Other lizards, in time of stress, reproduce asexually, including some related to the Komodo. Smaller, less likely to eat you, but related. *shrugs* Their population is shrinking, their habitat is getting hammered, sounds pretty stressed to me. It is no way unprecedented, it's been observed for a while. And you're right, it isn't optimal, but it allows a species to continue to have a gene pool.

It isn't happening in large numbers. It is being reported becuase we have the ability to do genetic analysis now. It's the classical "if a tree falls and there is no one to hear it" hypothesis. Based on your logic, then no, it did not make noise prior to the development of audio recording devices, and other trees might not make noise now when they fall if there is no human or human-made sensor around.

But lets think about it. It appears to have happened. Before we assume it has happened, a genetic assay is required to rule out other equally remote possibilities based on normal reproduction among sharks. If there is no other theory that is viable after that, then it happened. Big deal, it is a scientific oddity. Now, keep in mind, if a species that has no bones but only cartilage and never gets cancer can do this, maybe we can figure out how it happened, and see if it can be used to repair cartilage in certain forms arthritis, and maybe even regulate some illnesses that involve the hardening of soft tissues or how to get cancer cells to stop reproducing and wandering about.

It isn't something to panic over, chicken little, it is something that if it happened could open amazing possibilities.

As for the shark not being a hermaphrodite, are we sure? I don't know how to tell a skirt from a kilt with sharks, do you?

*pats picard on the head* Take a deep breath, and stop worrying. I'd get worried if multiple incidents among closely related species were involved, or if a few hundred extra Great Whites appeared off Miami Beach out of no where. Particularly with laser beams strapped to their heads and bibs that have humans on them. At the risk of sounding nasty, Picard, are you are afraid you're being rendered obsolete?