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The art of mating

Wendy Cooper — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:04:09 +0000

The footage of nematode mating is strangely mesmerising and surprisingly elegant.

The male presses the front side of his tail against the hermaphrodite, while he backs along and searches for the vulva. The tail, controlled by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, embraces the hermaphrodite, curling round in its quest for the vulva.

On finding it, the male inserts copulatory structures called spicules and mating commences. There are six steps involved in worm mating behaviour.

Source: BMC Biology, New Scientist

2009 AGDA Poster Annual

Wendy Cooper — Wed, 27 May 2009 01:22:13 +0000

The AGDA Poster Annual is now open.

Trigger of things past

Wendy Cooper — Tue, 19 May 2009 22:35:49 +0000

The new Merce Cunningham production commenced about the time I left New York. It received a below average review from the New York Times. This trip is constantly circulating in my head, like an airplane trying to land in foggy weather and the beat that my heart skipped was left behind. This video is an excerpt of Split Side featuring original music by Radiohead and Sigur Rós.