| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Kehhlyr |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 03:03:05
Just remembered this while I was answering an intros question, and thought i'd pass it on.
Had to google it to remember the full info, but it shows that I do still retain some of my Science texts in my head somewhere.
Cloning by Parthenogenesis
A snake is born to a mother that did not have a mate. Although this may sound
impossible, or like some headline in a tabloid magazine, this can actually occur in nature.
Parthenogenesis (pahr thuh noh JEHN uh sihs) is a type of reproduction in which a new
individual develops from an unfertilized egg. Since there is no male that contributes
genetic material, the offspring is a clone (genetically identical) of the mother. Clones are
usually produced in nature by asexual reproduction. Parthenogenesis, however, is a
special form of cloning.
Why Does Parthenogenesis Occur?
Parthenogenesis in snakes has usually occurred in older females that have lived many
years without male companionship, such as those in a zoo. It is hypothesized that the
mother snake copies her own chromosomes in place of the missing father’s
chromosomes, thereby self-fertilizing her egg. Other scientists think that after a long
absence of males, some unknown signal (such as a hormone) triggers the egg to start
dividing.
http://www.nature.com/hdy/journal/v90/n2/full/6800210a.html
Might be interesting for some people.
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| 13 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| PunkAsF82 |
Posted - 06/07/2009 : 21:03:11
haha so am i. just proves that girls rule  |
| HannahB |
Posted - 06/07/2009 : 19:59:30
quote:
Originally posted by PunkAsF82
Almost as cool as a praying mantis eating its lovers head after mating, to show males the real leaders (and to limit food compitition of course lol)
i thought that the male praying mantis couldnt mate with its head attached to its body still.. lol glad im not a male praying mantis!  |
| Mancunian |
Posted - 05/07/2009 : 14:53:44
The Komodo Dragon at Chester Zoo did this also. All the offspring were clones. One of the true miracles of nature. |
| heatseeker872591 |
Posted - 05/07/2009 : 13:08:03
haha i heard that a female komodo in london zoo done it. does sany one remember the 1998 movie godzilla? the lizard in that done it aswell tho that was referred to as "Asexual reproduction" its a good topic tho |
| n/a |
Posted - 03/07/2009 : 11:27:33
great post! |
| n/a |
Posted - 03/07/2009 : 06:49:08
that's amazing! i knew amphibian could do it but i had no idea that snakes could... |
| PunkAsF82 |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 23:02:22
hehe thats cool
Almost as cool as a praying mantis eating its lovers head after mating, to show males the real leaders (and to limit food compitition of course lol) |
| Kehhlyr |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 21:08:53
Clown Fish can change sex as well. Was watching an interesting docu about them the other day, apparently they live in a very hierarchical society, with each one being exactly 20% smaller than the next one up. |
| PunkAsF82 |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 16:05:19
most amphibians do this.
Also, a large number of extotherms, mainly phibs, will change sex in a single sex environment One way to beat nature  |
| n/a |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 14:23:03
quote:
Originally posted by lee2308
very interesting
can you say the word...lol... |
| lee2308 |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 12:33:39
very interesting |
| n/a |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 10:57:43
good post Kehhl...
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| Ell |
Posted - 02/07/2009 : 09:36:16
Komodo dragons do that :D |
