Shark's virgin birth: Lone female in aquarium gives birth to pup without contact with male

Daily Mail ^ | 7th February 2008 | DAVID DERBYSHIRE

[hometoroost]

Scientists and theologians - often in error seldom in doubt.

[Larry Lucido]

Thinking you “know everything” isn’t a trait unique to scientists; in fact, it’s not even common among the majority of scientists.

The trait is rampant among many of my fellow religious folks, however.

[Big Mack]

Most likely some lawyer went swimming in the tank.

[Ancesthntr]

Following the precedent, I’m sure that the Jewfish will disagree, seeing as how this shark hasn’t performed all of the tasks of the Shark Messiah.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Has nobody heard of the Sperm Whale?

[stuartcr]

Finally an answer I can understand.

[TalonDJ]

I’m always amazed how scientists think they know everything, until they suddenly don’t.

It is not clear in the text, but scientists have long known that sharks can do this.

[Andonius_99]

Already been done...

[dragonblustar]

[paudio]

Are they sure that none of the park worker, errr, gratified himself by the aquarium?

[Apple Blossom]

The key is whether or not the pup is male. If sharks are such great survivors, and in the abscense of a male, females can still have pups, I would assume it would be the opposite sex so she could mate regularly next time to continue the species more reliably.

This of course eliminates genetic diversity....

[Malsua]

Reminds me of a joke.

A woman notices her cat is getting fat and takes it to the Vet to figure out what is wrong.

After a few minutes, the vet declares “This cat is pregnant”

The woman astonished, replies “Impossible! She never leaves the house and hasn’t had any contact with strange cats!”

The vet says “Lady, she’s pregnant, she must have gotten out somehow”

The lady shakes her head “Nope, not possible. I live two blocks down, shall we go take a look”.

They head off to the ladies house for inspection. After a few minutes go by a big ole tomcat struts by. The vet says “Ah HA! There’s the Tom Cat!”

The lady responds “Naw, that’s impossible, that’s her brother.”

[boxerblues]

Of course, I’m referring to a feminist as a member of NOW, not the strong, independent, and beautiful women that vote Republican...like my wife!
++++++++++

Nice cover

[SoKatt]

LOL! That was great!

[Night Hides Not]

Nice cover

Experience is a great teacher! LOL!

[Kevmo]

bmflr

[toddlintown]

Now if one of the handlers finds a Christ-like image on the shark’s food, we’ve really got something.

I’m still in awe at all the sheeple who flocked to the street salt and dirty water runnings under a viaduct in Chicago that looked “like” the Virgin Mary.

[visualops]

LOL that’s the first thing that popped into my head

[John123]

Sharks are one of Nature's great survivors, appearing in the oceans 400million years ago - before the dinosaurs.

So whatever killed off all dinosaurs -- including the sea ones -- didn't kill off the sharks. Interesting! That kind of screws up many theories... (sigh)

[quark]

"...reproduction without sex is a useful stopgap."

Sex without reproduction also can be useful.