Diversity and behaviour in the animal kingdom

Snails, a type of mollusc, inhabit a large variety of habitats, including freshwater, terrestrial, and marine environments. Many snail species are hermaphroditic, meaning they are both male and female at the same time. This is an effective way to ensure their survival because there will always be a partner available with which they can reproduce.

Researchers have observed instances of frogs changing sex in the lab, as well as in wild populations. This phenomenon is known as sex reversal.

Previous research has suggested that sex reversal in frogs may be related to pollution introduced by humans, such as exposure to certain chemicals or hormones. However, more recent studies have suggested that sex reversal may also be a natural occurrence in amphibians, and that it may be more common than previously thought.

Corals are ancient and complex animals that can reproduce sexually or asexually and regenerate by regrowing their bodies. They form complex habitats for a whole range of invertebrates and fish. Many species of fish swimming around coral reefs are either sequential or simultaneous hermaphrodites.

Simultaneous hermaphrodites have both male and female reproductive organs and can produce both male and female gametes (i.e. sperm and eggs) at the same time. This form of hermaphrodism is often seen in some species of fish from the family Gobiidae (Gobies) and Serranidae (Basslets and Hamlets).

Sequential hermaphrodites, on the other hand, are capable of changing sex from male to female (Protandry), female to male (Protogyny), or are even capable of serial bi-directional sex change where they can change back and forth from female to male multiple times in their life. An example of a sequential hermaphrodite are Clownfish, from the genus Amphiprion, which are born as males and later change into females.

Same-sex behaviour has been observed in many species of mammals, including primates, elephants, lions, and dolphins. The frequency and nature of this behaviour varies widely among different species and populations.

In some species, such as bonobos, same-sex behaviour is a common and normal part of their social and sexual interactions. This behaviour can serve a variety of purposes, such as bonding, social grooming, and conflict resolution.

Other species, such as lions and dolphins, have been observed engaging in same-sex behaviour less frequently, and it does not appear to be a regular part of their social or sexual interactions.

It's worth noting that not all same-sex behaviour in animals is purely sexual in nature, some of it can be related to social bonding, asserting dominance, play or other non-sexual interactions.

Research on the topic is ongoing and scientists are still investigating the prevalence of this behaviour and its function in a range of different species.

Alan Turing was a gay British mathematician and computer scientist who made significant contributions to theoretical computer science and many other scientific fields. He is widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence.

The Turing pattern is a name given to the repeating patterns that are formed by certain types of reaction-diffusion systems, which were first described by Alan Turing in 1952. These systems are mathematical models that describe how two or more chemical substances interact and spread through space. The patterns that form as a result of these interactions are called Turing patterns and can be observed in the wide range of natural phenomena, including the human fingerprint, the formation of spots on animal coats and the patterns in certain types of plant leaves.

In 1952, Turing was convicted of engaging in a homosexual relationship. Given the option of a two-year prison sentence or chemical castration, he chose the latter. He was stripped of his security clearance but continued to work for the British government until his death in 1954.

His treatment due to being gay, was widely seen as a great injustice, and in 2009, then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued a public apology on behalf of the British government for the way Turing was treated. In 2013, Queen Elizabeth II granted him a posthumous pardon.