Dr. Mark Miller, an orthopedic surgeon at the Virginia Ambulatory Surgery Center often hears this kind of complaint: "Doc, I fell and twisted my knee.
Sexual promiscuity in primates may lead to a stronger immune system, according to a recent study headed by Dr. Charles Nunn, a University postdoctoral biology research associate. After years of studying white blood cell counts of various monkeys, Nunn and other University scientists have determined that having many sexual partners increases a monkey's chance to fight disease. Their research focused on 41 different species of monkeys, ranging in promiscuity from the monogamous white-handed gibbon, to the libidinous Barbary macaque, whose females mate with up to 10 different males every day while in heat. The scientists were interested in three factors that influence disease risk - social, ecological and sexual factors. Animals living in big groups are exposed to more diseases.
Aldous Huxley, author of "Brave New World," sculpted a bleak vision of the distant future of life on Earth.
