Word: potentate
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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When substances this potent hit the sensory systems of a relatively unsophisticated animal, they pack a big behavioral wallop. Pheromones emitted by queen bees prevent other females from maturing sexually, ensuring that the queen's genes remain dominant. Among fish, scent markers released by females cause male sperm counts to quintuple overnight. When injured by a predator, some amphibians emit a compound that warns others of their species to keep out of harm...
...mammals that the pheromonal chatter climaxes. Countless species--from wolves to musk ox--claim territory by urinating around their borders, an olfactory keep-off-the-grass sign if there ever was one. Male voles use urine as a potent aphrodisiac, excreting a chemical that causes females to ovulate within 48 hours. "Identify anything that's of biological significance to animals," says Rachel Herz of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, "and it's usually mediated by scent...
Attempting--along with Miller--to show the rest of the league that the departure of Harvard's seniors will not end the Crimson reign, juniors Rose Janowski and Sarah Russell and freshman point guard Lisa Kowal emerged as potent forces...
Ralph twins his top-notch defense with a potent offensive package as well. He led the Crimson in batting average at 390, adding six home runs and 36 RBI, murdering left-handed pitching all season...
Rounding out the pen are several rookies--and a quarterback. Freshmen John Birtwell, who brings a potent fast-ball and slider, and Graham McKay, who sports a decent curve as his out pitch, could break into the box scores. Sophomore Rich Linden, crossing from Harvard Stadium to O'Donnell Field, abandoned the outfield he played in high school to attempt to crack the staff...