A Mouse With Two Mothers

jabberjaw writes "Both the BBC and Nature are reporting that scientists at Tokyo University of Agriculture have used two sets of chromosomes belonging to a female mouse to create what are essentially fatherless mice. The process by which this was accomplished (parthenogenesis) does not naturally occur in mammals. The mouse used lacked a gene known as H19 which in turn activated the Igf2 which allowed this process to occur."

Comments

But...

[the_gh0st]

is it still considered a bastard?

it must be asked...

[flynt]

Who's your daddy???

Baby Jesus

[Anonymous Coward]

"The process by which this was accomplished (parthenogenesis) does not naturally occur in mammals"

What about baby Jesus.

Re:Baby Jesus

[polyp2000]

Indeed, if this rare occurrance could happen perchance, say 2004 years ago it truly would be a miricle birth. Maybe the lack off scientific understanding at that time would lead people to believe that the virgin mary had been impregnated by god.

I didnt think that this was really possible at all but having shown that it is; that miracle of birth as written in the bible maybe isnt such a miracle at all just a freak occurance that happend after thousands of generations human habitation of the earth.

If this were to happen again, would people believe that its just a rare and random parthenogenesis or would the world rise and aknowledge the second coming of the son of god?

Re:Baby Jesus

[Hiro Antagonist]

Some called Tony Hawk doing the 900 a miracle.

At least we have conclusive proof that Tony Hawk did indeed perform a 900. That seems to move it out of the miracle category.

But then again, Tony's 900, as spectacular as it was, didn't fit over 100 pieces of specific predictive prophecy from several hundreds of years of writing, most several hundreds of years prior to the event.

For every piece of prophecy that the birth-o-Jesus fit, there are probably twenty pieces of predictive prophecy that were violated. People tend to look back at things like the predictions of Nostradamus and comment on how 'uncanny' his predictions were; these comments are, of course, made after the fact, when people can apply the vauge statements and metaphors of written prophecy to modern-day events. It's no more valid than a newspaper horoscope, which is itself a form of written prophecy.

And, Tony's 900 didn't quite heal hundreds or feed thousands and deliver moral teachings or resurrect after a decent Roman crucifixion.

We don't know if Jesus did either, unless you've got video. ;)

But then again, there are those who think that the sun rising every morning is the result of an image broadcast into their brain by evil goverrnment agents while their bodies are actually asleep on the slab in the lab.

How is this different in believing that there is a being so incredible as to have created the universe, and so petty as to care about whether or not I like bacon?

...and they'll say that's it's just a matter of time before there's a Church of the Tony Hawk 900.

You mean there isn't?

2 mothers = 4 breasts!

[Anonymous Coward]

Damn you, Freud!

Re:2 mothers = 4 breasts!

[EpsCylonB]

Frm the article...

The process by which this was accomplished (parthenogenesis) does not naturally occur in mammals

No shit sherlock...

Re:2 mothers = 4 breasts!

[Dr. Sigmund Freud]

What do you mean damn you? Do you realize the problems I've had to face with just one mommy?

Four breasts? Ummm. But real question for /. is how many buttons does this mouse have? If it's only one, the morons here are bound to start bitchin' about a one button mouse.

Behold

[polyp2000]

The virgin birth, now who is god? Mouse society must be up in cheese at the moment. Could this be the second coming of the Mousiahh ?

Re:Behold

[hplasm]

Little Baby Cheeses?

This is it...

[kop]

They dont need us anymore!

Panic!

Re:This is it...

[eclectro]

They dont need us anymore!

Remember the quote from Red Green "If women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy."

So as long as we are handy with the duct tape, and can kill the occasional bug, I'd say we have a fighting chance.

Unless you are nerd.....

Howard Stern was right

[Anonymous Coward]

Everyone loves lesbians! Even mice!

Did they name it Heather?

[ThePretender]

Because I always thought Heather Has Two Mommies

Two daddies?

[Anonymous Coward]

Doubt it. The Y chromosome is a mutation of the X chromosome and contains much less information. But let's see how this mouse goes. I've my suspicions that in addition to grand pronouncements we'll invent a host of new varients of immune deficencie and progeria like disorders before we've got the kinks more or less understood, let alone under control.

So as much as I'm looking forward to an all lesbian (but bi curious) amazon go-go dancer future where I'm the last man standing; this research and my time machine seem about equally incomplete. All for one and snu-snu for all.

Re:Two daddies?

[dAzED1]

chromosomal recombination, that's who.

Swell..

[grub]

.. mice that walk around complaining all the time.

"You're not wearing that to the exercise wheel?!"
"You never give me fresh seeds anymore!"
"Ever since we had the brood you ignore me in the wood shavings!"

Oh, that's just GREAT.

[Adam Schumacher]

Now that women have this, combined with a device to open jars, we men are officially obsolete.

Re:At BBC too

[Monsieur Canard]

So does this mean we men have no use anymore?

Besides killing spiders and hooking up the VCR you mean?

Like the saying goes....

[shplorb]

Dip me in honey and throw me to the lesbians!

Fascinating

[sw155kn1f3]

OK, when they will do the same with two MALE mouses, I'll eat my shoe, I swear :)

And the question parents dread...

[Nugbolz]

Imagine finally having The Talk with your pubescent kid. The birds and the birds? The bees and the bees... and the scientists??
Parthenogenesis... H19... Igf2... How would you explain it?

Q: Mum, where do babies come from?
A: Eh? What? Ask your OTHER mother.

Sexmission?

[Helish]

I think some one has been watching this movie too many times.

As the doctor said to the mouse...

[cwest]

You won't even feel a little prick.

Fear not slashdot users

[Prince Vegeta SSJ4]

now species threatened from a lack of suitable mates [stuff.co.nz], could be quite possibly saved

There is STILL hope!.

Let me be the first...

[James McP]

To welcome our new lesbian overlords!

So...

[X86Daddy]

Will the christian response be to:

• scream and rant about a mouse having two mommies
  
• jump, clap, and gesticulate about parthenogenysis being proven
  

I guess they'll have to deliberate over this one first. :-)

Bible translation error

[Wirr]

Ahhh, that explains it.

The word in the bible is not supposed to read virgin, but H19 deficient.
Easy mistake to make.

Unless you are a nerd

[phorm]

Are you kidding me... where else could females find that friend to:
"Confide her intimate relationship problems in excruciating detail while at the same time telling you she wishes she could meet a 'decent' man"

Male nerds, don't tell me this hasn't happened to you.

Oh Great!

[Luscious868]

Rosie O'Donnell is going to fave a field day with this one!

It's official

[Britz]

I long dreaded the day this would come. Now it is official, guys, we are superfluous now.

That's it. Dead meat. Face it! What would the girls need a guy for. I guess now we have to come with something fast, or the guys born now will soon become the last of their gender. Please think of something quick.

And don't be so lame as to go: Spider Squashers (what do You think they will come up with next: Spider Squashing Robots).

No father needed?

[OhioJoe]

Note to self: Learn how to give good backrubs.

No premission for two male genes

[Tribbin]

Tokyo University of Agriculture did not get permission to try the same with two male mice.

Tokyo government agreed that this might form some sort of mighty-mouse.

There is no way to cage this product if it gets angry.