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Inside the ant colony - Deborah M. Gordon

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6,118 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

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Ants have one of the most complex social organizations in the animal kingdom; they live in structured colonies that contain different types of members who perform specific roles. Sound familiar? Deborah M. Gordon explains the way these incredible creatures mate, communicate and source food, shedding light on how their actions can mimic and inform our own behavior.

For what kinds of tasks is it necessary to have a plan, or central control, and for what kinds of tasks is it better to work collectively, with each individual using only what it can detect nearby?

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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Deborah M. Gordon
  • Director Steve Belfer
  • Animator Michelle Tessier, James Jacob
  • Compositor Eva Branellec
  • Script Editor Alex Gendler
  • Narrator Addison Anderson

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