The birth of a shark in the United States has been confirmed as the first case of a female shark reproducing without a male shark. Scientists from Florida, Nebraska and Northern Ireland studied genetic material taken from a baby hammerhead shark. The baby shark was born six years ago at a zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. At the time, its mother had been living without male sharks for three years.
Another fish was said to have killed the baby shark shortly after it was born. Recently, tests showed the baby had no genetic material from a male shark. The findings were reported in the publication Biology Letters.
VOICE TWO:
At the time of the birth, researchers believed that the mother had possibly used reproductive fluid received from a male shark years earlier. Female sharks are able to store such fluid from male sharks. However, no shark has been known to do this for several years.
At the time of the birth, researchers believed that the mother had possibly used reproductive fluid received from a male shark years earlier. Female sharks are able to store such fluid from male sharks. However, no shark has been known to do this for several years.
Instead, the scientists found the mother’s own genetic material combined when her egg was produced. This form of reproduction involving only one animal is called parthenogenesis. It is also known as asexual reproduction.
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Asexual reproduction has been known to happen in some animals, including snakes and lizards. But it has never been confirmed in mammals. The shark's birth was the first time asexual reproduction had been observed in a shark. It has yet to be observed in animals that live in the wild.
Asexual reproduction has been known to happen in some animals, including snakes and lizards. But it has never been confirmed in mammals. The shark's birth was the first time asexual reproduction had been observed in a shark. It has yet to be observed in animals that live in the wild.
Scientists say the discovery may also explain growing numbers of sharks born in captivity without males present. However, genetic material from these sharks must also be tested to confirm asexual reproduction.
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Scientists now wonder if animals living in the wild also reproduce in this way. Many shark populations are decreasing because people are killing too many of the animals. The asexual form of reproduction could help population numbers. Yet scientists say it could also be harmful for the species itself.
Scientists now wonder if animals living in the wild also reproduce in this way. Many shark populations are decreasing because people are killing too many of the animals. The asexual form of reproduction could help population numbers. Yet scientists say it could also be harmful for the species itself.
Biologists say that sharks born asexually with only their mother’s genetic material will have less chance of surviving than other sharks. Genetic material from a male and female helps living creatures to better deal with disease and other threats. If sharks in the wild are reproducing asexually, their young will be genetically weaker than those produced sexually.
VOICE ONE:
Carl LinnaeusLast month, scientists around the world celebrated the birthday of an important man in the history of science. His name was Carl Linnaeus. He was born three hundred years ago in Sweden.
VOICE ONE:
Carl LinnaeusLast month, scientists around the world celebrated the birthday of an important man in the history of science. His name was Carl Linnaeus. He was born three hundred years ago in Sweden.
Carl Linnaeus is remembered for developing a system of scientific names for all the living things on Earth. Experts say his system continues to influence the way people think about the natural world.
VOICE TWO:
Linnaeus was a medical doctor. He also was very interested in plants. In seventeen thirty-five, he produced a book that listed all the known plants in the world by their sexual parts. The book was called "Systema Naturae," or "System of Nature."
Linnaeus was a medical doctor. He also was very interested in plants. In seventeen thirty-five, he produced a book that listed all the known plants in the world by their sexual parts. The book was called "Systema Naturae," or "System of Nature."
Linnaeus later published two more books. They proposed a system of dividing and ordering plants by groups. These publications listed and ordered all the known plants and animals in the world. That was more than seven thousand kinds of plants and more than four thousand kinds of animals.
Linnaeus continued to make changes in his system and publish books describing them. The tenth version of "Systema Naturae" was published more than twenty years after the first one. The naming system he described in that book is the one that has been used ever since by scientists.
VOICE ONE:
The system that Linnaeus used to organize all living things started with the largest group, called a kingdom. He divided all living things into one of three kingdoms: plant, animal, or mineral. Members of each kingdom were then placed into increasingly smaller groups. Linnaeus' system was the first to place human beings in the same group as animals that walk on two legs.
The system that Linnaeus used to organize all living things started with the largest group, called a kingdom. He divided all living things into one of three kingdoms: plant, animal, or mineral. Members of each kingdom were then placed into increasingly smaller groups. Linnaeus' system was the first to place human beings in the same group as animals that walk on two legs.
The main part of the system that survives today combines two groups that have biological meaning. It is the two-word description of an organism based on its physical appearance: the genus name and the descriptor. A good example is the expression Linnaeus used to describe human beings and that we continue to use -- homo sapiens.
VOICE TWO:
Scientists have been making changes to his naming system for more than two hundred years. Today, some experts want to re-organize the system. They say this is needed because of the scientific progress that has been made since Linnaeus' time. For example, biology experts want changes because knowledge of genetic material has created much new information.
Scientists have been making changes to his naming system for more than two hundred years. Today, some experts want to re-organize the system. They say this is needed because of the scientific progress that has been made since Linnaeus' time. For example, biology experts want changes because knowledge of genetic material has created much new information.
Some people are calling for a system that would group organisms with a common history. But others feel there is no real agreement as to how to place new discoveries in groups. They say Linneus' system has been used for so long that it would be very difficult to change.
Scientists say the main reason the system survives is because it is simple. They say its use makes it possible for persons who speak different languages to understand each other, and agree on what they are talking about. The system also makes it easy for scientists today to identify all the ten million known species of plants and animals. That is many more living things than were known during Carl Linnaeus' lifetime.
VOICE TWO:
This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS was written by Brianna Blake, Nancy Steinbach and Caty Weaver. Our producer was Mario Ritter. I'm Steve Ember.
VOICE ONE:
And I'm Barbara Klein. Join us again at this time next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of America.
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