Komodo Dragon to Welcome Virgin Birth Just in Time for Christmas

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The thread discusses the phenomenon of a Komodo dragon potentially experiencing a virgin birth, exploring both the biological implications and humorous cultural references surrounding the concept. The conversation touches on themes of reproduction, gender roles, and religious allusions, with a mix of scientific curiosity and light-hearted banter.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Humorous

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express surprise at the idea of a virgin birth in a Komodo dragon, linking it humorously to cultural notions of immaculate conception.
  • There are concerns raised about the implications of such a reproductive strategy, with some jokingly suggesting that males could become obsolete.
  • One participant questions the traditional narrative of immaculate conception, expressing confusion about its theological implications.
  • Another participant humorously speculates about the Komodo dragon receiving gifts from "wise lizards," drawing parallels to the nativity story.
  • Some participants discuss the genetics of self-fertilization in lizards, noting that all offspring would be male and could potentially mate with their mother.
  • There are references to popular culture, including Godzilla and Madonna, as part of the humorous commentary on the topic.
  • A later post provides a link to a more technical article about the phenomenon, indicating interest in the scientific details.
  • One participant shares a follow-up about the Komodo dragon giving birth to five offspring, suggesting ongoing interest in the outcome of the situation.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the implications of the virgin birth phenomenon, with multiple competing views and humorous interpretations present throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes various assumptions about gender roles and cultural narratives, which may not be universally applicable. The biological details regarding the Komodo dragon's reproduction remain complex and are not fully resolved within the thread.

ZapperZ
Staff Emeritus
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
Insights Author
Messages
32,819
Reaction score
4,723
Just in time for Christmas, a lizard is expecting a virgin birth! Now THAT is what *I* would call an immaculate conception!

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/12/20/uk.komodo.reut/index.html

Zz.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Biology news on Phys.org
Hmmm. So you're saying that males could become obsolete? Yikes.
 
berkeman said:
Hmmm. So you're saying that males could become obsolete? Yikes.

Oh, I wouldn't say that. I mean, men will still be needed to take out the trash.

<ZapperZ smacks himself silly>

Zz.
 
Well, I thought it was Mary who had an immaculate conception and thereby escaped inherited sin, making her fit to give birth to a god..

Or was that the other way around??
Or perhaps something to the left?

I'm confused..
 
berkeman said:
Hmmm. So you're saying that males could become obsolete?
Not as long as jars come with lids.
 
Gokul43201 said:
Not as long as jars come with lids.

Oh yeah, huh! Thanks Gokul. I feel better now. :biggrin:
 
I send gifts of small crickets and mealworms to the holy lizard (via UPS). They might be a bit late though, what with the holidays and all.

-Wise and kingy PF member
 
I wonder if she was visited by three wise lizards bearing bugs.
 
cnn.com said:
Flora, a pregnant Komodo dragon living in a British zoo, is expecting eight babies in what scientists said on Wednesday could be a Christmas virgin birth...A female dragon could, for instance, swim to another island and establish a new colony on her own.
She's still a virgin...she went swimming (alone)...and got pregnant...:rolleyes:...
Scientists thought she had been able to store sperm from her earlier encounter with a male...
...lizard, yes...virgin, no...
The genetics of self-fertilization in lizards means that all her hatchlings would have to be male. These would grow up to mate with their own mother
:bugeye:
 
  • #10
Aether said:
She's still a virgin...she went swimming (alone)...and got pregnant...:rolleyes:...lizard, yes...virgin, no...:bugeye:

They didn't say what KIND of an "encounter" she had. She could have easily killed the male lizard and got her ... er ... "supplies".

:)

This is getting really twisted.

Zz.
 
  • #11
Wow. So, I guess lizards have their own religion, too. There is a book to be written. :biggrin:
 
  • #13
Reminds me of Godzilla (the '98 version). :biggrin:
 
  • #14
neutrino said:
Reminds me of Godzilla (the '98 version). :biggrin:

You mean hermaphrodites? :wink:
 
  • #15
neutrino said:
Reminds me of Godzilla (the '98 version). :biggrin:
Reminds me of Madonna (the '84 version).
 
  • #16
Rach3 said:
I send gifts of small crickets and mealworms to the holy lizard (via UPS). They might be a bit late though, what with the holidays and all.

-Wise and kingy PF member
Incidentally, the Magi weren't kings. Nor would they likely have been wise - they were, after all, priests!

And this talk of Magi and virgin births reminds me of another misconception, namely, that all there were no male homo sapiens between the time of Mitochondrial Eve and Y-Chromosomal Adam. While this naturally isn't true, I guess what you could say, is that all these other males were, ummm ... lesser men!
 
  • #17
Hey! A follow up to this amusing story!

That komodo dragon finally gave birth to 5 komodo dragons!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/01/24/komodo.births.ap/index.html

So far, the reports say that both mother/father and baby komodos are doing well.

Zz.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #18
I hope she is hungry and eats the little monsters.
 
  • #19
ZapperZ said:
Hey! A follow up to this amusing story!

That komodo dragon finally gave birth to 5 komodo dragons!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/science/01/24/komodo.births.ap/index.html

So far, the reports say that both mother/father and baby komodos are doing well.

Zz.

And we just had the brightest comet in decades (still have) visit us. Coincidence? :rolleyes:
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

Medical Electrical stimulation of the Vagus nerve may relieve treatment-resistant depression
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
High School Lunar Orbit Issues & Lunar Clocks
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
Challenge Math Challenge - December 2018
  • · Replies 67 ·
3
Replies
67
Views
17K
This is why EM interference can be an issue....
  • · Replies 50 ·
2
Replies
50
Views
9K
What are the Global Impacts of Extreme Heatwaves in 2021?
  • · Replies 42 ·
2
Replies
42
Views
4K
What Are the Scientific Flaws in the Movie Downsizing?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
7K
MHB Population formula part 1: Birth
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2: Launch success
  • · Replies 24 ·
Replies
24
Views
5K
What's with CNN and Ridiculous Airplanes?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K
Graduate The birth of spacetime atoms as the passage of time
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K