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On the Origin of Species: Paras and Parasect: Difference between revisions

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On the Origin of Species: Paras and Parasect (view source)

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The Pokédex itself helpfully identifies these mushrooms as ''{{wp|Caterpillar fungus|tochukaso}}''. This is a real species of fungus, ''Cordyceps sinensis'', commonly known as caterpillar fungus. This species actually preys upon the caterpillar-like larva of ghost moths in the genus ''{{wp|Thitarodes}}''. The fungus invades the bodies of larvae living in the soil, eventually killing them. The larvae die near the surface, and the fruiting body or 'mushroom' of the fungus ultimately bursts out of the larva's forehead, and can extend up to fifteen centimetres above the ground. The fruiting body spreads its spores, and its life cycle begins over again, with more larvae being infected by the new generation of fungus.
The Pokédex itself helpfully identifies these mushrooms as ''{{wp|Caterpillar fungus|tochukaso}}''. This is a real species of fungus, ''Cordyceps sinensis'', commonly known as caterpillar fungus. This species actually preys upon the caterpillar-like larva of ghost moths in the genus ''{{wp|Thitarodes}}''. The fungus invades the bodies of larvae living in the soil, eventually killing them. The larvae die near the surface, and the fruiting body or 'mushroom' of the fungus ultimately bursts out of the larva's forehead, and can extend up to fifteen centimetres above the ground. The fruiting body spreads its spores, and its life cycle begins over again, with more larvae being infected by the new generation of fungus.


There are plenty of species of ''Cordyceps'' that infect a whole range of insects... to why was ''tochukaso'' referred to so specifically by the Pokédex? Well, this particular fungus is well known for its apparent medicinal properties. It has been used in traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine for hundreds of years, to treat many different ailments, and also as an aphrodisiac. Scientific studies have suggested that there may indeed be medicinal benefits to ingesting ''tochukaso'', with experiments on mice indicating possible uses as an antidepressant or treatment for diabetes. But one of ''tochukaso'''s most well-known uses is by Chinese athletes. In 1993, a suspiciously large number of records were broken by a track team at China's {{wp|National Games of the People's Republic of China|National Games}}. {{wp|Anabolic steroid}}s were suspected, but the athletes passed drug tests, and the coach claimed that their unusually good performance was due to taking ''tochukaso'' and turtle blood. However, it should be noted that the very same coach withdrew a number of his athletes from the 2000 {{wp|2000 Summer Olympics|Sydney Olympics}} at the last minute, leading many to suspect that he was afraid that the new, more accurate doping tests would have revealed what was really going on.
There are plenty of species of ''Cordyceps'' that infect a whole range of insects... so why was ''tochukaso'' referred to so specifically by the Pokédex? Well, this particular fungus is well known for its apparent medicinal properties. It has been used in traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine for hundreds of years, to treat many different ailments, and also as an aphrodisiac. Scientific studies have suggested that there may indeed be medicinal benefits to ingesting ''tochukaso'', with experiments on mice indicating possible uses as an antidepressant or treatment for diabetes. But one of ''tochukaso'''s most well-known uses is by Chinese athletes. In 1993, a suspiciously large number of records were broken by a track team at China's {{wp|National Games of the People's Republic of China|National Games}}. {{wp|Anabolic steroid}}s were suspected, but the athletes passed drug tests, and the coach claimed that their unusually good performance was due to taking ''tochukaso'' and turtle blood. However, it should be noted that the very same coach withdrew a number of his athletes from the 2000 {{wp|2000 Summer Olympics|Sydney Olympics}} at the last minute, leading many to suspect that he was afraid that the new, more accurate doping tests would have revealed what was really going on.


[[File:Cordyceps camponotus.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A ''Camponotus'' ant with ''Cordyceps'' erupting from its body ''([http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~gilbert/ L. Gilbert], University of Texas)''.]]''Cordyceps'' fungus may or may not be beneficial to humans, but for insects, the effects are always disastrous. Each of the many thousands of ''Cordyceps'' species specialize in parasitizing a particular type of insect, and infections can wipe out whole colonies. For instance, ''Cordyceps cicadae'', ''Cordyceps heteropoda'' and ''Cordyceps sinclairii'' all prey on different species of cicada. But some members of the ''Cordyceps'' genus take the invasion of their host's body a step further...
[[File:Cordyceps camponotus.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A ''Camponotus'' ant with ''Cordyceps'' erupting from its body ''([http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~gilbert/ L. Gilbert], University of Texas)''.]]''Cordyceps'' fungus may or may not be beneficial to humans, but for insects, the effects are always disastrous. Each of the many thousands of ''Cordyceps'' species specialize in parasitizing a particular type of insect, and infections can wipe out whole colonies. For instance, ''Cordyceps cicadae'', ''Cordyceps heteropoda'' and ''Cordyceps sinclairii'' all prey on different species of cicada. But some members of the ''Cordyceps'' genus take the invasion of their host's body a step further...
Xan Hutcheon
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