page_title: List of common misconceptions
section_title: Biology
hierarchical_section_title: List of common misconceptions / Science / Biology
caption_attribution_description: English: The early bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) is one of the smaller bumblebees. It can be found throughout Europe, except for the Iberian peninsula. The specimen in the picture is a male. It is landing on an Echinacea purpurea flower.
context_page_description: This is a list of popular wrong ideas and beliefs about notable topics. Each has been discussed in published literature.
context_section_description: DNA is not made of protein. DNA is instead a nucleic acid. However, DNA and protein work closely together. DNA is always accompanied by proteins in the chromatin of plants and animals. See protein biosynthesis for DNA's involvement in assembling protein. See also DNA replication and Ribonuclease.
  Lemmings do not engage in mass suicidal dives off cliffs when migrating.
  Bats are not blind. All bat species have eyes and can see. Further, not all bats can echolocate and these bats have excellent night vision (see megabat vs. microbat).
  It is a common myth that an earthworm becomes two worms when cut in half. However, only a limited number of earthworm species are capable of anterior regeneration. When most earthworms are cut in half, only the front half of the worm (where the mouth is located) can survive, while the other half dies. Also, species of the planaria family of flatworms actually do become two new planaria when bisected or split down the middle.
  According to urban myth, the daddy longlegs spider (Pholcus phalangioides) is the most venomous spider in the world, but the shape of their mandibles leaves them unable to bite humans, rendering them harmless to our species. In reality, they can indeed pierce human skin, though the tiny amount of venom they carry causes only a mild burning sensation for a few seconds. In addition, there is also confusion regarding the use of the name daddy longlegs, because harvestmen (order Opiliones, which are not spiders) and crane flies (which are insects) are also known as daddy longlegs, and share (also incorrectly) the myth of being venomous.
  Poinsettias are not highly toxic. They are just mildly irritating to the skin or stomach, and may sometimes cause diarrhea and vomiting if eaten. Also, Poinsettias are not highly toxic to cats. According to the ASPCA, poinsettias may cause light to mid-range gastrointestinal discomfort in felines, with diarrhea and vomiting as the most severe consequences of ingestion.
  The flight mechanism and aerodynamics of the bumblebee (as well as other insects) are actually quite well understood, in spite of the legend that calculations show that they should not be able to fly. In the 1930s a German scientist, using flawed techniques, postulated that bumblebees theoretically should not be able to fly, although he later retracted the suggestion.
  Sharks can actually suffer from cancer. The myth that sharks do not get cancer was spread by the 1992 book Sharks don't get cancer by I. William Lane. Extracts of shark cartilage was sold as cancer prevention treatments. Reports of carcinomas in sharks exist, and current data do not allow any speculation about the incidence of tumors in sharks.
  It is not harmful to baby birds to pick them up and return them to their nests, despite the common belief that doing so will cause the mother to reject them.
  Bulls are not enraged by the color red, used in capes by professional matadors. Cattle are dichromats, so red does not stand out as a bright color. It is not the color of the cape that angers the bull, but rather the movement of the fabric that irritates the bull and incites it to charge.
  Contrary to popular belief, dogs do not sweat by salivating. It is not true that dogs do not have sweat glands or have sweat glands only on their tongues. They do sweat, mainly through the footpads. However, dogs do primarily regulate their body temperature through panting.
caption: Bombus pratorum over an Echinacea purpurea inflorescence. A common myth is that bumblebees should be incapable of flight.
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