Why studying duck genitalia is not a waste of tax dollars

[Tab]

This article goes on about the importance of basic science research, amid an ongoing argument about certain NSF and other grants (robotic squirrels and the like).

In regards to ducks, we learn:

This brings us back to the ducks. Male ducks force copulations on females, and males and females are engaged in a genital arms race with surprising consequences. Male ducks have elaborate corkscrew-shaped penises, the length of which correlates with the degree of forced copulation males impose on female ducks. Females are often unable to escape male coercion, but they have evolved vaginal morphology that makes it difficult for males to inseminate females. Males have counterclockwise spiraling penises, while females have clockwise spiraling vaginas.

More: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/why-studying-duck-genitalia-is-not-a-waste-of-tax-dollars-201808991.html

Science doesn't get more basic than that.

Now, I already knew that pigs had corkscrew-shaped penises, thanks to years of reading The Straight Dope. But the waterfowl duck? I didn't even know ducks had penises, much less corkscrew-shaped ones. I supposed they procreated somehow, but didn't put a lot of thought into it.

This, my friends, is where in science the rubber meets the road. In the space of seven minutes, I've learned fundamentals about animal and waterfowl species that previously eluded me. The study probably cost less money and brings greater returns than the project to capture an asteroid to orbit the moon ($100 million if you were wondering), not to mention defense systems that are obsolete before you build them.

Some money could be spent on basic education. Don't feed ducks where you swim. Reason? They poop it back out, and that creates a condition known as "duck itch" for people who swim in the lake/pond in the same area where they're fed. You have to towel off very strongly to keep the itch to a minimum.

Now you know two things about ducks you might not have known 10 minutes ago.

[treestar]

1. These ducks could go extinct

They seem to have a situation that is anti-reproductive.

[NYC_SKP]

2. This counterclockwise spiral penis thing explains a lot about my romantic past. Thanks.

The "duck itch", on the other hand, is almost too much information.

K/R





.

.

[NYC_SKP]

3. So, I was unable to resist the Google Image Search for "Duck Penis"...

And am still trying to recover.

[hedda_foil]

5. NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[NYC_SKP]

7. You know, it would make for a really custom corkscrew!

But I'd try to put a smile on his face!

[Tab]

8. Can. Not. Unsee.

[d_r]

13. duck, duck, GOOSE!

[onpatrol98]

14. That's fake, right?

[Arkansas Granny]

17. Where in the hell does he keep that thing when it's not

being used?

[asjr]

4. I've spent nearly all my life wondering about this. At last I know!

[L0oniX]

6. "Male ducks force copulations on females" We need to stop duck rape now!

[libodem]

11. Ya just can't escape some topics in GD

I came to this thread through a lounge link. Stranger stuff has happened but I don't know where.

Good gosh.

[cherokeeprogressive]

12. ALL drakes are potential rapists. n/t

[libodem]

16. .

[In_The_Wind]

9. The only new thing that I learned was about the grants.

[geckosfeet]

10. And my life has been infinitely unchanged.

Aside from the loss of 10 minutes.

[onpatrol98]

15. I don't know...

Maybe we should get out of duck bedrooms.



Surely, we're violating...something.

[Buns_of_Fire]

18. Male, counterclockwise; female, clockwise. Got it.

Another shard of information of the sort that makes people avoid me at cocktail parties (not that I've gotten many invitations recently).

Oh, and duck poop indirectly causes itching. Filed. Speaking thereof, did you know that roughly 50% of poop is composed of dead microbes?

(See what I mean about people avoiding me at cocktail parties?)