Is a "virgin mary" possible? Parthenogenesis?

Question

I just read about Komodo dragons and how there have been reported parthenogenesis. They even tested the eggs some how and determined that there was no signs of outside fertilization. So is it not entirely impossible to have a "virgin mary" ? How do they test if there's no outside influence and is it really the difference between "ZW" chromosome and the "XY" chromosome... what's the difference? could "mary" be a freak and have a "ZW" instead of "XY"

oo regarding the first question its not true that its always female.. they are always male b/c the female can only give one of her own chromosomes so it would be either zz (male) or ww and ww doesn't happen (zw is female)

I meant regarding the first answer and I should also add that I'm more curious on the Parthenogenesis in humans not the religious aspect

Answer 1

Actually, parthenogenesis produces either always male or always female offspring, depending on the species.

In humans, it has been determined that maleness is caused by a specific gene on the Y chromosome. So a human woman, who has no Y chromosome, can only give birth to other women, if it were possible in humans.

Having said that, I know of no reported case of parthenogenesis in humans. Which would, I think, be fairly obvious if it did occur - not only would there be the no sex thing, but the child would be genetically identical to its mother, like an identical twin.

Scientists have been able to FORCE some mammals into parthenogensis (mice, to be precise), and the ones who did so think the same thing could be done on humans. However, we've discovered from cloning experiments that humans have a more complicated system than we used to think... very straightforward clones in animals have proved impossible (so far) for humans.

So I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it if I were you, even if we allow all our considerable scientific knowledge to conspire. Nothing more complicated than a lizard has been observed to engage in parthenogenesis naturally, and there is copious evidence that we are in a different league from lizards altogether.

Answer 2

mary would have to hav been an insect or bird to have zw. mammals have xx/xxy.
here's the thing, in other animals this kind of thing can happen easily. there are types of fish that can change gender on demand. most lower animals can reproduce regularly alone.
but not humans, period. not naturally anyway, and i'm pretty sure they didn't have artificial insemination and dna manipulation/extraction in those days.

Answer 3

Logically and technically virgin mary is not possible even today with all the scientific developement. I agree that elarier the science was on its peak, but reading about mary's background one could easily say that if there was any method developed at that time she wouldn't have able to afford it.

Answer 4

in parthogenesis the offspring are always female so no its not possible. but she still had a child and that was because God inseminated her, as it says "the holy spirit came into her".