Girl-only fish species survives by cloning

[almaty 19]

The Amazon Molly, found in Mexico and Texas, reproduces by cloning, and while it does "interact" with chaps from other species to "trigger its reproduction process", doesn't utilise any of their DNA in producing offspring.

While this might be considered proof of the old saw that "a woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle", scientists from the University of Edinburgh applied "complex mathematical models" to demonstrate that the Amazon Molly should in fact have become extinct within the last 70,000 years as a result of the adverse genetic changes resulting from asexual reproduction.

Quite how it has survived remains a mystery, although one theory suggests occasional liaisons with males in which DNA is taken on board to "refresh" the species' genetic make-up.

Dr Laurence Loewe, of the uni's School of Biological Sciences, said: "What we have shown now is that this fish really has something special going on and that some special tricks exist to help this fish survive. Maybe there is still occasional sex with strangers that keeps the species alive. Future research may give us some answers."

The team's findings are published in the journal BMC Evolutionary Biology. ®

[almaty 19]

bump for the fish lovers of the usa and beyond

[Jenn! 918]

Aren't there several animals that reproduce asexually? Some kind of frog I think is one...

[almaty 19]

yes, i think some species can switch sex too...

[Krikit 1,164]

She probably got tired of cleaning up after them and figured she'd be better off alone. High five to the Molly fish. You go girl.

[almaty 19]

oh that cunning Molly fish is starting trouble..where is my fish net at?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Wonderwoman came from the island of Lesbos...and I don't think there were any men there...but of course, she isn't a fish...no matter what scent.

[almaty 19]

she was funky according to supergirl

[one...two...tree 2,762]

she was funky according to supergirl

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I guess they need a man like they need a bicycle

I'll get my coat

[Ban Hammer 13,275]

She probably got tired of cleaning up after them and figured she'd be better off alone. High five to the Molly fish. You go girl.

no snoring afterwards this way

[almaty 19]

must be a male robot

Edited April 24, 2008 by almaty

[*julez* 124]

There is something fishy about this thread.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

must be a male robot

Her only hope is her lasso of truth - which will make the robot confess that he's really a closet homosexual.

[almaty 19]

damn, i like to ahve that lasso of truth..make therapy allot easier