Green Daily

Christians argue Mary, mother of Jesus, had one; now scientists say they know sharks have had them: Virgin births, that is.

At a Virginia Aquarium a blacktip shark who had had no male companionship for eight years gave birth to a single pup.

Usually sharks have a litter of pups, but scientists say this proves that sharks can have "parthenogenesis." That's when a female shark's body triggers the fertilization of an egg, sans partner. The genetic make-up is solely the female's, which scientisits say can make the animal vulnerable in the wild. But, it appears animals sometimes do this when their numbers are dwindling.

Shark populations are shrinking quickly, and this may be a means of reproducing when no males are to be had. (Insert first cousin joke here, if you must.)

But scientists say the finding is has relevance. Sharks, as a species, are millions of years old. They invented penetrative insemination. Their sex is often violent, and semen can live in a female shark for months--though not years. So maybe, just maybe, whatever sharks do whales can do, and monkeys can do and then even humans can do. (Insert interest by lesbian population here).

[via LA Times]