The female of the species...
 

Link ;)

Re: The female of the species...
 

WTF are we doing to our environment :(
This reminds me of the story in the 1980's where Italian boys developed female characteristics after eating veal that had been fattened with the aid of oestragens.....

Re: The female of the species...
 

This isn't a new phenomenon, ever since the contraceptive pill was introduced, the prescence of oestrogens in sewage was shown to have potential for affecting fish in this way. Increase in use of HRT doesn't help, either.

I think what the article highlights, is that it isn't going away and we really need to start doing something about it. :shrug:

Re: The female of the species...
 

how does a fish show female characteristics??

Re: The female of the species...
 

Starts using make-up.....

Re: The female of the species...
 

or dressing in skirts?
or growing their hair long?

Re: The female of the species...
 

Don't be silly.....fish don't wear skirts :rolleyes: ;) :D

Re: The female of the species...
 

one effect is that male fish start producing a protein that is associated with egg yolk production in females. :erm:

Re: The female of the species...
 

Of course many breeds of fish, unlike mamals, are able to change gender anyway.
And the fish involved live near sewerage outlets rather than in drinking water.

Re: The female of the species...
 

true on both counts, but the gender changing that naturally occurs is usually to maximise breeding potential, for the species. There is one species, where the males collect 'harems' of females, with which they mate exclusively. As they can't do this successfully, until they get big enough to defend their harem, all newly hatched fish are female, but they change into males when they reach a certain size.

The effect of oestrogens in sewage is tending to produce sterile males, rather than 'proper' females, though.

Re: The female of the species...
 

and them wearing make up isnt?:erm: :rolleyes:

Re: The female of the species...
 

Chavsters ??????

Re: The female of the species...
 

:LOL:


Pikeys, maybe ;) :D

Re: The female of the species...
 

sperm counts are going down in the west, wonder if a point in the future will be reached where the pill and hrt will be banned.

Re: The female of the species...
 

:eek: I really hope not :erm: