# Ask The Biologist! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 11, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625 "2003-11-11T15:35:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/1 "2003-11-11T15:35:13Z")
Well, I’m finishing up my B.S. and on my way straight to a PhD. My main research areas are behavioral and evolutionary ecology in vertebrates. What questions can I answer? ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/2 "2003-11-11T18:50:38Z")
This is a serious question. When do you think we’ll be able to create an elephant the size of a cat? Or a hippo, giraffe, or whatever. I’ve been holding off getting a pet because I want to wait for one of these. I understand it might not be entirely ethical or moral to create such things, but it would just be too cool. What are the obstacles? Do you think that a private company will eventually undertake such a project because the financial incentive will overcome the ethical difficulties? If so, when? ---
**Author:** ![Chimpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@Chimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimpy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/3 "2003-11-11T18:56:39Z")
is it true that the human body is designed to mate in the “missionary” position? this is a thing my friend says a lot and im not so sure ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/4 "2003-11-11T18:59:01Z")
Would you uphold Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection? ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/5 "2003-11-11T19:07:00Z")
What’s your favrite step in the process of mitosis? ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/6 "2003-11-11T19:24:23Z")
> [@](#): > > This is a serious question. > > When do you think we’ll be able to create an elephant the size of a cat? Or a hippo, giraffe, or whatever. > > I’ve been holding off getting a pet because I want to wait for one of these. I understand it might not be entirely ethical or moral to create such things, but it would just be too cool. > > What are the obstacles? Do you think that a private company will eventually undertake such a project because the financial incentive will overcome the ethical difficulties? If so, when? I don’t think that this is possible for a multitude of reasons that are too lengthy to get into here. > [@](#): > > is it true that the human body is designed to mate in the “missionary” position? this is a thing my friend says a lot and im not so sure It would seem like that to me. > [@](#): > > Would you uphold Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection? Well, Yeah. > [@](#): > > What’s your favrite step in the process of mitosis? Interphase. ---
**Author:** ![Chimpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@Chimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimpy)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/7 "2003-11-11T19:30:33Z")
thanks ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/8 "2003-11-11T19:55:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ilsa\_Lund \* > Interphase. \*\* Feh. Anaphase kicks Interphase’s ass. What makes poop stink? ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/9 "2003-11-11T20:08:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Winston\_Smith \* > \*\*Feh. Anaphase kicks Interphase’s ass. > > What makes poop stink? \*\* Interphase rulez, |)00|)z. Poop stinks due to nitrogen and sulfur rich byproducts of the bacteria produced in your colon. I am an evolutionary ecologist, goddammit! Stop asking why your poop stinks! ---
**Author:** ![Winston\_Smith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e95f7d/32.png) [@Winston\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Smith)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/10 "2003-11-11T20:49:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ilsa\_Lund \* > \*\*Poop stinks due to nitrogen and sulfur rich byproducts of the bacteria produced in your colon. \*\* Huh. I thought it had more to do with eating hard boiled eggs and Keilbasa, but whatever you say, Professor. Which is older: the Fern, or the Venus Fly Trap? Which plant is superior? Which is better: assexual or sexual reproduction? Why? What do you think about genetically engineered foodstuffs? BioPharming? Will the decisions we make today alter the course of human history? Humans run faster today than they did 100 years ago, but horses do not. Pumpkins are bigger today than they were 100 years ago. What’s the connection? ---
**Author:** ![CaptBushido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e4f/32.png) [@CaptBushido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptBushido)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/11 "2003-11-11T21:31:56Z")
I’m considering majoring in biology. Excluding medical and teaching, what kinds of jobs are there for biology majors? Is there heavy competition for jobs? Do research jobs pay well? ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/12 "2003-11-11T21:38:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CaptBushido \* > \*\*I’m considering majoring in biology. Excluding medical and teaching, what kinds of jobs are there for biology majors? Is there heavy competition for jobs? Do research jobs pay well? \*\* Biology is a very rewarding study with a wide variety of job options. Jobs as a corporate researcher, or state or federal biologist in some capacity are the main ones that come to mind. Competition is pretty average, as is pay, I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/13 "2003-11-11T22:03:34Z")
Whats the Largest Pinniped known to man? ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/14 "2003-11-11T22:10:55Z")
_Mirounga_ perhaps? ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/15 "2003-11-11T22:28:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CaptBushido \* > \*\*I’m considering majoring in biology. Excluding medical and teaching, what kinds of jobs are there for biology majors? Is there heavy competition for jobs? Do research jobs pay well? \*\* i jumped into the job world from school after getting a bachelor’s. Most good paying jobs want a PhD (or at least a masters). You can get livable jobs with just a bachelor’s, but you need to get more education to get into the well paying jobs. I’m getting set up for grad school application at this time (i got burned out of school which is why i left, i’m still not sure if i want to stop at masters for now or go for broke). I have a job in the university section, which is different from the corporate sector. Biotechnology is a big field right now, but may or may not make a burst bubble like the dotcoms did earlier. There are a lot of biotech startups jumping out of nowhere based on research that will probably not be profitable, and those jobs will soon vanish (in fact, this is starting to happen now, two of the three applicants for our last opening were biotech layoff survivors). Applying at big universities with large bioresearch labs is a good way to get your resume seen by a large amount of people, but the corporate jobs will probably pay more. Also university labs run the risk of running our of funds. As long as you don’t suck, you should be in high demand once you have experience. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/16 "2003-11-11T22:31:50Z")
OK, then, what’s the largest pinniped known to woman? ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/17 "2003-11-11T22:34:26Z")
The one in your pants? ---
**Author:** ![Marine\_One](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marine_one/32/3461_2.png) [@Marine\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marine_One)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/18 "2003-11-11T22:40:36Z")
Serious: Do they store endangered species blood somewhere so they can be cloned in the future? Not: How famous would you be if you caught Bigfoot? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/19 "2003-11-11T22:40:37Z")
Fine I’ll answer it I believe it’s the Stellar Sea Lion. If not it’s the Elephant Seal…however, they do not have ear-flaps _Pinni_ and do not walk on their flippers. Is that right **Colibri**? ---
**Author:** ![Ilsa\_Lund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a6a055/32.png) [@Ilsa\_Lund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ilsa_Lund)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625/20 "2003-11-11T23:00:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Serious: > > Do they store endangered species blood somewhere so they can be cloned in the future? > > Not: > > How famous would you be if you caught Bigfoot? 1)It’s called a _zoo_. 2)Seriously Famous. > [@](#): > > Fine I’ll answer it I believe it’s the Stellar Sea Lion. If not it’s the Elephant Seal…however, they do not have ear-flaps Pinni and do not walk on their flippers. > > Is that right Colibri? 1)pinni refers to feathers, i.e. feather footed - pinniped. 2)_Mirounga_ sp. _are_ pinnipeds. 3)_Mirounga_ _IS_ the largest pinniped. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-biologist/212625.md?page=2)