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Researchers Nearly Double the Size of Worker Ants

Posted by Soulskill on from the why-would-you-do-this dept.

sciencehabit writes: Researchers have nearly doubled the size of a handful of Florida ants by chemically modifying their DNA, rather than by changing its encoded information. The work may help explain how the insects—despite their high degree of genetic similarity—grow into the different varieties of workers needed in a colony.

11 of 99 comments (clear)

  1. wait a minute... by slashmydots · · Score: 5, Funny

    This is EXACTLY what happened in the ant mission from Fallout 3. I had to kill like 50 of those giant ants. In fact, I think they breathed fire too. They should really stop pointless science like this before I have to clean up yet another mess with a flechette shotgun.

    1. Re:wait a minute... by Greyfox · · Score: 5, Funny

      That's silly! No one's talking about making them breathe fire! Hm. Unless... Um... BRB...

      --

      I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

  2. Keep em away from my house by c0d3g33k · · Score: 5, Funny

    I only allow GMO-free ants to roam my property.

    1. Re:Keep em away from my house by omems · · Score: 5, Informative

      You're in luck then, cause they're not genetically modified. They're epigenetically modified (thru drugs).

    2. Re:Keep em away from my house by Rei · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Probably not. But they could very likely do it to their close relatives, bees, which might be useful. Bees are actually more closely related to ants than they are to wasps.

      --
      "Are you hungry? I haven't eaten since later this afternoon." -- Primer
  3. Re:What is their reasoning for this science ? by itzly · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Expanding our knowledge.

  4. Researchers Nearly Double the Size of Worker Ants by Snufu · · Score: 4, Funny

    Those are very small researchers. Or very large ants.

  5. I for one... by Detonia · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...approve of our new Ant overlords.

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    Comment received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
  6. I've seen this movie! by wiredog · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What could possibly go wrong?

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    Best Slashdot Co
  7. Oh, come on people! by nobuddy · · Score: 5, Funny

    How is "I, for one, welcome our giant ant overlords." not the first post here? Opportunity wasted.

  8. Just great. Giant worker ants. by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 4, Funny

    More competition in work force to suppress wages. I'm sure once they get to be big enough, companies will ship them off to India and hire them back using H-1B visas. Let us all pray these ants don't get any IT training.

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