= Parthenogenesis
<Parthenogenesis> is development of offspring from an egg without fertilization. It can be a regular reproductive mode or occur facultatively in a lineage that also reproduces sexually. The term describes the absence of fertilization; it does not by itself specify chromosome number or guarantee offspring genetically identical to the mother.<Parthenogenesis in Komodo dragons by Phillip C. Watts and others>[Opening definition and observations of facultative reproduction]{ref}
A simple genetic example shows the distinction from cloning. Suppose a diploid mother has alleles $A$ and $a$ at one locus. If a haploid egg carrying $A$ restores diploidy by copying its own chromosome set, the offspring is $AA$, not the mother's $Aa$. An egg carrying $a$ would give $aa$. This illustrates one possible mechanism, not every route of <parthenogenesis>.
The 2006 Komodo-dragon study tested offspring from females isolated from males using <microsatellite> markers. The offspring carried maternal alleles but were homozygous at the tested loci and were not identical clones. Comparisons with potential fathers and the distribution of alleles across the clutch supported <parthenogenesis> rather than ordinary fertilization. One female later produced offspring sexually, showing that the observed reproductive mode was facultative.<Parthenogenesis in Komodo dragons by Phillip C. Watts and others>[Main text and supplementary genotype table: parental exclusion, homozygosity, nonidentical offspring and later sexual reproduction]{ref}
An isolated female producing eggs is therefore suggestive but not sufficient evidence: prior mating and sperm storage can be alternative explanations in suitable species. Developmental observations and genetic parentage evidence answer different parts of the question.
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