In complete disregard of some pretty significant biblical symbolism, the unthinkable has happened to a copperhead snake: She's become a virgin mother.
The serpent’s pregnancy marks the first documented case of virgin birth for her species, producing offspring without any DNA from a dad, according to a new study published in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.
In addition to the copperhead birth, the same study reported that an eastern diamond rattlesnake gave birth five years after mating, proving the species can store sperm for far longer than previously anticipated.
Such long-term sperm storage “allows females to overcome climate challenges and other obstacles,” Warren Booth and his co-author of the snake study, Gordon Schuett, told Discovery News. The two speculate that “internal sperm storage tubules” or an ability to twist a portion of the uterus, might account for the snake's success in storing sperm for half a decade (in contrast, women can only store sperm for a few hours or days).
Professor of population and evolutionary genetics at Queen's University Belfast, Paolo Prodohl, told Discovery News that further studies into sperm storage in animals could lead to potential breakthroughs in improving women’s ability to store sperm.
Though virgin birth -- known as parthenogenesis (from the Greek παρθένος, parthenos, meaning "virgin", and γένεσις, genesis, meaning "birth") -- may “hurt genetic diversity and yield only all-female or all-male progeny,” study co-author Warren Booth told Discovery News,“ it could also weed out mutations that can make individuals less fit.”
But are there other evolutionary benefits to not having to “do it" in order to procreate? If a sex-free lifestyle sounds good to you, check out a separate study called “Sex and The Singe Snail,” which examined sexual and asexual reproduction in versions of the New Zealand mudsnail. Study authors pointed out “this highly efficient mode of reproduction is a low-energy endeavor, requiring no search for a mate, no sexual act, and sometimes, no carrying of offspring. It also allows rapid and abundant proliferation, since all members of that population are female and able to produce offspring.”
All this talk about virgin birth got us wondering: What other animals are capable of immaculate conception?
In 2007, scientists found that captive female hammerhead sharks could reproduce without having sex (I wouldn't be brave enough to mate with them, either).
All Marmokrebs are female and their offspring are genetically identical to the parents. Their high rate of reproduction, coupled with the fact that they are easy to take care of, cause many scientists to consider them a "model organism"for studying development. Just don't keep them as a pet if you live in Missouri -- it's illegal. (Note: image is of a Sloan's Crayfish, a close relative of the Marmokreb)
Rotifers swing both ways, with the ability to reproduce sexually or asexually. Flickr photo by Ian Sutton
In 2006, scientists discovered that two komodo dragons, the world's largest lizard species, had produced eggs that developed without being fertilized by sperm.
A study called "Sex and The Singe Snail" examined sexual and asexual reproduction in versions of the New Zealand mudsnail and argued that while a sex-free lifestyle requires less energy, sexual reproduction "allows organisms to clean deleterious mutations from their genome."
The Mourning Gecko: No males necessary, or found so far. This baby gecko isn't going to grow up and date this guy anytime soon. Flickr photo by Chaoslillitu.
Though not the norm, studies found that 14% of infertile eggs laid by Belts-ville Small White (BSW) turkeys developed partheno-genetically (read: without the help of males!)