RICHMOND, Va., Oct, 10, 2008
Another Shark "Virgin Birth" Confirmed
Scientists Say DNA Proves Female Blacktip Shark In Va. Reproduced Without A Mate
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A a blacktip shark, Carcharhinus limbatus, is shown in this March 2008 file photo in the Indian Ocean off Aliwal Shoal, South Africa. Scientists have confirmed the second case of a "virgin birth" in a shark. (AP Photo/IOCS/Matthew D. Potenski)
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Photo Essay Animal Instincts Photos: Take a gander at some of our favorite critters.
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In The Spotlight Pet Planet Learn more about caring for your pet and see some wacky video.
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.
At that time, CBS News science and technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg reported parthenogenesis had been documented in reptiles, amphibians and birds previously, but experts said it was the first confirmed case in a shark (audio).
"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."
The aquarium sharks that reproduced without mates each carried only one pup, while some shark species can produce litters numbering in the dozen or more. The scientists cautioned that the rare asexual births should not be viewed as a possible solution to declining global shark populations.
"It is very unlikely that a small number of female survivors could build their numbers up very quickly by undergoing virgin birth," Chapman said.
The medical mystery began 16 months ago after the death of the Atlantic blacktip shark named Tidbit at the Virginia Beach aquarium. No male blacktip sharks were present during her eight years at the aquarium.
In May 2007, the 5-foot, 94-pound shark died of stress-related complications related to her unknown pregnancy after undergoing a yearly checkup. The 10-inch shark pup was found during a necropsy of Tidbit, surprising aquarium officials. They initially thought the embryonic pup was either a product of a virgin birth or a cross between the blacktip and a male of another shark species - which has never been documented, Chapman said.
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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.It is quite possible that this is something female sharks of many species can do on occasion.
Demian Chapman, a shark scientistThat is what happened to the tiny hammerhead pup in the Omaha case.
"By the time they could realize what they were looking at, something munched the baby," he said of aquarium workers. The remains of the pup were used for the DNA testing.
Virgin birth has been proven in some bony fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds, and has been suspected among sharks in the wild. The scientists who studied the Virginia and Nebraska sharks said the newly formed pups acquired one set of chromosomes when the mother's chromosomes split during egg development, then united anew.
Absent the chromosomes present in the male sperm, the offspring of an asexual conception have reduced genetic diversity and, the scientists said, may be at a disadvantage for surviving in the wild. A pup, for instance, can be more susceptible to congenital disorders and diseases.
The scientists said their findings offer "intriguing questions" about how frequently automictic parthenogenesis occurs in the wild.
"It is possible that parthenogenesis could become more common in these sharks if population densities become so low that females have trouble finding mates," said Mahmood Shivji, one of the scientists and director of the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
The DNA fingerprinting techniques used by the scientists are identical to those used in human paternity testing.
Chapman, who is with the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook, was assisted in the study by Beth Firchau of the Virginia Aquarium.
Chapman and Shivji were on the team that made the first discovery of virgin birth involving the Nebraska shark.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Add a Comment See all 41 Comments
- "Who"s to say God didn"t send Jesus back as a shark?"
Posted by smurfcrusher at 07:36 PM : Oct 10, 2008
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I think that"s highly unlikely, despite the common fish symbol Christians have been using for Jesus Christ ever since the days of the catacombs.
Jesus is quoted in the New Testament as promising to return "on the clouds."
Have sharks ever used that mode of transportation ? No, and if they were "flying fish" they wouldn"t need clouds at all.
In fact, "flying sharks" has become a proverbial expression.
As in, "John McCain, our next President. Sure, when sharks fly." - Reply to this comment
- ***, I thought my joke was original.
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"How did they know the shark was a virgin? Did it collect Star Trek action figures?"
Posted by easeup at 02:52 PM : Oct 10, 2008 - Reply to this comment
- "That is really interesting to hear. Plus how did they really know it was a virgin?"
Posted by golfinggirrl at 04:43 PM : Oct 10, 2008
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They found a lot of "Star Trek" posters and memorabilia in the aquarium after the shark''s unfortunate demise. - Reply to this comment
I will hold mass for the Shurch of Shark tomorrow.
To all followers you can purchase a hook, line,
and sinker to commemorate the death of Him.
"For he took a bite out of
all of us so that we can all
learn to bite back"
-Sharus 3:17- Reply to this comment
- "What?! A shark gave birth without having *** prior?!...
WHO FCKING CARES?????????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Posted by starsnbars12
Well, the boy sharks are really pissed. All the alimony, none of the fun! - Reply to this comment
- Who''s to say God didn''t send Jesus back as a shark?
Posted by smurfcrusher at 07:36 PM : Oct 10, 2008
I will, I see no point in it."
Posted by ToolMangler
Maybe God sent Him back as a shark so we won''t destroy the environment.
Such as by, making shark-fin soup.
"He died so we can have tasty soup...!" - Reply to this comment
- Then Mary......
- Reply to this comment
- I know what it was - a mutation from that melamine tained food from China and low-level radioactive steel they have been shipping back to the US in all their steel products we buy.
- Reply to this comment
- WE MAKE OUR OWN HEAVEN OR HELL AFTER DEATH. IF YA WANT TO SEE YOUR PRIVIOUSLY PASSED ON LOVE ONES AFTER YOU PASS ON THEN YOU WILL
posted by benice6
-Please share with us your afterlife experience where you died and came back to life in order to verify your claims above. That must''ve been some journey for you! - Reply to this comment
- God did it! Well, that`s what the Xians say...
Posted by Nancy_Naive
You know, that makes perfect sense given the violence and death in the buybull- that this god thing would create a baby shark and then knowing in advance- allow it to be canabalized and eaten by the other sharks in the tank, and in the other case he killed the mother shark just before the pup was almost full term- it truly fits that xtian god of the buybull. - Reply to this comment
- Who''''s to say God didn''''t send Jesus back as a shark?
Posted by smurfcrusher at 07:36 PM : Oct 10, 2008
I will, I see no point in it. - Reply to this comment
- Posted by benice6 at 08:15 PM : Oct 10, 2008
We don''t have to explain it, it doesn''t concern us.
You seem to be the only ones needing an explanation - Reply to this comment
- HA, I WONDER HOW THE GOD BELIVERS WILL EXPLAIN THIS ONE.
WE MAKE OUR OWN HEAVEN OR HELL AFTER DEATH. IF YA WANT TO SEE YOUR PRIVIOUSLY PASSED ON LOVE ONES AFTER YOU PASS ON THEN YOU WILL.
YOU DON''T NEED A KORAN OR A BIBLE OR A PAGAN BOOK OF SHADOWS TO TELL YOU HOW TO DO IT ANYMORE THAN YOU NEED A BOOK TO TELL YOU HOW TO SNEEZE, BLINK OR LOVE YOUR FAMILY. - Reply to this comment
- Who''s to say God didn''t send Jesus back as a shark?
- Reply to this comment
- well at least there should be a Constitutional amendment to prevent this... a birth is always the product of two parents, one man and one woman. god said so... well not the god of sharks... or newts or frogs... but the one that the Xians invented... err no I mean use... err worship...
- Reply to this comment
- God did it! Well, that`s what the Xians say...
Posted by Nancy_Naive at 01:05 PM : Oct 10, 2008
It''s possible GOD did it but I doubt that he did. Whats in it for him? nothing but ridicule. If he were to do a miracle, it would either remain unrecognized or it would be so big there would be no question about happened or who did it. ssshhhhheeeesssshhhhh..
More likely it was done by ''ET'' and his buddies. (or sumpthin like that) - Reply to this comment
- got it...
Dogfish have the longest known gestation period of any shark, at 18 to 24 months. Basking sharks and frilled sharks are likely to have even longer gestation periods, but accurate data is lacking. - Reply to this comment
- what''s the gestation period of a shark?
- Reply to this comment
- This cannot stand! We need to go to a McCain rally to collect an angry lynch mob to systematically destroy these sharks in the name of Jesus with our Second Amendment rights before they evolve and begin to walk on land, spontaneously dropping out kids all over our Christian society. This is clearly the work of the liberal media elite, and we cannot allow socialist virgin births to continue. There is only room for one *cough* "virgin" *cough* "birth" in our society. Destroy them! Destroy them! Destroy them! Socialists! Communists! Nobama! Terrorists! Muslims! Lynch! Destroy! Destroy! Destroy! In the name of Jesus! Destroy!!!
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Posted by TeddiezMom at 04:07 PM : Oct 10, 2008
what planet are you on? GROW UP CRAZY! - Reply to this comment
phydeux2 writes:
Hey TallyMan, shut up with the bible thumping
***************
What in the world you talking about phydeux ?
What ''bible thumping'' ?
Was merely talking History and Philosophical Ethics
But perhaps ... ?
You might think the Eagles Album ''Hotel California''
Is on par with Biblical Writings ?
Imagine Don Henley and the Boys would be Honored ;-)- Reply to this comment
