This is not the very latest research news, but it is big news!
This induced asexual reproduction is then passed on from generation to generation.
"Scientists alter the genomes of female fruit flies, allowing them to reproduce without any contribution from a male.
For the first time, scientists have used genetic engineering to trigger ‘virgin birth’ in female animals that normally need a male partner to reproduce."
"Earlier this year, caretakers at a zoo in Costa Rica reported an unprecedented case of a crocodile who made herself pregnant – a phenomenon called virgin birth. Now, scientists have induced the same process in female fruit flies for the first time, identifying a set of genes that allowed the insect to reproduce without a father. ...
Parthenogenesis has been observed in over 80 vertebrate species, including some lizards, snakes, sharks, and rays. In the vast majority of cases, this was observed in captive animal populations. However, some researchers think this may be more common in some species than we think, it's just that we haven't observed it yet. ..."
From the highlights and abstract:
"Highlights
• Parthenogenetic D. mercatorum displays genomic and transcriptomic signatures
• A genetic cause underlies facultative parthenogenesis in drosophilids
• Facultative parthenogenesis can be genetically induced in D. melanogaster
• Induced parthenogenesis can result in polyploid D. melanogaster
Summary
Facultative parthenogenesis enables sexually reproducing organisms to switch between sexual and asexual parthenogenetic reproduction. To gain insights into this phenomenon, we sequenced the genomes of sexually reproducing and parthenogenetic strains of Drosophila mercatorum and identified differences in the gene expression in their eggs. We then tested whether manipulating the expression of candidate gene homologs identified in Drosophila mercatorum could lead to facultative parthenogenesis in the non-parthenogenetic species Drosophila melanogaster. This identified a polygenic system whereby increased expression of the mitotic protein kinase polo and decreased expression of a desaturase, Desat2, caused facultative parthenogenesis in the non-parthenogenetic species that was enhanced by increased expression of Myc. The genetically induced parthenogenetic Drosophila melanogaster eggs exhibit de novo centrosome formation, fusion of the meiotic products, and the onset of development to generate predominantly triploid offspring. Thus, we demonstrate a genetic basis for sporadic facultative parthenogenesis in an animal."
Virgin births: Genetically engineered fruit flies can reproduce without males, but it won’t work for humans It could one day help with the control of insect populations.
Team Identifies Genes for Asexual Reproduction in Fruit Flies For the first time, scientists have induced asexual reproduction in an animal that usually reproduces sexually: the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Once induced, the ability is passed on through the generations: the offspring can reproduce either sexually or asexually.
Figure 1 Comparison of sexually reproducing and parthenogenetic D. mercatorum genomes to each other and D. melanogaster
Figure 4 The inception of parthenogenesis Drosophila embryos
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