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Breaking news, sex isn't binary in humans because...avocados

131 replies

Fenlandia · 25/08/2022 16:56

Popular Science has tweeted an old article of theirs
www.popsci.com/species-swap-sex-clownfish-avocado/

"What avocados and clownfish have in common, sexually speaking"

A mildly interesting collection of facts about unusual reproductive strategies of certain plants and animals, used to push the idea that sex isn't binary in humans.

So sad to see respectable scientific communicators stoop to the level of woowoo.

The Twitter ratio is whopping now: twitter.com/PopSci/status/1562759034347741184

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countrygirl99 · 27/08/2022 18:58

TheMarzipanDildo · 27/08/2022 16:50

But alas, I only have a History and Politics degree, so I have no insight whatsoever into how babies are made, or the mating habits of avocados, and should not pronounce on such matters.

My degree is economics and I'm a Chartered Accountant so clearly know zip about how babies are made.

IcakethereforeIam · 27/08/2022 17:00

@TheMarzipanDildo Flowers

TheMarzipanDildo · 27/08/2022 16:50
Sad
TheMarzipanDildo · 27/08/2022 16:50

But alas, I only have a History and Politics degree, so I have no insight whatsoever into how babies are made, or the mating habits of avocados, and should not pronounce on such matters.

TheMarzipanDildo · 27/08/2022 16:39

Fenlandia · 25/08/2022 17:02

Humans aren't avocados. HTH.

Show quote history

GreyCouncil Scientists can talk absolute bollocks too, you know. They are not all omniscient, and, like all human beings, they are not immune to societal influences.

You ought to be more skeptical.

(Plus, you are conveniently ignoring all the scientists who believe in the biological reality of sex)

MrsOvertonsWindow · 26/08/2022 19:13

Just checking in to see that this hilarious thread has not been culled - but it's still here. Phew. Best enjoyed with a large glass of Wine

Helleofabore · 26/08/2022 16:17

I wasn't that impressed with my sea-cucumber salad.

Surely though, an avo would be an ideal salad accompaniment there too?

MagpiePi · 26/08/2022 15:25

IcakethereforeIam · 26/08/2022 13:10

Jellyfish, even with custard, sprinkles and whipped cream, yuck! And they're not fish either.

Do Americans call them jellofish?

I wasn't that impressed with my sea-cucumber salad.

Deliriumoftheendless · 26/08/2022 13:52

IcakethereforeIam · 26/08/2022 13:10

Jellyfish, even with custard, sprinkles and whipped cream, yuck! And they're not fish either.

Do Americans call them jellofish?

A friend of mine ate jellyfish once, said it was very nice until he asked what it was.

countrygirl99 · 26/08/2022 13:41

Igneococcus · 26/08/2022 11:52

I haven't seen a single ladybird all year. West coast Scotland, not drought and heatwave related. Where have they all gone?

They are non-binary birds now

GertrudeKerfuffle · 26/08/2022 13:19

Queenoftheashes · 26/08/2022 06:30

Wait til they see Jurassic park

😁

Breaking news, sex isn't binary in humans because...avocados
IcakethereforeIam · 26/08/2022 13:10

Jellyfish, even with custard, sprinkles and whipped cream, yuck! And they're not fish either.

Do Americans call them jellofish?

WomaninBoots · 26/08/2022 13:09

Sea horses definitely need to have a word with themselves.

Thelnebriati · 26/08/2022 12:51

Don't get me started on dragonflies.

JellySaurus · 26/08/2022 12:45

Ladybirds. More gaslighters. They're neither ladies nor birds.

NeedNotWantNot · 26/08/2022 12:02

Avocados, the reason millennials can't afford houses.

IcakethereforeIam · 26/08/2022 11:52

Lots of plants have male and female parts that ripen at different times. If mammals followed that pattern, not being fertile at the same time, would be less than optimal for species survival.

Igneococcus · 26/08/2022 11:52

I haven't seen a single ladybird all year. West coast Scotland, not drought and heatwave related. Where have they all gone?

WomaninBoots · 26/08/2022 11:24

But they do get pollinated by bees. Individual plants just open and close their male and female flowers (which are seperate entities on avocados) at different times to avoid too much self-pollination.

The flowers themselves don't change from male to female and back again, they are just available at different times. That doesn't strike me as actually "changing sex" which is what the article wants it to mean. I think the writer has got themselves rather overexcited about a simple, elegant mechanism to prevent self-pollination.

WomaninBoots · 26/08/2022 11:19

Lol

Of course avocado pollination is where all this started and having actually read the article linked in post 1 I'm going to say that it is a really fucking stupid interpretation of what avocado plants do anyway!

Ffs.

WomaninBoots · 26/08/2022 11:11

If humans are avocados..

"Talk dirty to me"

"Release the bees"

swoon

goes off to Google avocado pollination mechanism... assuming "bees" is lazy but made me laugh

IcakethereforeIam · 26/08/2022 10:21

I think it's neutral so long as you control the asexual ones as well, and you identify as a hoverfly larva (was going to say 'ladybird', but that would have opened a whole 'nother can of worm).

Beowulfa · 26/08/2022 10:12

The lifecycle of aphids involves both asexual and sexual reproduction. Does this mean it's transphobic to try and control the fuckers on my runner beans?

ArabellaScott · 26/08/2022 09:58

Yes! Immortal jellies. Jellyfish reproduction is FASCINATING. There are several different routes.

'There are a few jellyfish species that receive sperm through their mouths to fertilise eggs inside the body cavity, but most jellyfish just release sperm or eggs directly into the water.'

www.sciencefocus.com/nature/how-do-jellyfish-reproduce/

'Jellyfish have a complex life cycle which includes both sexual and asexual phases, with the medusa being the sexual stage in most instances. Sperm fertilize eggs, which develop into larval planulae, become polyps, bud into ephyrae and then transform into adult medusae. In some species certain stages may be skipped'

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jellyfish

Deliriumoftheendless · 26/08/2022 09:44

Octonauts taught me there’s a jelly fish that regenerates/reverts to infant form when frightened, so I watch loads of horror films and I’m 18 again because SCieNCE.