Hedge89
Hedge89 t1_iqtluri wrote
Reply to comment by asenz in Chernobyl black frogs reveal evolution in action by Picture-unrelated
Gamma radiation, the form of ionising radiation that's an electromagnetic wave, is so small it doesn't really reflect off things, it'll pass straight through a mirror for instance, or y'know, a thin sheet of lead. Better to block it by giving it something harmless that can intercept it and get ionised that's not DNA. Though in this case it appears that it's more that melanin can mop up free radicals and reduce DNA damage that way. Basically, you can't realistically block gamma radiation with frog skin, but you can stuff it full of compounds that mop up the damaging byproduct of being hit with it.
Hedge89 t1_iqtmrtz wrote
Reply to comment by chiruochiba in Chernobyl black frogs reveal evolution in action by Picture-unrelated
Males are easier to find - they sampled them by basically going out at night in the breeding season and locating them by sound, likely the easiest and most efficient way to quickly find sufficient frogs for study.
>In total, we examined 189 H. orientalis adult males, captured during active calling from 10 PM to 1 AM.