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Science

eppur_se_muova

(41,968 posts)

4. Ayup. Injured organism licking its own wounds.

Reply to Loki Liesmith (Reply #3)

Wed Feb 14, 2018, 12:25 AM

Feb 2018

Since the workers and soldiers *never* pass on their DNA, a trait which favors the colony over non-breeding individuals can easily be a survival trait for the gene line, which is passed on only by the queen and short-lived males. Really quite distinct from altruistic behavior.

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Highlight:

Soldier ants rescue and treat wounded comrades [View all] Judi Lynn Feb 2018 OP

Following Battles, Ant Medics Treat Their Wounded Comrades Judi Lynn Feb 2018 #1

Ants care for wounded comrades by licking their wounds clean Judi Lynn Feb 2018 #2

Best not to think of ants as individual organisms Loki Liesmith Feb 2018 #3

Ayup. Injured organism licking its own wounds. eppur_se_muova Feb 2018 #4