Seymour Benzer, a geneticist who made scientific history by discovering that genes were structured like words and who went on to do pioneering work on the ties between genes and behavior, memory and longevity, died on Nov. 30 in Pasadena, Calif. He was 86.

The cause was a stroke, according to a statement from the California Institute of Technology, where he was a professor emeritus.

Dr. Benzer was born in New York City to immigrants from Poland. On summer vacations in the country as a boy, he had his first experiences in studying biology, catching frogs and dissecting them.

Continue reading “Seymour Benzer, Geneticist, Is Dead at 86” →

If you have ever observed ants marching in and out of a nest, you might have been reminded of a highway buzzing with traffic. To Iain D. Couzin, such a comparison is a cruel insult — to the ants.

Americans spend a 3.7 billion hours a year in congested traffic. But you will never see ants stuck in gridlock.

Army ants, which Dr. Couzin has spent much time observing in Panama, are particularly good at moving in swarms. If they have to travel over a depression in the ground, they erect bridges so that they can proceed as quickly as possible.

Continue reading “From Ants to People, an Instinct to Swarm” →

If you have ever observed ants marching in and out of a nest, you might have been reminded of a highway buzzing with traffic. To Iain Couzin, such a comparison is a cruel insult – to the ants.

Americans spend a total of 3.7 billion hours a year in congested traffic. But you will never see ants stuck in gridlock.

Army ants, which Dr. Couzin has spent much time observing in Panama, are particularly good at moving in swarms. If they have to travel over a depression in the ground, they erect bridges so that they can proceed as quickly as possible.

Continue reading “The march of the ants holds clues for humans” →