Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Sorry for anyone not interested in Boas, but I think these findings could blow open the research on all snake genetics, which Ball Pythons would of course play a key role (IMO).

Boa constrictors born by virgin birth

Girl Power: No Male? No Problem for Female Boa Constrictor
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.0 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

Popping up in more and more species.
Watched an episode of Monster Quest last night where they showed two Komodo dragons that were born from Parthenogenesis.
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"What is man without the beasts?
If all the beasts were gone,
men would die from great loneliness of spirit.
For what happens to the beasts,
soon happens to men.
All things are connected."

-Chief Seattle (Duwamish Tribe)

The process is very common in several reptile species. A few it was just recently discovered it, such as Komodos, while others we knew had been doing it for decades, such as most Aspidoscelis species.
This excites me because of the "WW" aspect of it. The fact that an animal outside the lab was found with two of the 'lesser' sex chromosomes and surviving it amazing. The fact that there was an entire litter of them produced completely changes our thinking about the role of these chromosomes and the variability in the entire parthenogenic process. The entire study of this life history aspect could get very interesting soon.
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.0 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

Interesting in deed.

Please don't let the Florida Politicians see this or we'll be doomed for sure.
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Tosha
JET Pythons

nihil facimus sed id bene facimus

......
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1.0 BP Nicodemus
0.4 Cal Kings 3 alb 1 het Dora Queen Ace Pearl
2.0 Alb Corn Bizaar Elixir
0.0.1 Rev Alb Nelsons Oden?

On that note, something my husband pointed out that would be interesting to discover:

Are WW females viable?

If so, do they produce only all females too, since-
WW (odd female) x ZZ (normal male) = all ZW (normal females)

That would indeed be a population explosion.
Certainly a concern IF this species was thriving in the wild in North America, which it isn't. Currently, there isn't a single confirmed individual Boa living happily in the wild in North America, let alone a breeding population. (Preaching to the choir here, I know, sorry)
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Lincoln, NE
0.1 Pastel, 1.0 Pastel het Pied, 0.1 Pied, 0.1 Cinn, 1.0 Black Pewter, 1.0 Woma (hidden gene?), 0.1 Yellowbelly
2.0 Normals, 1.0 Thayeri, 0.1 Thayeri X Alterna, 0.1 crazy cat, 1.0 husband

Don't worry. In all media interviews I have made it very clear that the parthenogenetic litters only occurred when males were present. No data as of yet supports the potential for a population explosion if a solitary female is released / escaped, etc.

Thanks for the comments on the study. I have a second parthenogenesis in snakes paper due for submission within the month, and two other species to address (one python, one boa).

Warren
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Dr Warren Booth / Director USARK
North Carolina State University
Department of Entomology

It will be interesting to see what the babys do when they mature.
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1.0 BP Nicodemus
0.4 Cal Kings 3 alb 1 het Dora Queen Ace Pearl
2.0 Alb Corn Bizaar Elixir
0.0.1 Rev Alb Nelsons Oden?