FOSSILS ET AL.

Ants’ Medical System: Tiny Doctors Performing Life-Saving Amputations

The survival rate is an astounding – 90–95% survival rate.

A group of determined ants work together to subdue a larger insect on a green leaf, showcasing their impressive teamwork and strength — AI generate image

My friend Sam* went for what could have been a regular non-life threatening cyst removal surgery. Instead, a few days after she woke up, she would find that part of her left leg was gone.

Her situation had been brought about by her doctor's failure to recognize that she had registered penicillin as an allergy, which led to unforeseen circumstances.

To save her life, they had to act fast and amputate her lower leg. Sam is grateful that she at least survived this ordeal, although it was forever life-changing.

We discuss this often and how far medical technology has advanced for life-altering surgeries.

But did you know that this advancement in removing body parts to save lives is not only limited to the human race?

Alongside humans, carpenter ants form one of nature’s most intricate and expansive medical systems. The colony's response is remarkable when a nestmate is injured or infected. The colony often achieves a 90% survival rate through precise and effective amputations.