The post The Mind-Blowing Process That Allows Asexual Creatures to Reproduce appeared first on A-Z Animals.
Reproduction in animals varies from species to species. Some types of reproduction, like parthenogenesis, are more unusual than others. This reproductive method requires only one individual rather than two. Birthing offspring this way has ensured the survival of many asexual species, and it could be key to the survival of others.
Fertilization Has No Role in Parthenogenesis
In most cases, fertilization of an egg is needed to produce offspring. In Greek, this term means “virgin birth,” which is an accurate way to describe how asexual animals continue their survival. Animals that reproduce using parthenogenesis do not need sperm or a counterpart. Instead, the egg begins development on its own. Depending on the species, this trigger may come from changes in an animal’s or insect’s body or its environment. The terms for eggs produced by parthenogenesis are:
- Arrenotoky: Unfertilized male eggs
- Thelytoky: Unfertilized female eggs
- Deuterotoky: Unfertilized male or female eggs
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The sex of the eggs depends on the type of parthenogenesis. Haploid parthenogenesis occurs when females produce haploid male offspring from unfertilized eggs. When offspring are born, they look almost — if not completely — identical to their parent. On a molecular level, the chromosomes given to the embryo by its parent are doubled. This makes two complete sets, resulting in a near-identical replica of its parent’s DNA, known as chromosome doubling.
Diploid parthenogenesis is the process by which an asexual female produces offspring. The two processes involved in this are called Automixis and Apomixis. Automixis occurs when leftover cells from parthenogenesis merge with the egg’s preexisting DNA to create a full set. In contrast, Apomixis results from mitosis, during which genes split independently.
Which Animals Reproduce Using Parthenogenesis?
There are a surprisingly large number of asexual animals that reproduce using parthenogenesis. These animals are usually invertebrates, including marine and land-dwelling species. Jellyfish, sea stars, marbled crayfish, and some sharks reproduce this way. Additionally, some reptiles, like the komodo dragon, are also parthenogenetic. Whiptail lizards and some boas have also been known to reproduce without fertilization.
Wasps, bees, ants, stick bugs, and aphids are known for their ability to reproduce asexually, often through specialized reproductive systems such as haplodiploidy.
The post The Mind-Blowing Process That Allows Asexual Creatures to Reproduce appeared first on A-Z Animals.