Scientific curiosities of biology

Within biology, these are some curiosities in the animal and plant kingdom are:

• The platypus represents a true living rarity because despite being a mammal, they lay eggs . In addition, it has a snout shaped like a duck’s beak, beaver’s tail and otter legs and there are poisonous specimens.
• It could be said that flies have taste in their heels, as they have 15,000 taste buds distributed between their legs.
• The Electric Eel Electroptiorus electricus is a high voltage animal, as it can discharge up to 600 volts in a few milliseconds.
• The shark is the animal that lays the largest eggs. They are up to 20 centimeters long.
• The chimps have sexual speed record: only 3 seconds.
• There are worms , such as earthworms , which can excavate galleries up to six meters deep.
• There are species of snails with up to 25,000 teeth.
• The adult blue whale has a tongue that weighs up to 4 tons.
• The canaries lose up to 20% of their brain mass during winter.
• There are suitable plants to purify the air or recover contaminated soils.
• There are plants that have edible roots or tubers . One of the best known and most versatile are potatoes.
• The Horsetail or Equisetum hyemale is a prehistoric plant, because the planet covered with ferns 300 million years ago.
• The smell of freshly cut grass is actually a chemical they emit to ‘warn’ predators to come and defend them.
• The plants also feel, though differently. For example, they like music and communicate with their peers through chemicals.
• The Dieffenbachia plant has compounds that, when ingested in juices, affect the vocal cords. Slaves were administered to keep them mute for days.

Some curiosities about microorganisms are:

• In the human body there are 10 times more bacteria than cells. These bacteria perform very important functions, such as helping digestion or the immune system. The intestine is where most bacteria are concentrated. It is estimated that the total weight of all these bacteria would be around 1.5 kg.
• There are probably more bacteria on your desk than in the toilet.
• Humans have benefited from bacteria for many, many years. Particularly in food, where we have examples such as cheese or yogurt , to which they add flavor, texture and consistency.
• The characteristic smell that occurs when it rains or is about to rain, is caused by bacteria (although the bacteria themselves have no odor). These are actinobacteria , which when temperatures are warm and there is high humidity release spores, which when the raindrops fall, spread through the air.
• The skin bacteria (especially underarm) cause the perspiration odor to the feeding of sweat.
• Despite the fact that we cook food, many endure such high temperatures that they can bear them. Others resist the cold of refrigeration.

Some curiosities about the human body are:

• In the mornings, we are about an inch taller. This occurs after a restful night’s rest. Later, as the day progresses, the cartilaginous pads in the spine are compressed.
• The acids in our stomach are so powerful that they would have the ability to dilute zinc.
• At eleven weeks of gestation, during the fetal period, when the limbs begin to develop, you may begin to stretch one arm more than the other or to suck on your favorite thumb, as it is already being determined whether you will be left-handed or right-handed.
• To the traditional five senses that we know (hearing, touch, sight, smell and taste) we should add other senses such as balance, temperature, time or pain and internal sensations such as thirst or satiety.
• When our head is ripped from the body, it remains conscious for 15 to 20 seconds.
• After death, our body loses a few grams, as it eliminates a large amount of air.