Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Why do some animals have 'virgin births'?
The idea of females being able to reproduce without male sperm is a
type of asexual reproduction called parthenogenesis, or virgin birth, where an
egg develops into an embryo without being fertilized by sperm. Several insect
species including aphids, bees, and ants are known to reproduce by
parthenogenesis. Also, some reptiles and lizards like the Komodo Dragon, are
known to produce their offspring without mating in nature. In captive environments,
a number of asexual reproduction cases among sharks and reptiles have been
reported for some time. Last month, a female stingray in an aquarium in North Carolina,
USA was reported to have become pregnant by herself and produced four pups. Asexual
reproduction is the last attempt to pass their genetics onto offspring, and in
fact, some populations of whiptail lizards in Mexico reproduce asexually and
have formed all-female communities. However, due to a lack of natural selection
by sexual reproduction, asexually produced offspring tend to be short-lived or vulnerable
to genetic mutations. Remember what the Jurassic Park movie series shows after
parthenogenesis?
Enjoy reading the article and learn about parthenogenesis or asexual
reproduction.
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