"Madam, I

Matt Welch | June 19, 2003

Biologists have discovered that the Y chromosome contains eight massive palindromes, allowing the male genetic code to repair itself in case of mutation. "This narcissistic process of salvation by palindrome seems to be what has saved men from extinction so far," reports the New York Times.

Comments

|6.19.03 @ 1:21AM|#

"Men and women differ by 1 to 2 percent of their genomes, Dr. Page said, which is the same as the difference between a man and a male chimpanzee or between a woman and a female chimpanzee." So is beastiality still a bad thing?

That, and the Y chromosome folding back and "doing" itself like "A Toyota" or "Sleep not on peels." My DNA NEVER does THAT!

Gidge|6.19.03 @ 1:46AM|#

That's an inspired headline on your part.

Matt Welch|6.19.03 @ 1:48AM|#

Gidge: The truly inspired headline was over at Colby Cosh's site (http://colbycosh.com/#dnaa):

"DNA, and..."

Warren|6.19.03 @ 3:25AM|#

I've long suspected that women were a little one sided.

chronoczar|6.19.03 @ 3:47AM|#

Wait... does that mean all men are 50% gay...? o_o Now there's some interesting biology.

Kevin Carson|6.19.03 @ 4:25AM|#

Mountain Goat:

I don't know. You seem to be suggesting SAME SEX bestiality--and that's just going too far. The chicken house scene in Pink Flamingos was pretty cool, though.

|6.19.03 @ 6:29AM|#

I agree - bestiality is one thing, but _homosexual_ bestiality? Now that's just going too far! Someone call the 700 Club!

[/silly]

Oh, all in all...I don't get it.

|6.19.03 @ 6:38AM|#

"So is beastiality still a bad thing?"

Well, yes, Goat, if you consider that beasts do NOT use toilet paper -- ever!

Yechh!

(By the way, is there a special reason why they call you "Mountain Goat?")

man with canal plans|6.19.03 @ 6:44AM|#

Matt, the phenomenon is not so much a palindrome as it is a suibom pirts suibom (excuse me, a mobius strip mobius.)

|6.19.03 @ 9:01AM|#

"Well, yes, Goat, if you consider that beasts do NOT use toilet paper -- ever!"

Well, is it ok if you give them a bath first? Cleanliness is next to godliness, and all that.

|6.19.03 @ 9:10AM|#

Cleanliness is next to godliness.

And beastliness is next to ...

(Fill in the blank)

3002 ,91 enuJ ta|6.19.03 @ 12:29PM|#

This may also explain why Weird Al is more popular with men than with women.