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Enigma'07's Avatar Enigma'07
Who turned out the lights?!?! (1,220 posts)
Old 06-21-04, 06:14 PM
 #1
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Two questions:
1. are they cold blooded
2. do they have gangilia(sp?) or brains
eddymrsci's Avatar eddymrsci
Beware of the dark side (585 posts)
Old 06-21-04, 07:55 PM
 #2
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1. yes insects are cold-blooded, their body temperature depends on the temperature of their environment, therefore the pumping rates of their hearts vary greatly

2. yes insects do have brains and sensory organs and ganglia, the brain plays an important role in image processing - their eyes are much more sensitive to motion than the human eyes
Insects have, in fact, a well-developed, nervous system, the brain processes the information from the different sensory organs, however, unlike human brains, it does not take total control of the movements. these are controlled by ganglia, which will function even when the brain does not work
Enigma'07's Avatar Enigma'07
Who turned out the lights?!?! (1,220 posts)
Old 06-21-04, 08:38 PM
 #3
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So what's the differance between ganglia and a brain?
eddymrsci's Avatar eddymrsci
Beware of the dark side (585 posts)
Old 06-21-04, 11:39 PM
 #4
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I think ganglia are a dense bundle or cluster of nerve cells, usually extending quite long
while the brain is the center of the nervous system, sending out signals to the spinal cord, instead of transmitting direct impulses to the body

I am not sure, they may be the same thing, except ganglia is an extensive system and brain is just one stationary organ in the skull
Enigma'07's Avatar Enigma'07
Who turned out the lights?!?! (1,220 posts)
Old 06-22-04, 09:27 AM
 #5
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So how can you have both at one time. Wouldn't that be pointless?
eddymrsci's Avatar eddymrsci
Beware of the dark side (585 posts)
Old 06-22-04, 11:19 AM
 #6
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oh no of course not, insects need ganglia so they can move faster because ganglia send direct impulses to the muscles to cause movements, without waiting for any response from the brain, this is essential to the survival of insects they have to move fast. Plus, it sometimes acts as a substitute for the brain, I guess
Enigma'07's Avatar Enigma'07
Who turned out the lights?!?! (1,220 posts)
Old 06-22-04, 05:04 PM
 #7
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So ganglia provide reflex, like when you touch a hot stove and you imeadiatly pull your hand away? If they lost their brain, would they be able to survive with just ganglia? Could an insect have multiple ganglia?
eddymrsci's Avatar eddymrsci
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Old 06-22-04, 05:18 PM
 #8
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yes I would suppose that the insects would be able to produce more faster and direct reflexes and movements to sensitive stimuli due to their possession of ganglia. however I do not think that they would survive physically without brains, because ganglia are only known to play an essential part in controlling movements, I don't believe they are able to send body parts hormones signaling digestion or other bodily functions
I don't know what you mean by "multiple ganglia", ganglia is the plural form of ganglion
Enigma'07's Avatar Enigma'07
Who turned out the lights?!?! (1,220 posts)
Old 06-22-04, 05:47 PM
 #9
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Like several bunches of them through out it's body.
eddymrsci's Avatar eddymrsci
Beware of the dark side (585 posts)
Old 06-22-04, 05:54 PM
 #10
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I am not sure, but it is reasonable to think that they only have one, since they only have one nervous system
Enigma'07's Avatar Enigma'07
Who turned out the lights?!?! (1,220 posts)
Old 06-22-04, 05:56 PM
 #11
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Thank you one again for your help, all-knowing Mr Science.
eddymrsci's Avatar eddymrsci
Beware of the dark side (585 posts)
Old 06-22-04, 07:19 PM
 #12
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you're very welcome, any time
haha thanks, however I am not anywhere near knowing all, but I am, in fact, Mr. Science (that's one of the nicknames I have at school, the others include Bill Nye the Science Guy, and some more...:P)
Enigma'07's Avatar Enigma'07
Who turned out the lights?!?! (1,220 posts)
Old 06-22-04, 08:14 PM
 #13
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are you called Bill Nye because you know alot of stuff like him, or because you act like him?
eddymrsci's Avatar eddymrsci
Beware of the dark side (585 posts)
Old 06-22-04, 08:56 PM
 #14
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honestly I don't know, at least I am not sure of the reasons
but I don't dress like him, I don't talk like him, and no haha I don't think I act like him, probably because I am very interested in science like him, know stuff about it, though certainly not as much as Bill Nye does, also I am very enthusiastic about it and I like to talk about it a lot
I guess that's why I have earned my unique nicknames
Enigma'07's Avatar Enigma'07
Who turned out the lights?!?! (1,220 posts)
Old 06-22-04, 08:58 PM
 #15
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that's alright. one year I had a teacher that insisted on calling me Professor White. I also "earned" a Nobel prize in religion. Not quite sure how I managed that.
eddymrsci's Avatar eddymrsci
Beware of the dark side (585 posts)
Old 06-22-04, 09:03 PM
 #16
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haha really? why were you called that?
Enigma'07's Avatar Enigma'07
Who turned out the lights?!?! (1,220 posts)
Old 06-22-04, 09:09 PM
 #17
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I have no idea.
eddymrsci's Avatar eddymrsci
Beware of the dark side (585 posts)
Old 06-23-04, 12:15 AM
 #18
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haha

there is one counselor in my school who started calling me "Bill Nye" and kept calling me that every time I see him in hallway, at the end of the year, when I was talking to him in his office about modifying my timetable for next year, he actually forgot my name
ElectricFetus's Avatar ElectricFetus
It's not serious business (12,719 posts)
Old 06-23-04, 09:23 AM
 #19
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Yes they have brains, Yes they are exotherms and cannot maintain thermal homeostasis.
spuriousmonkey
Banned (24,088 posts)
Old 06-23-04, 11:15 AM
 #20
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Exotherm doesn't mean not being able to maintain thermal homeostasis. Au contraire. Some insects rather seek thermal homeostasis and are not that bad at it.

A termite hill is a perfect example of purposeful thermal homeostasis.
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