{"id":28403,"date":"2020-02-02T06:00:55","date_gmt":"2020-02-02T12:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.discoverclarksville.com\/articles\/?p=28403"},"modified":"2020-02-02T01:29:15","modified_gmt":"2020-02-02T07:29:15","slug":"austin-peay-state-universitys-science-on-tap-to-explore-weird-wonderful-world-of-animal-sex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.discoverclarksville.com\/articles\/2020\/02\/02\/austin-peay-state-universitys-science-on-tap-to-explore-weird-wonderful-world-of-animal-sex\/","title":{"rendered":"Austin Peay State University’s Science on Tap to explore “Weird, Wonderful World of Animal Sex”"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AustinClarksville, TN<\/strong> – \u201cI\u2019m about to ruin \u2018Finding Nemo\u2019 for you.\u201d That\u2019s the warning Austin Peay State University (APSU) biology professor Dr. Mollie Cashner had while sharing a sneak peek at February 4th\u2019s Science on Tap presentation: \u201cThe Weird, Wonderful World of Animal Sex.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Clownfish<\/a>

Clownfish are a good example of just how weird sex can be in the animal world. (Danny de Bruyne\/FreeImages)<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

Clownfish \u2013 the type of fish Nemo and his dad, Marlin, are in the movie \u2013 are a good example of just how weird sex can be in the animal world.<\/p>\n

To find out why \u201cMarlin\u201d actually should be \u201cMarlena\u201d in \u201cFinding Nemo,\u201d you\u2019ll have to attend Science on Tap on Tuesday. Science on Tap happens at 5:30pm on the first Tuesday of every month at Clarksville\u2019s Strawberry Alley Ale Works.<\/p>\n

Austin Peay State University scientists explore a different topic every month. Last month, computer science professor Dr. James Church discussed advances in facial recognition technology. Science on Tap is sponsored by the APSU College of STEM.<\/p>\n

The freaky sex of coral, flatworms and angler fish<\/h3>\n
\"Austin<\/a>

Austin Peay State University professor Dr. Mollie Cashner leads a genetics class on campus. (APSU)<\/p><\/div>\n

All animals have the ingrained desire to reproduce but doing something that sounds simple \u2013 getting two cells (the sperm and the egg) together \u2013 can be complicated and diverse, Cashner said. Reproduction can happen in all sorts of ways.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom our human bias, we think that those cells somehow magically come together and then there\u2019s a stork that brings the baby,\u201d Cashner said. \u201cThat may be how humans do it, but there are lots of other ways, and some of them are pretty freaky.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cImagine you\u2019re a coral, you\u2019re literally stuck to the bottom of the ocean floor,\u201d Cashner said. \u201cHow do you get your gametes (sperm and egg) to meet?\u201d<\/p>\n

[320right]The answer might surprise you.<\/p>\n

Cashner also will discuss how flatworms use penis fencing, how male angler fish permanently embed in females and how female damselflies deal with overly amorous males. <\/p>\n

Sometimes, animal reproduction can be fatal. Attendees will learn about a marsupial that ends its life with nonstop mating and about how male praying mantises can mate even after the female has bitten off their heads.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are all sorts of ways, and sometimes reproduction is actually kind of scary,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

To learn more<\/h3>\n