Komodo dragon gives birth without mating with a male dragon

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Science News - March 2008

Komodo dragon gives birth without mating with a male dragon

March 4th 2008 02:11

A virgin female Komodo dragon in England gave birth this week - again.

Flora in Chester Zoo gave birth to a male baby, even though she has never mated with a male.

How? The phenomenon is known to occur in Komodo dragons and is called Parthenogenesis, asexual reproduction where an embryo is created without male fertilization.

It's interesting beyond belief... basically, a female dragon in an all-female population can give birth, but only to a male or an infertile offspring. Once a male is born, the population will revert to sexual reproduction.

Unlike cloning, which creates an exact genetic copy of the parent, parthenogenesis creates a genetically different offspring.

However, this type of reproduction is usually accompanied by sexual mating behaviour, where a female will mount the egg-laying female... some scientists theorize that the mating behaviour triggers the egg-laying, and that it results in greater reproductive success.

*this image is from Wikipedia

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Posted By: Cibbuano - Category: No Category

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Comments

13 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Shan Jayaweera

March 4th 2008 02:42

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Just like in Jurassic Park!!!

Comment by Louie

March 4th 2008 03:26

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mind blowing......

Comment by Cibbuano

March 4th 2008 03:56

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I've heard of this before, but for some reason, the Komodo dragon doing it seems even more incredible..

Comment by katyzzz

March 4th 2008 10:10

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This does have a certain appeal, if a little dull, but both sexes, that's really something, but not really if you think about the hormonal influences but that is remarkable in itself. I'm all for mixing up the gene pool but not of close relatives tho, so it seems the Virgin Mary is quite a possibility as it has always been, because those sperm can sure swim, even across long channels.

Comment by MelissaA

March 4th 2008 12:24

Fun Facts

I can't beliive she did it again!

I only just saw Flora recently too and didn't even realise she was pregnant!

Comment by Lilla

March 5th 2008 01:25

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*LOL* Cib,

Amazing stuff, but if you ask me she has a very 'knowing' look on her face, almost cheeky - daring you to find out how? ((laughs))

A fine lady, no doubts... with a secret too... and interestinly - is that an aposeable thumb?

Great post!

Lilla ...

Comment by Krystal

March 10th 2008 10:27

feelings

Fascinating stuff, really quite amazing, always good to hear some new Science news.

Comment by Anonymous

March 10th 2008 22:35

sexy

Comment by Anonymous

March 10th 2008 22:36

if you think this is awesome try runescape you nerds

Comment by Anonymous

April 20th 2008 06:24

The Komodo 'dragon' is not the biggest lizard seen by man. See the magnificent DINOGLYFS or dinolits:
Really Long Link

Comment by Kleonaptra

June 20th 2008 14:36

Kalikapsychosis

Im unsurprised, but still in awe. Its an amazing process.

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