Scientists: Virginia shark's pup a 'virgin birth'

[underpants]

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.

The first documented case of asexual reproduction, or parthenogenesis, among sharks involved a pup born to a hammerhead at an Omaha, Neb., zoo.

"This first case was no fluke," Demian Chapman, a shark scientist and lead author of the second study, said in a statement. "It is quite possible that this is something female sharks of many species can do on occasion."

Tidbit's pup was nearly full term, and likely would have been quickly eaten by "really big sand tiger sharks" that were in the tank, Chapman said in a telephone interview from Florida.

That is what happened to the tiny hammerhead pup in the Omaha case.

--- WHAT THE HELL ARE SHARKS DOING IN RICHMOND AND OMAHA?!?!?!?

[MrScorpio]

1. Jesus Shark and Anti-Christ Shark

Once they learn to walk on dry land, we're ALL FUCKED!

[underpants]

4. Hmmm this could explain how it got to Omaha

YIKES!!

[Bicoastal]

2. The shark is JAYSUS!

[underpants]

3. But shark Jesus was eaten by another shark

Boy,its a good thing they didn't put THAT in book

Huh?

[MrScorpio]

5. Baby Jesus shark was gobbled up for our sins

When he comes back, he's going to be pissed

[shraby]

6. A couple of years ago a large snake..

Python or Boa..not sure exactly what kind but a large one had young without being in contact with another one..seems in fact they had a male that gave birth. I read the article in Scientific American. I'll see if I can find a reference to it.

[ThePhoenix]

7. Shark Virgin Birth Confirmed

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x392281

:)

[Bicoastal]

8. I refuse to celebrate Sharxmus.

[tularetom]

9. I think this story has jumped the human

[undeterred]

10. Does Joseph Shark know what the hell is going on?