Thesouphead

<a href="http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/news/0902/20shark.html" target="_blank">http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/news/0902/20shark.html</a>

Writer@Large

Aw, fuck. It looks like God has a new chosen race ...

--W@L

ImGod

I see an entirely different Jesusfish symbol coming to a bumper near you.

tgamble

"This complex process, known as parthenogenesis, is very common in snails and water fleas, but becomes more unusual in higher vertebrates."

Could it happen with humans? Seriously.

simian

Without any special equipment? (NO, NOT THAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT, if it was used, it wouldn't be a virgin birth, now would it?) I don't know.

I do know that you can have virgin births with at least turkeys (voltage potential across the egg), chickens (I think), and catfish (pressure treatment, I don't remember the details). All involove (I think) tricking the egg to begin duplicating its DNA. I would not be surprised if it has been done on quite a number of animals at this point - I think the turkey egg/voltage has been known for decades. I know I read about the catfish thing about 1990.

Could it be done with humans - I don't see any reason it couldn't. I don't know what tricks may work with mammals, but I don't doubt it is possible. Now, if anybody has found the trick yet is another question entirely....

Simian

edited because there is a significant difference between would and wouldn't

[ September 20, 2002: Message edited by: simian ]</p>

Kosh

Only when Roman soldiers are around...

Duvenoy

Parthenogenesis happens in a number of species of lizards, notably some geckos and whiptails. In these species, there are no males, which eliminates lot of macho posing, bragging, and fisticufs.

I have also read of some snakes giving parthenogenitc birth, but I need to see a little (a lot!) more evidence before I buy it.

doov

Duvenoy

A little more....

Snailes, slugs, nudibrancs, and so forth are hermaphrodicic, that is, they have both male and female sex organs. Each fertilizes the other. In some nudibrancs, true love involves a fight to see which can penetrate the other. The loser has to raise the kids.

I think that this has to be solid evidence of evolution. No supreme being would come up with something this outrageous unless totally wasted on some really bad whiskey.



doov

[ September 20, 2002: Message edited by: Duvenoy ]</p>

The Sound of Dogs Barking

The Brahminy Blind Snake (Ramphotyphlops braminus) is, I believe, the only parthenogenetic species of snake. I've heard of other snakes reproducing without a male, but only isolated accounts (and a different method - all the offspring were male)

Duvenoy

I just looked it up, and you're right. I'd forgotten all about these little immigrents (FL is full of them).

Thanks,

doov