Reproduction
19 articles-
Sex Is Driven by the Impetus to Change
Hooking up is nature’s way for a species to overcome a bad genomic match. -
Does Having Kids Make Mothers Age Faster?
Evidence is stacking up on both sides of an age-old debate. -
When Pseudosex Is Better Than the Real Thing
What we can learn about evolution from species who thrive without sexual reproduction. -
Sex Is a Coping Mechanism
Did sexual reproduction evolve to keep up with mitochondrial mutation? -
How Your Embryo Knew What To Do
The forgotten story of the woman who discovered how animals get their shape.
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The Slower, Gentler Version of IVF
Microscope image showing selection of an embryo for IVFScience Photo Library – ZEPHYR via Getty Images For women who have trouble conceiving, being told they’ll need assistance is often accompanied with a sense of dread: what they hoped would be a natural, quick, and inexpensive process (what’s cheaper than natural conception?) can change into a […]
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Why Egg Freezing Is an Impossible Choice
I don’t want to surrender to a lottery. But will I regret not playing?
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How a Zebra Mussel Convinced Me To Get a Vasectomy
“It’s amazing what we let our teachers teach us.”
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Carriers, Part 5: The Aftermath
This is the final installment of a five-part series. First read Part 1 , Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 to get caught up. Correction: The text about tests that can be done 10 weeks into pregnancy was changed to clarify the difference between CVS—an invasive test that is available now and can determine whether a […]
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Carriers, Part 4: The Results
This is the fourth installment of a five-part series. First read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 to get caught up; then go on to Part 5.Lauren R. Weinstein is a cartoonist, cartooning teacher, and avid gardener who lives in scenic Maplewood, New Jersey. She is currently working on a teenage memoir entitled How to Draw a Nose. […]
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Carriers, Part 3: The Wait
This is the third installment of a five-part series. First read Part 1 and Part 2 to get caught up; then go on to Part 4 and Part 5.Lauren R. Weinstein is a cartoonist, cartooning teacher, and avid gardener who lives in scenic Maplewood, New Jersey. She is currently working on a teenage memoir entitled How to Draw a […]
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Carriers, Part 2: The Test
This is the second installment of a five-part series. See Part 1 first; then go on to Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5. Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now . Lauren R. Weinstein is a cartoonist, cartooning teacher, and avid gardener who lives in scenic Maplewood, New Jersey. She […] -
Carriers: A Webcomic on Health, Luck, and Life
This is the first installment of a five-part series. Also see Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.Read Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5. Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now . * Correction: The text about the effects of cystic fibrosis has been changed to reflect the […] -
What Chinese Medicine Has to Teach Us About New Mothers
Pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period put women in peril, giving rise to precautions that gave them a sense of control, such as orienting the birthing room, charms and rituals, and burying a placenta.Vanessa Hua In a strip mall in the heart of Silicon Valley, the pregnant ladies were seeking out ancient Chinese […] -
How Animals Use Smell to Send Coded Messages
Dad was back. He played a little with the children, rubbed a few heads with his own, clawed at a wooden post, and then, standing erect with tail straight up, he backed towards a tree, sprayed, and left. The kids scampered over. They stood on their hind legs and carefully examined the spray—the family smell. […] -
Imagine the Early You as a Sperm, Swimming Your Way To Fame
When you think of fame, you probably picture Hollywood A-listers, big-time political players, or triumphant athletes, the people who routinely see photos of themselves when they glance at magazine and newspapers. But we are each of us an exemplar of the biology of fame. Consider some recent scientific findings regarding the substantial genetic uniqueness packed […]
