The ONLY way for there to be different looking critters is if the babies were haploid (having half the chromosomes of normals). Then, yes, because of segregation and ind. assortment, you could have different looking babies. This is roughly analogous to what happens in whiptail lizards...where there is a doubling of chromosomes after meiosis to create a diploid zygote (I know it sounds wierd)...I think parthenogenesis is extremeley unlikely in this case...when it does happen in normally sexually reproducing animals, it's thought to be a last resort mechanism (the female is older and has never been with a male of the same species). I think there was a phantom mating or sperm retention here...just my 2 cents.

[ Hide Replies ]

• Celia.... I wanted to respond, but... - Jeremy Stone, Fri Apr 14 14:43:05 2006
• Very informative!!! Great Post!!!n/p - Psycodelic, Fri Apr 14 14:56:51 2006
• RE: Celia.... I wanted to respond, but.. - boaphile, Fri Apr 14 15:29:23 2006
• PARTHENOGENESIS!!! - creptilia, Fri Apr 14 15:37:06 2006
• I had this same discussion... - wetceal, Fri Apr 14 15:52:50 2006
• If you end up proving those little girls - creptilia, Fri Apr 14 16:32:03 2006
• Parthenogenesis in Burmese Python - caparu, Fri Apr 14 18:52:14 2006
• parthenogenesis - sperm retention long. - PanamaRed, Fri Apr 14 16:23:42 2006
• No on parthenogenesis... - g.gartner, Fri Apr 14 17:33:01 2006
• RE: Good point... - PanamaRed, Fri Apr 14 17:51:50 2006
• Honestly, I do not know the pathway by.. - creptilia, Fri Apr 14 19:58:49 2006
• geneticly identical, and looking..... - PanamaRed, Fri Apr 14 20:57:34 2006
• RE: geneticly identical, and looking.... - g.gartner, Sat Apr 15 17:34:21 2006
• Hi Celia....>> - LindaH, Fri Apr 14 19:51:00 2006
• Hey Linda... - wetceal, Fri Apr 14 23:03:24 2006
• RE: Celia.... I wanted to respond, but... - jacktdyer, Sat Apr 15 15:50:00 2006