h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.h2g2.com/A486560

Hi. Could someone please tell me what they think of my entry (see above link)? It's my first attempt, so I'd be grateful for some feedback.

Thanks

Hi.

This is a very good start and you appear to have most of the groundwork in place.

I think I remember once in a biology GCSE lesson learning that worms are asexual, they are both male and female. I'm probably wrong, but it does spring forth the question about "how do worms reproduce?".

Croz (Scout)

Okay, thanks. I'll do some research and then add some stuff about that.

Hello,

I think earthworms are not hermaphoditic (not asexual). They have both male and female organs. Basically they reproduce by impregnating each other I believe, although I am not informed in depth on the matter (haven't ever watched Earthworm Porn, but it's probably out there on the internet). Other hermaphroditic organisms include many plants and other invertebrates.

There probably is an interesting entry that could be written on various sexual and asexual reproductive strategies in nature. You have hermaphrodites, budding, cellular fission, exchanges of plasmids, hormone-controlled sex changes (eg, cichlids). But there might already be an entry on this one. I haven't checked.

Yours,
Jake

I think that last post meant to read "I think worms are hermaphroditic (not asexual)". Hermaphroditic means that they have both male and female sexual organs.

I think I meant the same thing, it has been well over five years since I've ventured anywhere near a biology textbook so knowledge of such things is a little rusty.

It's interesting and written with humour. I enjoyed it, but I wonder whether you should call it earth worms instead of just worms. It doesn't take account of worms that live in sand or animals guts or other places. Even though it does mention that there are lots of types of worms, it does concentrate almost entirely on earth worms. Good article.

OK. Thanks. I've changed the title and stuff. It's now called Earthworms - I've added a new conversation about it. Please have a look. Thanks

Cool

Can you just clarify one thing for me - is that bit you mentioned where the eggs are the same as that saddle-like thing that earthworms have?

This entry has already been recommended. The queue would be a little bit shorter if it was removed from peer review.

Thats a good point, Sal - I second the removal of recommended articles from the PR forum.

(tis a good article though!)

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'Peer Review Sin Bin' to 'Earthworms'.

Back to Entry - this became Edited Entry A531983 Earthworms