Is human Parthenogenesis possible. Was the first human being a true Hermaphrodite who used parthenogenesis to reproduce? Is there any scientific evidence to confirm human parthenogenesis?
No- there is no scientific evidence that humans have ever had the ability to reproduce asexually. As for how the "first" human reproduced - recall that through the process of evolution speciation occurs over time, and typically over distances. So it's not a case of a "first human" being differentiated from its ancestors over-night and therefore having no compatible mates, but rather a gradual evolution from earlier forms. So it would be impossible to talk about a truly "first" human (leaving the Adam and Eve story out of the discussion as this is a science forum, so sticking to best scienctific evidence), as the "human-ness" of our distant ancestors is a matter of degree. There is no "chicken and egg" riddle here!
I agree with ebaines. Parthenogenesis is well documented in some other species, including certain lizards. But humans are not known to reproduce that way.
And, yes, the "first human" was only marginally different from its hominid/ape ancestor, just as I am only marginally different from my parents. There is every reason to think the transition was a fairly gradual change from walking upright to evolving a throwing arm and a digging wrist, to evolving the ability to run long distances and finally a bigger brain. Each of these steps took tens to hundreds of thousands of years.
Buddhas mother concieved her son in a state of blissful meditation under a banyan tree. Mary concieved Jesus in more or less the same way. It's been said that Leonardo Divinci, Joan of Ark, Moses, Zoroster and scores more geniuses, visionaries and healers were also born parnthenogenetically.
If many of the lower species can and do concieve this way I don't think it's so shocking to assume that humans can too. Based on this fact alone I can't imagine why scientists arn't more curious. A hundred years ago the famous biologist, Jacques Loeb did just that.
I once read and wrote a review for a book about the Ojibiwa or Cippewa people. The author spend a decade re-searching oral stories from the Ojibiwa's old traditional speakers that existed before the coming of the white man.
One story was that the wise-women looked for certain young maidens that possessed grace, intelligence and compassion. Sometimes a canditate for this parthenogenetic purpose would not appear in every generation. Nevertheless, the wise-women keep an eagle-eye open for her. When found, such a maiden was hands off for men.
When they reached the age of fertility, their first period, they were instructed to fast for several days and, if willing, were required to dance around a fire in a sacred womens lodge built away from the village. Her dancing occured while she was ovulating and if a state of bliss or ecstasy was reached it would be possible for her to concieve and give birth to a child that would most likely be blessed with gifts of healing or leadership etc.
I believe this is what happend among The Essenes along The Dead Sea over 2,000 years ago. Jesus was the result. They planned it. Needless to say this "old way" of concieving and giving birth to highly evolved souls was a no no during a time when patriarchy was firmly established. To me, this is why King Herod had all the new born males put to death.
If I haven't scared the reader off by dipping into religious lore one might ask the biological reason for the presense of the hyman in women. I believe only one species of whale have a hyman but it is to keep sea-water out. The hyman remains a "medical mystery". Some folks think it's there merely as fodder for comedians. I thinks it's there because Nature, the great conservative, has a higher form of conception and birth in mind for women.
One might also inquire about certain types of dermoid cysts. Cysts that appear in young girls from 8 to 16, that have their hymans intact. When surgically removed and examined these cysts have been found to contain tiny undeveloped skulls and spines etc. Unbeknownst to them, one of their eggs had parthenogenetically been fertilized and then had stopped developing and, typically getting trapped in their fallopian tube, had to be removed as they had become toxic.
Anthopoid apes, our closest biological cousins, have a monthly period while in captivity and on an artificial diet. When returned to their natural habitat and diet they will bleed in the Spring and Fall like most mammals. But I used to live in an institution where everyone ate raw sprouts, fruits and vegetables and nothing else. That means, no bread, grains, meats, or dairy products. After a month or two most women would have their periods lessen in the amount of blood-loss and the overall discomfort and cramps they usually experience. One woman in particular, who I got to know as a sister, lost her period completely and enjoyed total health. I also met several women who gave up eating solid food. Of course, they had no periods as well. It's also quite common that many women athletes lose their periods too. This is old news.
There are artistic depictions of Mary standing on the Crescent Moon. It seems obvious to me that a clean, living food diet is nesessary for eliminating wasteful monthly menstruation and is the foundation for the process of parthenogenesis. It's also obvious that we humans are over-sexed. The earth has amassed way too many bodies that don't know how to get along with each other and are straining the earths resources. This is old news too.
In almost every culture on earth and in amost every major religion stories of The Virgin Birth abide. It's time we all chip in and take a close look at this simple, long-forgotten and possibly forbidden subject. Is it fact or fiction? Are all parthenogenetic children gifted? And, if so, why? Is it trully possible to prepare a woman for such a feat? Will the return of parthenogenesis be the straw to break the back of patriarchy?
I'm looking for preferrably non-religious searchers and re-searchers who would like to share anything they can find out about human parthenogenesis. I've been contemplating this subject since 1969. It simply won't go away! Help! [email="denpoitras@hotmail.com"]
One problem: parthenogenesis would produce a genetical identical "clone " of the mother: only females can be born out of parthenogenesis. That is if it would be somehow be possible at all for humans
We are dealing with parthenogenesis on the human level. We are supposed to be the most highly evolved life-forms on this planet. I know that once a woman makes up her mind that she is going to have a boy or a girl she almost always gets what she invisions. In the lower species giving birth to a female is the rule.
Denisis,
This is the science section of Ask Me Help Desk so I'm responding accordingly.
It isn't "shocking" to assume that humans can reproduce through parthenogenesis. It's just wrong. You might as well assume we can fly. There is no scientific evidence for parthenogenesis occurring in humans and no known cases of parthenogenesis occurring naturally in any mammal. If other mammals do not do it, it's EXTREMELY unlikely that we do.
Just because people SAY that this person or that was born parthenogenetically does not make it true. People used to say that the sun went around the earth, but no matter how many of them there were and for how many hundreds of years they said it, they were still mistaken.
Your assertion that "humans are the most highly evolved life forms on this planet" is also in error. We are not more evolved than other animals or plants. We are smarter than other animals but not more evolved.
Women cannot decide the sex of their own children by envisioning one sex or the other. If you start spreading false rumors like that, women will be blamed (and beaten) for not having boys on demand. Please don't go around saying things that are not true.
What if you met a celebate woman that fasted for two and a half years? She was six-feet two inches tall and weighed 135 lbs. Her ability to fast was verified by many in her community, as she worked in a restuarant, as well as by me, because we used to have marathon discussions about the dissappearance of her menstruation, her mysteriously leeking breasts and her ability to go almost entirely without sleep. Her sleep was more of a two or three hour meditation in which she had remarkable dreams and claimed to hear voices from spriitual beings.
She also climbed medium sized mountains in the Ashland, Oregon area without becoming exhausted or excessively fatigued. I saw her a number of times put organic grapes into a blender and then strain them through cheesecloth before drinking the juice. If there were any presense of pulp she would have to excuse herself in order to regurgitate it in the bathroom.
Knowing her has made me want to study breatharianism, menstruation and parthenogenesis. Instead of making me more flakey or spiritual I wanted to find more scientific information to back up what I was seeing before my eyes. This is why I am trying to find people who may be interested and willing to help gather information on all the subjects I have touched upon regarding the many mysteries that remain about women.
All the calories in the grapes are in the juice, not the pulp (which is fiber/roughage). Drinking grape juice is a high sugar diet. What else did she consume? I'm just curious.
It is not surprising that her periods stopped on a strict long-term diet of some kind and at such a low weight.
Her leaking breasts were probably a sign of some kind of hormone imbalance (or a pituitary tumor). On the other hand, my breasts leaked in my 20s and I was eating normally, having normal periods, also climbing mountains, but not fasting. I subsequently had two children in the usual fashion. I did not have a tumor. I don't think leaking breasts is necessarily pathological, though it can be.
Are you saying you think your friend was pregnant because her periods stopped? Not sure why she is relevant to parthenogenesis, although she is interesting. Why did she stop her diet?
If you are seriously interested in parthenogenesis, then you should read about the science of it. For example, aphids are born pregnant--which is a miracle in itself and quite amazing. But, while extremely cool, in my opinion, mammals do not apparently conceive without fertilization. If any other mammal had been observed to do it, I'd be more open to the possibility in humans.
For example, farmers are often extremely careful about how they breed their animals. If over the last 1000 years, a sheep or cow had become pregnant when the ram or the bull was tied up in the next county--even once--we would have heard about it, I think.
Are you saying you think your friend was pregnant because her periods stopped? Not sure why she is relevant to parthenogenesis, although she is interesting.
Right - it is not unusual for women to stop having periods - for example, this is quite common with women who are into edurance running (marathoners for example). So this is certainly not proof, or even strong evidence, of parthenogenisis.
Denisis - a basic rule of science is that "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." Claims of asexual reproduction in humans would indeed be "extraordinary," so to gain any serious traction you need to cite evidence such as peer-reviewed studies of this phenomenon - saying "I know a woman with leaky breasts" doesn't cut it. Nor does citing ancient mythology. Until you present a documented case, the scientific community will continue to say it's not possible.
I don't think leaking breasts is necessarily pathological, though it can be.
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