trypanosomes
truh-PAN-uh-sohmz
Definition
A group of parasitic protozoa that live in the blood of vertebrates and often cause serious diseases in animals and humans.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek words 'trypanon' meaning 'auger' or 'borer' and 'soma' meaning 'body', describing the corkscrew-like motion these organisms use to move through fluids.
In the news
The article mentions these parasites to illustrate the significant danger posed by biting flies, explaining why even a small 'margin' of protection provided by zebra stripes is evolutionarily beneficial.
Scientists once thought zebra stripes might help confuse predators, but when researchers dressed horses in zebra-striped coats, biting flies repeatedly failed to land — adding to evidence that the famous pattern evolved to thwart insects, not lions
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com