  Biology concepts – thermoregulation, ectothermy, endothermy, genetic mutation  Let me introduce you to the most wondrous animal on the surface of the Earth, or under the surface of the Earth – the naked mole rat, Heterocephalus glaber (heter...
• The Perils of Plant Monogamy
  on Jul 13, 2016 in co-divergence co-evolution evolution exception insect pollination pollinator
  Biology concepts – pollination, single pollinator, co-evolution, co-divergenceWhat’s bugging her, it’s supposed to be a party!Imagine the best party of the year – it’s cold outside, but hot inside. The food is great, all your friends are th...
• Is It Hot In Here Or Is It Just My Philodendron?
  on Jul 6, 2016 in exception flower structure photosynthesis plant pollination thermoregulation tropism
  Biology concepts – thermoregulation, pollination, tropisms, flower structure, plant communication In many ways, plants are “smarter” than people (forgive the anthropomorphism). We can change our environment to suit our needs or move to a better...

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