The Coevolution of Lice & Their Hosts

eldavojohn writes "It might be an uncomfortable subject but parasites are an interesting subject when it comes to evolution. Ever wonder if pocket gophers have lice? Well, they do. And most interesting of all is the evolution of these lice mirroring the evolution of gophers. To study the genes of lice may shed just as much light on evolutionary trees as studying the genes of the actual host the lice has evolved to. The most unsettling result from these studies is that human head lice and human pubic lice (crabs) vary so greatly that they are in two separate genera. There were similarities between our pubic lice and the lice found on gorillas. Scientists came to the conclusion, which they published today in BMC Biology, is just as striking as their earlier one about head lice. But it is hardly the same. We did not get pubic lice from other hominids. We got them from the ancestors of gorillas."

Comments

Tip from your friendly neighborhood Spider Man

[winningham.2]

What to do if you suddenly have a craving for bloody hair:

Symptom(s):
You wake up covered in a cool looking black spandex-like suit with the symbol of lice. You have superhuman itching powers. You have what looks to be snow drifts in your hair. You love bloody hair (both above and below the border).
Cause:
You are infected with the evolved Alien Symbiote version not mentioned in the article. It is believed this form came from outer-space however no wiki article or blog has yet to confirm this.
Treatment:
Climb the nearest bell tower and ring bell while you stand directly under it. Then remove weakened suit of black lice eggs and burn it. Next, take a shower and wash your nasty hair with gasoline. Finally, use some Axe body spray to hid the gas smell and to bring the ladies back.
Props to Stan Lee and Peter Parker!