Immaculate Conception In a Boa Constrictor

crudmonkey writes "Researchers have discovered a biological shocker: female boa constrictors are capable of giving birth asexually. But the surprise doesn't end there. The study in Biology Letters found that boa babies produced through this asexual reproduction — also known as parthenogenesis — sport a chromosomal oddity that researchers thought was impossible in reptiles. While researchers admit that the female in the study may have been a genetic freak, they say the findings should press researchers to re-think reptile reproduction. Virgin birth among reptiles, especially primitive ones like boas, they argue may be far commoner than ever expected."

Comments

Wow

[bigstrat2003]

This can only fuel the cult of Raptor Jesus to unimaginable new heights.

Re:Wow

[Hijacked Public]

More interesting than the article is that I now know there is such a thing as a serpentarium. Everywhere I've lived, and in all the movies I've watched, they've just been called 'reptile zoo' or something similar.

I imagine people go into a serpentarium and the lights are low. Everyone sits down, reclines their seat back and stares upward. Then the lights come up to reveal thousands of serpents suspended from the ceiling, writhing around. People ooh and aah.

Sounds awesome.

Pedantic nit...

[Burning1]

Asexual reproduction isn't the same as virgin birth.

For all we know, that snake is a slut.

That is so cool.

[Anonymous Coward]

I always wondered where telemarketers came from.

Re:Immaculate Conception doesn't mean virgin birth

[RealErmine]

This must be the first time anyone has ever misinterpreted content from the Bible.