Last winter, two female Komodo dragons at separate zoos in England gave their keepers big surprises. With no contact from any male, each of the giant lizards laid a clutch of viable eggs, some of which hatched healthy young (SN: 12/23/06, p. 403). The events made the news because they were the first known examples of the species reproducing by the asexual process of parthenogenesis, or virgin birth.
Without fertilization by sperm, the animals’ eggs had begun dividing. In these surprising cases, the process continued and cute little komodo dragons emerged. Viable young can also result from parthenogenesis in various species of reptiles, plants, insects, fish, and birds.
Log in
Subscribers, enter your e-mail address for full access to the Science News archives and digital editions.