The Mating of the Worms - The Beginning of the End... Let's See Your PC!

[SandyEggoJake]

Yes, by all means.... back to mating of the worms!



And as the worm turns... we just know in classic TRW fashion, someone is just itching to chime in to correctly state this is just one worm, mating with a worm gear...not two worms....but I digress from this digression of a digression.

[nkalanaga]

Jbub:  Thank you for the clarification!

SandyEggoJake:  Considering the wide gender differences in some species, are we sure that the "worm" and "worm gear" aren't opposite genders of the same species?  After all, they always seem to occur together, and it's hard to imagine one without the other.

[SandyEggoJake]

Gender differences?  Technically, worms are obligate hermaphrodites. 

Predicting next TRW thread drift in 3....2....

[peteski]

Gender differences?  Technically, worms are obligate hermaphrodites. 

Predicting next TRW thread drift in 3....2....

Ok, I'll bite (like a fish on a worm). 

Couldn't hermaphrodites still copulate (mate)? 

[nkalanaga]

Peteski:  Most do, yes, and most CAN'T mate with themself, so they still need two partners.  But unlike the worm/worm gear, both hermaphrodite partners would be functionally identical, and either could play the part of male or female at a given time.

Quite efficient, actually, as the species gets the benefit of sexual gene mixing, and every member can produce offspring, just like the asexual organisms.  I'm a little surprised it isn't more common in nature.

[Nato]

                    Late to the party, but here is my Pen Central Gondola. Nate Goodman (Nato). Dig that PL&E  switcher. 

[wm3798]

Great to see that old Trix car in revenue service!

[SandyEggoJake]

@nkalanaga

>I'm a little surprised it isn't more common in nature.

An interesting point, though cooperative species do often derive survival benefits from sexual dimorphism (beyond mere mate attraction).  Examples would include in the mammals, the gorilla, with females and their offspring protected from harm via predation by the might of an alpha male Silverback and his ability to retain a large harem.   

Of course, there are other types of hermaphrodites, beyond the obligate, like the worm, which do not have sexual dimorphism and retain both parts throughout their lives, yet cannot self copulate.  Some fish, like California Sheepshead are protogynous hermaphrodites, which all start life as a lady, but when a community is lacking a man, the most dominate female literally "grows a pair".

But why bother with copulation if you can be like a Spotted Whiptail lizard or the marmorkrebs crayfish that produce offspring without the hassle of finding a mate (parthenogenesis)....


 

[peteski]

@nkalanaga

>I'm a little surprised it isn't more common in nature.

An interesting point, though cooperative species do often derive survival benefits from sexual dimorphism (beyond mere mate attraction).  Examples would include in the mammals, the gorilla, with females and their offspring protected from harm via predation by the might of an alpha male Silverback and his ability to retain a large harem.   

Of course, there are other types of hermaphrodites, beyond the obligate, like the worm, which do not have sexual dimorphism and retain both parts throughout their lives, yet cannot self copulate.  Some fish, like California Sheepshead are protogynous hermaphrodites, which all start life as a lady, but when a community is lacking a man, the most dominate female literally "grows a pair".

But why bother with copulation if you can be like a Spotted Whiptail lizard or the marmorkrebs crayfish that produce offspring without the hassle of finding a mate (parthenogenesis)....

I nominate this post for the most OT post of the year! Funny, yet very educational.

[nkalanaga]

"But why bother with copulation if you can be like a Spotted Whiptail lizard or the marmorkrebs crayfish that produce offspring without the hassle of finding a mate (parthenogenesis)...."

A good point.  The only advantage I can see to mating is that you'd still have genetic mixing, which should benefit the species, in the long run. 

On the other hand, parthenogenesis has the advantage that any one member could continue the species, making it very hard to exterminate.  If one has a fairly high mutation rate, combined with a high birth rate, that could also ensure genetic diversity.  Or, if you live in a very stable environment, and face few dangers, diversity might be less important.

[MK]

God I learn so much on TRW!   

[Doug G.]

Everything I always wanted to know about worms*







*But was afraid to ask.



Doug

[Doug G.]

Here's a couple of shots of my Treble-O-Lectric FP7 I painted into Penn Central. Lone Star did not offer it in this road name/livery (mainly because the Penn Central didn't exist at the time Treble-O-Lectric was manufactured ). This one was originally Union Pacific but by the time I got it off eBay, it had been painted over in a green paint. So, I didn't sully a collectible.






Doug

[strummer]

OOh, I forgot.

These photos are Railwire AF. They're shot on the M&O by @John, with a trio of power, 2/3 of which was formerly owned by @Dave V and @wm3798 with a load of Lee's former cars as well.








There's another shot here that loops in two MORE Railwire members too: http://conrail1285.com/a-visit-to-my-friend-johns-mo/

...nice looking layout...

Mark in Oregon

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Here's a couple of shots of my Treble-O-Lectric FP7 I painted into Penn Central. Lone Star did not offer it in this road name/livery. This one was originally Union Pacific but by the time I got it off eBay, it had been painted over in a green paint. So, I didn't sully a collectible.






Doug

Is that all OOO equipment on the layout?

I always wanted to do an N scale layout using only supplies and equipment from the early 1960's