The fate of the male human?

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

In the 26 January issue of Science, a community of tubeworms thriving on a decomposing whale carcass is described. The female is a typical tubeworm, living on bacteria that fill its tube.

The male, however, has ... how can I put this ... devolved. It lives in the female's tube and has no mouth, anus, gut, circulatory system, or bacterial colony. It lives on the yolk from its egg and does nothing whatsoever other than produce sperm, which it spews from a hole in its head. Apparently, when it runs out of yolk, it dies.

Wither the H. sapiens male?

~~ Paul

[sinclairmcevoy]

I like to think that we, males, have evolved a little more than that. We have wallets, for example. The ability to work and drive to the hospital to witness the birth of our offspring. Tubeworms have done all that they need to. Produce more of themselves. I wonder if there would be enough bacteria to go around for the males? ;)

[KingMerv00]

Males will be around for a long time. Who else would smash the icky bug behind the toilet?

*Runs to avoid the onslaught of hatred for overtly sexist remark.*

[Francesca R]

The reason for icky bugs behind toilets is—of course—atrocious male hygiene in the lavatory dept. ;=P

[sinclairmcevoy]

Oh no! Icky bugs? personally, I get my wife to squish the spiders. blaaaaaaah , arachnophobia sucks, but males are still around

[sinclairmcevoy]

Besides, if she didn't take care of the spiders for me, how would I be able to bring her breakfast in the morning? Incidentally, she happens to be preggers. One plus one equals three. One without the other is unable to carry on the gene pool.

[fishbob]

When I saw the thread title, my very first thought was:
What has Paul done this time?

[Soapy Sam]

Checked the size of your "Y" chromosome lately, Paul?

[Trying2Bopen]

Try being an angler fish male, they live as little pouches of sperm stuck to the female. Or how about the male of some lice species. The females are born pregnant, how? Because in utero they mate with their brothers and have thus conceived by the time they are born, the work of the male is done before it even makes it out of mom!

While I have met some human males that would be perfect as male tubeworms, I think overall the human male population is pretty safe ;)

[Niobe]

Read Adam's curse by Brian Sykes.

But it's a controversial read since he apparently jumped to a lot of conclusions.

[Piscivore]

I read the thread title and immediately thought of a planet of lesbians.

I'm going to need a moment.

[IllegalArgument]

Read Adam's curse by Brian Sykes.

But it's a controversial read since he apparently jumped to a lot of conclusions.

Interesting book, I read a few months ago.

He has a better grasp of sexually selection than most authors.

The gaia chapter was over the top, but since it's contained to one chapter you can take or leave it.

[Magic 8 Ball]

Take a close look at ants and bees, in both species the colonies are dominated by a single queen. The queen kills off other females at birth in order keep control of the colony. Now consider the hyena, the female dominates the species. She is larger than the male and even has a mock penis. In the case of these tube worms, I am not surprised. I'm sure if you do enough research you'll find many more species where the female dominates. Just remember, mankind has evolved past the insect, worm, and hyena world. I don't think man will devolve anytime soon, because animal life tends to be barbaric and the human male is still geneticly larger than the female.

[Niobe]

I don't think man will devolve anytime soon, because animal life tends to be barbaric and the human male is still geneticly larger than the female.

That's besides the point. The Y chromosome will not or rarely (this is where the book might be wrong) exchange DNA with it's sister chromosome, because there isn't one.

[spiteme]

Don't forget Flora, the Komodo dragon who gave birth to 5 lil' dragons, without benefit of male dragon.

[IllegalArgument]

I don't think man will devolve anytime soon, because animal life tends to be barbaric and the human male is still geneticly larger than the female.

Yes, but the XY pair as we understand it today, has less error correction than XX.

Also, errors that occur in the Y chromosome are more likely to be expressed.

So, over the long haul the Y chromosome will become genetically "weaker", because of the build up of errors.

At least, that the understanding I got from Adam's Curse.

Men aren't going anywhere in the near future. Why? Because they won't ask for directions damn it!

[brodski]

Don't forget Flora, the Komodo dragon who gave birth to 5 lil' dragons, without benefit of male dragon.

but all 5 lil' dragons where male.

[Magic 8 Ball]

Yes, but the XY pair as we understand it today, has less error correction than XX.

Also, errors that occur in the Y chromosome are more likely to be expressed.

So, over the long haul the Y chromosome will become genetically "weaker", because of the build up of errors.

At least, that the understanding I got from Adam's Curse.

Men aren't going anywhere in the near future. Why? Because they won't ask for directions damn it!

You may prove me wrong when it comes to genetics, but from a social aspect, I am not afraid of women taking over the species. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to clean the house, do laundry, and get dinner started before my wife gets home from work.

[Wavicle]

Yes, but the XY pair as we understand it today, has less error correction than XX.

Also, errors that occur in the Y chromosome are more likely to be expressed.

So, over the long haul the Y chromosome will become genetically "weaker", because of the build up of errors.

At least, that the understanding I got from Adam's Curse.

Men aren't going anywhere in the near future. Why? Because they won't ask for directions damn it!

The meat of that is theoretically true, but I think the conclusion is flawed. The problem is that expressed errors in the Y chromosome are almost never passed on. Many (most?) of the genes in the Y chromosome affect male fertility. Expressed errors (or more likely non-expressed proteins) almost always result in an infertile male. Thus the lack of Y error correction is compensated by the fact that a male with a good Y chromosome can reproduce with a whole lot of XX types.

We men are dogs, we're sorry. We just have to make sure plenty of good Y chromosomes make it into the next generation! In a world where most men have bad Y chromosomes, the ones with good Y chromosomes have a perpetual smile on their face.

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

Checked the size of your "Y" chromosome lately, Paul?
Yes, and it appears to be shrinking!

~~ Paul

[Hydrogen Cyanide]

Yes, but the XY pair as we understand it today, has less error correction than XX.

Also, errors that occur in the Y chromosome are more likely to be expressed.

So, over the long haul the Y chromosome will become genetically "weaker", because of the build up of errors.

At least, that the understanding I got from Adam's Curse.

Men aren't going anywhere in the near future. Why? Because they won't ask for directions damn it!

How I remember that men have the Y chromosome: When dealing with my hubby and sons I am often saying "Why? Why? Why?" (it usually has to do with their video watching preferences).

(edit to add... I really had nothing constructive to contribute to this thread, so I just decided to butt in)

[Trying2Bopen]

That's besides the point. The Y chromosome will not or rarely (this is where the book might be wrong) exchange DNA with it's sister chromosome, because there isn't one.

Recombination occurs with the X chromosome in the pseudoautosomal region which shares homology with the X chromosome and contains a number of “house keeping” genes. In the remaining 95% or so is has been designated the male-specific region of the Y. In this region there are a number of genes that determine “maleness” in some form or another. Absence of the male determining region through inappropriate recombination of with the X chromosome can lead to conditions in which a female will occur even with and XY (swyer syndrome is one, I believe). This also leads to an XX male and XX male syndrome (If I am not mistaken :))