The Tyranids are a biological species that do not rely on technological or mechanical devices, utilizing biotechnological alternatives instead. Despite the significant amount of available xenobiological information, there are still several areas that require further investigation. A comprehensive examination of the Tyranid race poses certain challenges. Therefore, drawing comparisons with entomological concepts, particularly those related to eusocial insect species, seems promising.
In this report, we will discuss some aspects of Tyranid xenobiology. Firstly, we will examine the possible mechanisms that determine the Tyranids, whether they are influenced by external factors such as diet and chemical signals, or are genetically determined. Termites (Isoptera) can serve as a good example for comparison. In primitive species such as Mastotermes darwiniensis, castes are determined by external factors (pheromones), while in more evolved ones, such as Reticulitermes speratus, individual roles within the colony are determined by genetic factors.
Secondly, the topic of Tyranid reproductive biology is of interest. How sex in tyranids is determined? At present, it is known that Norn-Queens exist on certain bio ships, which represent female reproductive individuals. However, there is currently no information available regarding the existence of male individuals. To compare this with the available data on eusocial insect species, such as Apis mellifera and members of the Formicidae family, these insects require a mating period for optimal egg production. However, for some termite species, such as those belonging to the genus Zootermopsis, parthenogenesis is a possible mode of reproduction under certain circumstances.
Based on our existing knowledge of the biology of social insects, we can formulate several hypotheses about the reproductive and social organization of the Tyranid. Given that their fundamental principles of combat involve suppressing enemies through numerical superiority and accelerating directional evolution to quickly adapt to enemy tactics, it may be interesting to investigate these aspects.
Author bio
The abstract is submitted by Elena Polyakova, junior researcher of Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology KFU, with coauthor Evgenii Kirichek, PhD student of All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Agricultural Microbiology.
