Scientists confirm 2nd shark virgin birth

Chris · **Joined:** 11 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 21258

RICHMOND, Va. - Scientists have confirmed the second case of a "virgin birth" in a shark.

In a study reported Friday in the Journal of Fish Biology, scientists said DNA testing proved that a pup carried by a female Atlantic blacktip shark in the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center contained no genetic material from a male.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27107721/?GT1=43001

Uncle Twitchy · **Joined:** 28 Nov 2006 **Posts:** 30520

So now there's two shark messiahs?

Chris · **Joined:** 11 Sep 2006 **Posts:** 21258

It seems so.

Bobson Dugnutt · 31 Jan 2005

Todd · 14 Apr 2005

This is interesting because some bony fish (osteichthyes) can change their sex based on the local population of htat species. I think parrotfish are notorious for this behaviour. Gender in reptiles is also fluid. Alligator babies' gender is determined by the temperature at which the eggs incubate.

It is cool that this can happen within a single shark.

Bobson Dugnutt · 31 Jan 2005

Yeah, that happened on that island where that old guy cloned all them mean ol' dinosaurs.

Island of Mean Ol' Dinosaurs, I think it was called.

Uncle Twitchy · **Joined:** 28 Nov 2006 **Posts:** 30520

Todd wrote:

Gender in Greenwich Village or San Francisco is also fluid.

Bobson Dugnutt · 31 Jan 2005

"Attack of the Omnisexual Dino-Sharks" would make a great movie.

Uncle Twitchy · **Joined:** 28 Nov 2006 **Posts:** 30520

Bobson Dugnutt wrote:

Yeah, that happened on that island where that old guy cloned all them mean ol' dinosaurs.

Island of Mean Ol' Dinosaurs, I think it was called.

That's because they used amphibian DNA to fill in the gaps in the gene sequences. Which was also why the T-Rex's vision was based on movement -- like most frogs.

Prowl · **Joined:** 08 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 18746

Uncle Twitchy wrote:

Bobson Dugnutt wrote:

Yeah, that happened on that island where that old guy cloned all them mean ol' dinosaurs.

Island of Mean Ol' Dinosaurs, I think it was called.

That's because they used amphibian DNA to fill in the gaps in the gene sequences. Which was also why the T-Rex's vision was based on movement -- like most frogs.

So if I don't move, frogs can't see me?

Oh, that'll come in very handy. Very handy, indeed. :shush:

Uncle Twitchy · **Joined:** 28 Nov 2006 **Posts:** 30520

Right. Frogs and T-Rexes from the Island of Mean Ol' Dinosaurs.

Scientists confirm 2nd shark virgin birth

Who is WANline