Virgin birth in animal kingdom

.Atheist · Post time 29-12-2016 06:54 AM

Critters So Ugly They Have to Mate With Themselves
Immaculate conception may be something special among humans, but in the animal kingdom, it's always been part of the mix

Asexual Animals
By Veronique Greenwood Dec. 20, 2013
Ugly Critters

M.E.Clark; Getty Images; Getty Images; Joe Klamar / AFP / Getty Images

In a season in which the entire Christian world is celebrating a virgin birth and a whole lot of other people who don’t believe in the story are still getting into the spirit, it’s worth remembering that humans don’t hold the monopoly on immaculate conception. At least some other species have long counted on it to keep their gene line going.

The biological mechanics are different for every one of them, and while none of the techniques sounds like much fun, they at least don’t lead to awkward conversations if the relationship doesn’t work out.
http://science.time.com/2013/12/ ... selves/slide/intro/