#8328: — 11/05  at  03:46 PM
Seems they've always been there. The incredibly complex life cycle of some parasites only makes sense looked at from an evolutionary perspective. PZ uses one of Carl Zimmer's books "At The Water's Edge" for his developmental biology class. For a wonderful look at parasites read Carl's book "Parasite Rex". Don't read it while eating however.

#8330: Mrs Tilton — 11/05  at  04:34 PM
I'll have you know that I read Parasite Rex while eating. Sushi, in fact. (Sure hope it was frozen for at least 4 days...)

Great book, though I thought Zimmer had a slight tendency to drift into 'Woooo, scary parasites!' sensationalist mode. One of the piccies was a big scary-looking close-up of the head of a male adult Strepsiptera. Well, they're scary indeed as sub-adults, if you're, say, a hymenopteran with one stuck in your belly. But a featureless minimaggot wouldn't have looked as ghastly. Adult males might have heads like brain-sucking aliens from the Planet Bongo, but they live for only a couple of hours, and I don't believe they even have mouthparts. And they're what, about a squillionth of a centimetre long.

Still, as I say: great book. For his next one, perhaps he can describe much scarier parasites: 'moral values'-motivated, Bush-voting Red Staters. After all, they live by siphoning money away from the Blue States.

#8332: PZ Myers — 11/05  at  04:56 PM
I'll say. We deal with Republicans and Creationists here. We have to have strong stomachs.

#8335: — 11/05  at  05:21 PM
Ah the popular press...to sell those books you NEED to deal with the "Woooo, scary parasites"! It's unfortunate, but to lure the "average" reader in I guess it's necessary. Once there however, it's the amazing variety of live histories and the control some pararsites have over the lives of their hosts that really make you say Woooo!

Mrs. T, if you can read about brain worms and blood flukes while eating sushi, you're a better "man" than me!