Parasite gives wolves what it takes to be pack leaders

Post by Trouble_007 » Sat, Nov 26, 2022, 9:07 PM UTC

the_af wrote: post #180

Trouble_007 wrote: post #173

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Link to * * Comments * * Which is what I posted [ 1 day ago - 5 comments ]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33738581 Which is related to the Link of the actual Article; *Grey wolves infected with this parasite are more likely to become pack leaders* : https://abcnews.go.com/US/grey-wolves-infected-parasite-become-pack-leaders-scientists/story?id=93487254

I'm sorry, I truly don't follow what you're trying to say. What does the "also" mean, it's always the same story ! There's no additional information, it's always about the same study about the same parasite on the same group of wolves! I'm not pulling your leg, I truly don't follow your point.

Post by simonh » Sat, Nov 26, 2022, 11:53 PM UTC

brohee wrote: post #120

Mistletoe wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had this thought but doesn’t the pack mostly eat the same thing?

Not those that set out on their own, and thus are more likely to catch rodent while alone than feasting on big prey with the pack... Unless they can pinpoint the infection and a subsequent behavior change, it's not super conclusive. It's like concluding catching an IST makes you more promiscuous, even if that would likely be supported by statistics...

Post by sigmoid10 » Sun, Nov 27, 2022, 11:45 AM UTC

Kiboneu wrote: post #151

sigmoid10 wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They discuss it briefly and it turns out the above commenter is 100% correct in his assessment. Relevant quote from the paper: >Given the correlational nature of the study, observed patterns may not be causal; for example, higher risk-takers could be more likely to be both entrepreneurial and exposed to T. gondii [...], thereby driving the correlation. Remember that while it might sound amazing that a parasite could…

> there is no practicable mechanism suggested so far There is, actually. T. Gondii has the genes to make tyrosine hydroxylase which is a dopamine precursor. It also visibly modifies rodent behavior around cat urine. Robert Sapolsky is one of many researchers narrowing in a mechanistic model of how parasites can influence host behavior. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17404235/ https://www.edge.org/conversation/robert…

Post by fergal_reid » Mon, Nov 28, 2022, 6:07 PM UTC

simonh wrote: post #183

brohee wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not those that set out on their own, and thus are more likely to catch rodent while alone than feasting on big prey with the pack... Unless they can pinpoint the infection and a subsequent behavior change, it's not super conclusive. It's like concluding catching an IST makes you more promiscuous, even if that would likely be supported by statistics...

> Not those that set out on their own That doesn’t work because they knew the full life history. They knew whether they were infected before they set out on their own or not.

Post by the_af » Wed, Nov 30, 2022, 5:06 PM UTC

Trouble_007 wrote: post #182

Trouble_007 wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Looking at both Articles' time-stamps, you will see; 2022-11-25 UTC 02:39:08 Grey wolves infected with this parasite are more likely to become pack leaders 2022-11-25 UTC 09:44:33 Parasite gives wolves what it takes to be pack leaders Obviously; Grey wolves infected with this parasite are more likely to become pack leaders Precedes; Parasite gives wolves what it takes to be pack leaders Hence my post.

Your post : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33741940 To the thread : https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33738581 2022-11-25 UTC 12:55:33 > the_af 1 day ago "More likely to become pack leaders" simply means "more likely to leave and start their own family", right? Is the last time-stamped of the 5 posts to that thread, so you saw these other posts in the thread; 2022-11-25 UTC 03:41:57 codexjourneys 1 day ago :…