Behold, the virgin birth (and yes, it's a son) ; HOME

From: The Independent (London, England) | Date: December 21, 2006| Author: | Copyright information

The world's largest lizard has astonished biologists by being able to produce offspring by an "immaculate" conception without the help of a male.

Two captive female Komodo dragons have had virgin births by a process called parthenogenesis, when an unfertilised egg develops into a normal embryo without being fertilised by a sperm.

The eggs of one of the lizards - a female called Flora at Chester Zoo - are due to hatch early in the new year, said Kevin Buley, one of the zoo's curators.

"Although other lizard species are known to be able to selffertilise, this is the first time this has ever ...

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