Scar and Simba?

This somewhat disturbing picture is of a male leopard killing and eventually eating a cub. This is a widely known practice, but it had rarely been photographed. The article associated with the picture is from National Geographic and explains why this practice is seen in nature.



Natural selection has been identified (somewhat poorly sometimes) as "survival of the fittest". In this case the genes that are passed on to offspring define an organism's fitness. The leopard is killing the cubs of the females that have the genes of another male so that he can mate with her and pass on his genes. It's pretty gruesome, but that's 'The circle of life'.

Another Instant Egghead - limb regeneration!!!

This Instant Egghead is full of information covered in both biology and AP Biology this year. Point out something that we have covered in the comments section!