Slate
brings us a little summary of some new information from the animal kingdom. Bees, turkeys, snakes, and lizards have been shown to spontaneously fertilize eggs themselves, through a process called parthenogenesis. Scientists previously thought animals at the top of the food chain couldn't do this, until they discovered the immaculate conception in Kimodo dragons. And a shark had a virgin birth too. Uh oh daddies.
What about mammals? We can't do it because of imprinting- but then again, maybe we can with the help of a little technology. Check it out: "A few years ago, scientists produced 10 mice, two of them apparently normal, by manipulating a couple of genes so that eggs could fertilize each other. The scientists predicted 'even greater improvements in the efficiency of parthenogenetic development in mice,' and they vowed to try next with pigs." So at some point in the future, a lesbian couple could have a child without a sperm donor, created from genes from each partner. So much for the importance of the man contribution. Has anyone written a sci fi book where the ladies take over once the men have been rendered obsolete? If not, I call dibs.
Fortunately, lots of guys have other very endearing qualities besides being efficient seed spillers. But the slacker ones might want to watch their step a little, and perhaps get more vigilant on the diaper duty. Hey, Happy Father's Day!
