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1500 questions
24
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1 answer
Are there dextral/sinistral higher animals?
For example, almost every dog I've met in my life (more than 20 subjects) uses their right paw touching one while asking for attention. Can it be used as a criterion for calling them dextral? If not, what?
However, I realize that even those dogs who…
www0z0k
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What evolutionary explanations are there for death?
I know death and cancer doesn't hurt humans' reproductive success. It's not helping either.
Why do we die? Why dying humans (all of us) are common? What's the point of dying?
user4951
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24
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Why can hair grow without limit while eyebrow cannot?
I cut my eyebrow and it grows until reach a certain length. Hair can grow without limit.
Why can hair grow without limit while eyebrow cannot?
kiss my armpit
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How crowded is the bacterial cell?
I was wondering what is the protein concentration in an E. coli cell. When studying enzyme kinetics and activity in vitro, I would argue that the substrate and enzyme concentrations resemble those in vivo. As a result, conclusions made by such…
Gergana Vandova
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24
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3 answers
How do proteins 'know' where to go?
I've just found once again this famous animation I've been curious about for many years:
https://youtu.be/WFCvkkDSfIU?t=213
Here's a screenshot from the animation:
The green blobs (proteins, I believe) are moving from outside the scene to "the…
Vladislav
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4 answers
In Japan, the official average body temperature is 36.0 °C. Why so different from that of Europe?
The Japanese Wikipedia states that the average human body temperature is 36.0 °C (here,"ヒト").
The statement references the data from the Japanese government.
Actually all of my Japanese friends think the same.
A body temperature of 37.5 °C is…
nic
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If a small population left one continent and sailed to another, would the genes of the population that left show relation to the original population?
This question has a specific context, a religious one, and so I'm not sure this is the right place to ask, but I can't think of a better place. I would like as objective and unbiased an answer as possible. I hope the religious context doesn't make…
TKoL
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24
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3 answers
How likely is a lack of DNA match with a distant relative?
How likely is a lack of DNA match with a distant relative?
I have recently gotten interested in ancestry research and have had a DNA analysis performed by a prominent commercial provider.
I've been working on my family tree for a few months now and…
carsten
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23
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2 answers
Harmless virus?
Is it possible for a virus to live symbiotically with its host?
Is the human body plagued with viral infections that do negligible harm, or even serve a beneficial role?
Gabriel Fair
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How can the organic mercury compound Thiomersal be not dangerously toxic?
My intuition tells me that organic mercury compounds are absolutely toxic. Unimaginably, fundamentally, extremely and uncompromisingly toxic.
I know that is not true for all doses.
Thiomersal is the organomercury compound that was used in vaccines…
Volker Siegel
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3 answers
Why are sugars in whole fruits not digested the same way sugars in juice are?
In this paper of the WHO, it is claimed that we should limit our consumption of free sugars:
WHO recommends a reduced intake of free sugars throughout the
lifecourse. [...] Free sugars include monosaccharides and
disaccharides added to foods…
Pierre
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23
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1 answer
How can a drink contain 1.8 kcal energy while 0 g fat/carbs/protein?
How is it possible that the Red Bull Zero contains 0 gramms of fat, carbs and protein, but it still has 1.8 kcal of "energy".
I always thought that the human body can gain energy only from 3 kinds of nutrients: fat, carbs and protein. Is there a 4th…
Crouching Kitten
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3 answers
Are cells guaranteed to get at least one mitochondrion when they divide?
If mitochondria exist at random within a cell, isn't there a possibility that cell division will result in a daughter cell with no mitochondria? If not, what is the process for guaranteeing at least one is present in each daughter cell? If so,…
sourcebug
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23
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What are these bladder snail parasites?
I collected some bladder snails several months ago. While checking them out one day, I noticed that they were now infested with worm-like ectoparasites.
Appearance and behavior
Here's a picture of a snail with a bunch of the worms hanging off of…
560812508
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Can a person really die quickly from biting their tongue?
A common trope in certain circles (like Eastern martial fiction), is someone committing quick suicide by biting his or her tongue. But is this really possible?
The internet turns up millions of pages of speculation, but no Straight Dope. People…
Brock Adams
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