Not Impossible

S2 Ep8: A Virgin Birth in a Crocodile? with Dr. Brenna Levine & Dr. Warren Booth | Not Impossible Podcast


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In this episode of the Not Impossible Podcast, host and Not Impossible Labs founder Mick Ebeling sits down with Dr. Warren Booth and Dr. Brenna Levine, the researchers who documented the first-ever confirmed virgin birth in a crocodile — a discovery that challenges one of the oldest assumptions we have about how life begins.
Their work reveals a biological phenomenon called parthenogenesis, where a female animal reproduces without a male — a process found across reptiles, birds, sharks, and even entire species that no longer have males at all.
This conversation unpacks how parthenogenesis works, why it evolves, and what this surprising crocodile case tells us about nature’s flexibility, resilience, and refusal to stay inside our human expectations.


Topics Covered

  • What parthenogenesis is (and why it’s not as rare as we think)
  • How the team confirmed a virgin birth in an American crocodile
  • Why the animal kingdom regularly breaks our “status quo” assumptions
  • What this discovery means for evolution, genetics, and survival

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    About Not Impossible Labs:

    Not Impossible Labs is a multi-award-winning innovation lab and production company on a mission to create technology for the sake of humanity. Founded by Mick Ebeling, Not Impossible tackles seemingly impossible challenges - from creating eye-tracking devices for ALS patients to 3D-printing prosthetic arms in war zones. Our philosophy: Help One, Help Many.

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