Gorgosaurus attacking a Parasaurolophus

Paleontologists have discovered possible evidence of dinosaur cannibalism among dinosaurs known as Gorgosaurus. These enormous meat-eating animals were a smaller relative of the Tyrannosaurus rex. Upon examining the fossil remains of the jawbone of a Gorgosaurus, researchers discovered a piece of a tooth lodged within the jawbone. The researchers were not able to exactly confirm which dinosaur the tooth belonged to but were able to narrow down the possibilities to two dinosaur relatives. They believe the attacker was either another Gorgosaurus or a Daspletosaurus.

The fossil evidence was discovered in Dinosaur Provincial Park in southern Alberta. Both Gorgosaurus and Daspletosaurus lived in this region at the same time, with Gorgosaurus being the more numerous of the two. Due to this fact, researchers believe that it is more likely that the two meat-eating dinosaurs involved in the fight to the death were both gorgosaurs. Cannibalism is atypical among dinosaurs. Prior to this discovery of possible cannibalism, there has only been one confirmed case of cannibalism among dinosaurs of the same species.

Learn more about this discovery:

• A Misplaced Dinosaur Tooth May Have Been Cannibalism University of Alberta

Science fair projects are a great way to learn about science and biology. Performing scientific experiments can be an exciting way to discover the wonders of science. Human body projects and studies allow students to get a better understanding of the human body. Not only do they gain an improved knowledge of anatomical functions, but they also gain a greater understanding of human behavior.

If you're interested in human body projects, these human body project ideas will help get you started. Included are ideas for behavioral projects and biological projects. Behavioral projects are centered around human actions or reactions. For instance, have you ever wondered why listening to your favorite song evokes happy feelings? Behavior projects allow you to investigate these type of reactions. Biological projects focus on physical reactions of the human body to external conditions. An example would be the production of saliva as a result of smelling the aroma of food.

More Human Body Information:

• Human Anatomy Quiz
  
• Heart Anatomy
  
• Organ Systems
  

Honey Bee Image: Stephen Ausmus/USDA

Researchers from the Agricultural Research Service have developed an interesting method for dealing with parasitic mites that destroy honey bee colonies. They have developed bees with a high expression of genes that produce the varroa-sensitive hygiene (VSH) trait. The VSH trait allows the bees to locate varroa mites so that infected pupae can be removed from the nest.

Varroa mites are insect parasites that feed off of both adult and developing honey bees. Detection of mite offspring within the nest is difficult because the mites infest the pupae after they have been sealed within the cells of the honeycomb. Bees with the VSH trait however, are able to specifically detect the mites and expel the infected pupae. This action destroys mite offspring and greatly reduces the lifetime reproductive output of the mother mite should she survive the attack. These findings are good news for beekeepers as varroa mites are a major threat to honey bee health and are suspected to cause bee colony collapse disorder.

Learn more about this study:

• Some Honey Bees Toss Out Varroa Mites Science Daily

Lily Anther Microsporocytes in Anaphase II © Jon C. Glase

Meiosis is a two-part cell division process in organisms that sexually reproduce. Through a sequence of steps, the replicated genetic material in a parent cell is distributed to four daughter cells. Understanding meiosis can be a little challenging, however meiosis diagrams help to make comprehending this process easier.

In some respects meiosis is very similar to the process of mitosis, however meiosis consists of two stages: meiosis I and meiosis II. At the end of mitosis, two daughter cells are produced, each with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. At the end of meiosis, four daughter cells are produced, each with one half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.