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April 15, 2009 -- "Men, who needs them?" is a question sometimes uttered by frustrated women, but a widespread species of tropical ant has taken that position to the extreme by becoming asexual and only producing females, according to a new study.
The insect, Mycocepurus smithii, represents the first documented male-less species of ant, the scientists believe. What's more, all of its female ant colonies are thriving on clonal fungi, and appear to have stopped producing males a long time ago, puzzling experts who believe asexuality is evolutionarily disadvantageous.
Lead author Anna Himler explained that a life without sex might not be so bad after all.
"Sexual reproduction is costly in several ways and asexual reproduction -- the lack of sex -- can be advantageous," she said, offering four reasons.
May 23, 2007 — Virgin births are possible in female sharks, according to a new study that determined a captive female bonnethead shark reproduced without having been near a male in three years.
Since other captive females — including a white spotted bamboo shark — have anecdotally accomplished the same feat, researchers conclude it is likely all shark species possess the ability.
Sharks are catching on because the humans have fished the population so much that there are hardly any males anymore. Also, a male-less species is a asexual species meaning it has no sex.
Some think it's happening to humans as they say there are more women than men....but then the actual stats come out showing worldwide it's about even. One decade there may be a % more men but then the next the same % more women....so it's even.
"How should theoritical societies [without males] would look like is difficult to predict": one thing I can predict, an all-female society would be much better looking!
already today as a male one feels quite useless in our evolved societies ;with IVF females don't even need men to procreate anymore already, only a sperm donor and a syringe,the next step is maybe I guess doing like these ants , who are showing the way to go for humanity.
But isn't that why you were brought to this planet so far?
Nope.... it was to get gas for my wifes car, let the dog out at 2am and worship the ground my wife walks on (she agrees to let me). Oh yeah, kill any little critter / bug that might enter our house.
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