"A laser physicist and former researcher with NASA'S Jet Propulsion Laboratory, [Robert] Lang, 46, is a pioneer in technical and computational origami, which focuses on the mathematics behind the art."
- Smithsonian, June 2007, p. 74

Mr. Lang's math results in a melding of science and art that is wonderful to behold.
Go here to the interesting magazine article:
http://www.smithsonianmagazine.com/issues/2007/june/origami.php


Go here to Mr. Lang's Origami web-site and browse his gallery. 'Really-really-good:'
http://www.langorigami.com/

"Captive shark had 'virgin birth'"

"Female hammerhead sharks can reproduce without having sex, scientists confirm."

Read the rest of the online article at: the BBC News page.

"What I'm saying is...nature finds a way"
Jurassic Park

Parthenogenesis is what they call it. Does it happen to humans?

parthenogenesis, definition,n.

A form of reproduction in which an unfertilized egg develops into a new individual, occurring commonly among insects and certain other arthropods.

parthenogenesis etymology
[New Latin : Greek parthenos, virgin + genesis.]

parthenogenesis derivatives
parthe·no·ge·netic (-j-ntk) adj.
parthe·no·ge·neti·cal·ly adv.
-yourdictionary.com

"There are no known cases of mammalian parthenogenesis in the wild.

In April 2004, scientists at Tokyo University of Agriculture used parthenogenesis to successfully create fatherless mice: see Kaguya.

The beginnings of artificial human parthenogenesis has been performed in the lab. [9] In theory, the process could be used to reproduce humans, but this is unlikely due to ethical concerns. Parthenogenesis in mice and monkeys often results in abnormal development. This high level of birth defects, plus the fact that parthenotes have only half the genetic diversity of their parent, means that research on human parthenogenesis is focused on the production of embryonic stem cells for use in medical treatment, not as a reproductive strategy." -wikipedia

It seem to be more common than I thought; especially among insects, reptiles and sharks. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis:

15 different whiptail lizards do this also. No males, only females. From what I have read, all offspring of parthenogenesis are clones.

So here is a question. Did God create these species with single sex reprodution or is this a modification from the fall?

Wikipedia says parthenogenesis does not result in clones...

" Parthenogenesis is distinct from artificial animal cloning, a process where the new organism is identical to the cell donor. Parthenogenesis is truly a reproductive process which creates a new individual or individuals from the naturally varied genetic material contained in the eggs of the mother. A litter of animals resulting from parthenogenesis may contain all genetically unique siblings without any twins or multiple numbers from the same genetic material. - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis "

... except in some ants where the female queens clone themselves to make more queens and the males can clone themselves by 'ablating' the female genetics from an egg.


had to look up 'ablating'

"ablate definition
v. ab·lat·ed, ab·lat·ing, ab·lates
v.tr.
1. Medicine To excise, amputate, or otherwise destroy the biological function of (a body tissue, for example).
2. To remove by erosion, melting, evaporation, or vaporization.
v.intr.
To become ablated; undergo ablation.
ablate etymology
[Back-formation from ablation.]"

I have to leave that to the theologians. :)

"...nature finds a way."

Weird Science

"You might not want to do it, but removing half of your brain will not significantly impact who you are,"
writes Charles Choi in : Scientific American Magazine.

What a funny doctor.