Size Did Matter: Evidence Of Giant Sperm Found In Microfossils

[steven johnson]

Giant sperm 6 cm in length represents a strange adaption.

ScienceDaily (June 19, 2009) — The mystery of giant sperm present in some living animal groups today has now taken on a new dimension -- in one group of micro-crustaceans new evidence shows that it is a feature at least 100 million years old.
In the competition for a partner, males typically have to vie with each other – be it with a colorful plumage, a large set of antlers or a seductive courtship dance. The females of some species, however, copulate with several males, so that rivals even after mating are still not defeated. So their sperm become rivals. Because greater size can increase the chance of fertilization, in some species truly giant sperm cells have evolved – some grow to be even larger than the male that produced them.
Now, an international group of researchers led by Dr. Renate Matzke-Karasz, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) in Munich, has indirectly detected signs of giant sperm in fossilized ostracods. Using synchrotron X-ray holotomography, a highly complex imaging technique developed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, the researchers were able to look non-invasively deep inside these tiny crustaceans, which measure only one millimeter in length. "In these microfossils, we detected organs that are required for transferring giant spermatozoa," reports Matzke-Karasz. "Since recent ostracods still produce giant sperm, and maneuver them with the same organs as 100 million years ago, it's safe to say that this distinctive feature evolved only once in this group. It seems to be an evolutionary successful reproduction strategy, even though it comes at an exceedingly high price for both genders."



Size Did Matter: Evidence Of Giant Sperm Found In Microfossils

[GodlessBiker]

1. Yes, but did they swallow?

[Glorfindel]

2. Well, obviously they did...

otherwise, no fertilization would have taken place.:evilgrin:

[damntexdem]

6. No, not swallows -- crustaceans.

The giant sperm would have made male swallows too heavy to fly.

;-)

But I guess the female swallows might have been called cheep throat.

[GodlessBiker]

7. Oh, yeah, an African swallow maybe, but not a European swallow.

[Ian David]

3. Photo

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eVB4pxYKr-0/Rf8P-4IGNuI/AAAAAAAAACo/oDKSyl2a074/s200/Woody+Allen+sperm.png

[thereismore]

4. A greater size can increase the chance of fertilization? This is nonsense or

at least an arbitrary guess.

[damntexdem]

5. No wonder fossils are found everywhere.

That giant sperm must really help them spread. ;-)

[IndianaGreen]

8. Clearly there was a lot of fucking going on!

Another reason for the fundies to hate evolution.