Virus stole poison genes from black widow spider

Re:Virus stole poison genes from black widow spider by lappa on Monday October 17, 2016 @12:38AM (#12722718)

We wouldn't be able to mate with Nakalipithecus nakayamai, so they are indeed a distinct species despite being our ancestor.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Virus stole poison genes from black widow spider by thaumasiotes on Monday October 17, 2016 @03:14AM (#12723183)

By this criterion, there are very, very few bacterial species.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Virus stole poison genes from black widow spider by manifestsilence on Monday October 17, 2016 @03:24PM (#12728485)

I seem to recall this being the reason the sexual reproduction definition of species is considered problematic. It's a convenient definition for animals but breaks down for most other things, and even the animal kingdom has some funky edge cases, like the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebroid.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Virus stole poison genes from black widow spider by Scarblac on Monday October 17, 2016 @06:22AM (#12723839)

Or rather, each bacterium is its own species?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Virus stole poison genes from black widow spider by thaumasiotes on Monday October 17, 2016 @07:52AM (#12724216)

Why? Bacteria exchange DNA with each other.

[ Parent | on HN ]