Sterile? Think again....

[novapsyche]

Morocco's miracle mule 'confirmed'

DNA tests have confirmed that a Moroccan mule did give birth to a foal.

Veterinary experts say the foal's father was a donkey and its mother a true mule.

The discovery defies scientific wisdom because mules are supposed to be sterile.

[...] Vets from the Society for the Protection of Animals of North Africa (Spana) visited the animal and took blood tests for analysis.

"Those tests confirmed that the mother is a mule with each of her blood groups made up of both horse and donkey alleles, or genetic material - in other words she is a true equine/asinine hybrid," veterinary director Gigi Kay told BBC News Online.

Comments

[metaphorge.livejournal.com]

First gay sheep, now this....

[padpedpladuk.livejournal.com]

They taught me in Bio 101 that the myth that mules are sterile arose from the fact that their offspring have unpredictable qualities, and therefore are not worth breeding.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I read about the gay sheep. I didn't pay it too much mind, though; I don't think sheep brains are that similar to humans. Now, if the study had used chimps or apes--even rats--I'd've paid more attention.

[novapsyche.livejournal.com]

Interesting. I like it when common sense turns out to be myth. :)