BIOLOGY MYSTERIES
Added on: 22nd Dec 2015
BUTTERFLY MIGRATION
How do Monarch Butterfly descendants all over Canada and the
United States and eventually, after migrating for several generations,
manage to return to a few relatively small overwintering spots?
No concrete answers have been given to this amazing phenomenon.
THE LORICIFERA MYSTERY
There are at least one hundred species of this phylum that are yet
to be described, and none of them are known to be present
in the fossil record.
THE PARADOX OF THE PLANKTON
In aquatic biology, the paradox of the plankton describes a situation
in which a limited range of resources supports an unexpectedly
wide array of plankton species, apparently flouting the competitive
exclusion principle that holds that when two species compete for the
same resource one will be driven to extinction.
EBOLA'S ORIGIN AND PLACE OF HIDING
We have learned much about the Ebola virus recently to the point
that we have even successfully treated monkeys for it. Nevertheless,
in spite of our strides against the virus, we’re still uncertain as to the
virus’ origin or even where the virus hides between human outbreaks.
PERCEPTION
We perceive things every day, but the act of perception is still a relative
mystery. We still don’t fully understand how the brain transforms
sensory information into coherent precepts. We don’t even know the
rules by which perception is organized or how the senses
are even integrated.
ALKALOIDS
A group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that are
composed of mostly basic nitrogen atoms, Alkaloids are produced
by a large variety of organisms including bacteria, fungi, plants and
animals. However, their function is not entirely understood and the
scientific community is still searching for answers.
ADAPTATION
At present there is no theoretical model for how adaptation occurs
that is close to being complete. Mathematical models of evolution
describe how the process of natural selection influences the frequency
of already existing gene variants based on their relative fitness
(survival of the fittest). Only a small amount of theory treats the problem
of modelling the generation of new variants through mutation, in
terms of either fitness or phenotypic form.
HOMING (IN BIOLOGY)
Homing is the inherent ability of an animal to navigate toward an
original location through unfamiliar areas. This location may be either
a home territory or a breeding spot. Even though we are kind of familiar
with the phenomenon of homing, a satisfactory explanation for the
neurobiological mechanisms that cause it has yet to be found.
HAMMERHEAD SHARK’S STRUCTURE
The hammerhead shark is known for its distinctive head shape.
However, the reason for this shark’s unusual shape is still not fully
understood. Some have theorized that the hammerhead evolved in order
to increase its electro sensory area, another hypothesis involves better
sight, and yet another hypothesis is the improvement of movement
through the waters.
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