Grass is not always green & DIY

THIS is green grass

’60’s grass not green
could put you out to pasture
and/or make you smile

a snake in the grass

discovers she’s all she needs

true do-it-yourself

“Virgin Birth” Seen in Wild Snakes, Even When Males Are Available

Who needs males? Sexless reproduction might be surprisingly common.”

(I’m not posting the picture from the article cuz snakes give me the “willies” . . . So if you want to see the Mama and baby and the entire article click here.  Really interesting even though it’s about – shudder, cringe – snakes.)

by Ker Than for National Geographic News

“Virgin birth” among animals may not be a rare, last-resort, save-the-species stopgap after all.

For the first time, animal mothers, specifically pit vipers, have been discovered spawning fatherless offspring in the wild. More to the point, the snakes did so even when perfectly good males were around.

Among vertebrate animals that normally reproduce sexually, virgin birth, or “parthenogenesis,” had been observed in only captive female snakes, Komodo dragons, birds, and sharks.

Until now its been considered an evolutionary novelty, albeit one that made a sort of sense—a way for a bloodline to continue in the absence of suitable father.”

“You’re Safe for Now, Men”

“A virgin birth occurs when a polar body—a cell produced along with the egg—essentially functions like a sperm and “fertilizes” the egg.

As a result, the DNA of a virgin-birth offspring, or “parthenogen,” doesn’t perfectly match that of its parent—the offspring is a sort of half clone.

So far, parthenogenesis has only been observed among sharks, reptiles, and birds (which are closely related to reptiles). Mammals aren’t thought to be capable of parthenogenesis, because their reproduction requires copies of genes from both parents.

“So no human parthenogenesis anytime soon,” said Stony Brook University marine biologist Demian Chapman, who discovered virgin birth among blacktip sharks.”

“We’ll leave that to the snakes, birds, and sharks.”

Read the whole article!  Click here. Fascinating!

Haiku-Heights
prompt, grass

Fears I’ve Overcome and Those to Come

Was talking to a client today about fear. Made me stop to think about my own fears.

• I used to be fearful of aliens coming to “get me”.  I am pretty sure that the time it would have been useful for them to study me has passed.
• I used to be afraid that my mind would go before my body.  Since watching the decline of my own parents I’m now fearful that my mind will NOT go before my body.  It may be a blessing not to be aware of what my limitations are.
• I used to be fearful people wouldn’t like me.  I now consider it a compliment that certain people don’t like me
• I used to be fearful of snakes. I spent hours in my early 20’s watching snakes (behind a glass exhibit) noticing  how beautiful their markings were, how incredible it was that they navigated their way with their tongue and how remarkable their ability to move was.  I still am afraid of snakes.
• I used to be fearful of not getting good grades in school.  I’ve got all the diplomas now I need . . .or want.
• I used to be terrified of dying.  I’m not afraid of that since I’ve embraced the Baha’i belief about the celestial realm.
• I used to be fearful of never having a boy ask me to dance at high school dances.  Now I fear that if anyone asked they’d find out I can’t dance
• I used to be afraid of heights.  I took a Wilderness Course in my 30’s where we had to climb poles, walk across streams on tiny logs and fall backwards off ledges into people’s’ arms.  I am still afraid of heights.

Hey! My list of fears has really been whittled down!

All I’m afraid of now is that there are snakes in heaven, I will be a dance instructor for eternity and that heaven is REALLY HIGH up.

Tell me what your fears are . . . or were!