Parthenogenesis: what is and examples

Parthenogenesis is one of the types of asexual reproduction more striking of the animal kingdom. It has been studied for more than 100 years, allowing researchers around the world to discover new characteristics and causes of parthenogenesis. But,How the parthenogenesis is carried out exactly?

It is a strange asexual reproduction phenomenon that allows females of certain animal species to reproduce even when there are no males to be able to reproduce in a sexual way. Through the formation of haploid gametes by mitosis, females are able to develop new embryos from its maternal genetic material.

Surprising, right? Let’s see in the next sections more characteristics and examples of this curious reproductive phenomenon.

It is possible to differentiate different Types of parthenogenesis attending to various classification criteria. On the one hand, within the animal kingdom, depending on the type of meiosis that occurs during the formation of gametes, parthenogenesis can be:

• APOMICTIC: Only a division of gametes similar to a mitosis (without meiosis) is given, so the descendants of these domictic females are clones of their mothers.
• Automitic: There is a complete meiosis, with the self -feeding between the ovule and the polar body, so that the descendants are not total clones of their mothers.

On the other hand, within the invertebrates and particularly in insects, parthenogenesis can lead to descendants of different sex. According to the proportion of each sex of these descendants, the parthenogenesis can be:

• Telitobic parthenogenesis: Progenitors originate only female descendants.
• Arnnototocic parthenogenesis: Progenitors originate only males.
• Amphitobic parthenogenesis: Descendants of both sexes originate.

In the same way, according to the ability of the species to opt for parthenogenesis as a asexual reproduction process, it can be considered:

• Obligated parthenogenesis: Females are forced to reproduce alone and exclusively by partenogenesis.
• Optional parthenogenesis: Females can choose between this type of asexual reproduction or sexual reproduction, depending on the conditions of the environment and the guarantee of having individuals of the opposite sex that facilitate mating and reproduction.

Partenogenesis has been proven in different organisms, being more common in invertebrates and in some vertebrates such as fish and reptiles. However, parthenogenesis in mammals has begun to give artificial way, under the intervention of the human being in clinical research trials. As for partenogenesis in plants, it should be noted that this is less common than in animals.

In the following list you will find Examples of organisms that perform parthenogenesisclassified according to the group of living being to which they belong and if their parthenogenesis occurs naturally (in freedom) or by intervention of scientific essays (in captivity).

Captivity vertebrates

• Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis).
• Rhesus macaques (Macaca Mulatta).
• Sharks (superord Seachimorpha).

Verberados in freedom

• Family fish Poeciliidae.
• Family lizards Gekkonidae and Teiidae.
• Asian viper (Gloydius Halys).

Invertebrates in freedom

• European bee (Apis Mellifera).
• Flat worms (Platelmints).
• Cylindrical worms (nematodes).
• Earth worms (oligoquetos).
• Moths (Lepidoptera Order).
• Flies and mosquitoes (diptera order).
• Snails (Gastopoda Order).
• Gorgojos, Picudos and Drillos (Order Coleoptera).
• Rotifers (family Bdelloidae).
• Water flea (Daphnia Pulex).

Floors

• Family Asteraceae.
• Tobacco plant (Nicotiana Tabacum).
• Wheat (genus triticum).
• Ferns.

On the other hand, it is interesting to highlight how scientific advances have managed to take partEnogenesis to the human species. Various studies have managed to carry out clinical trials with human cells to develop the human parthenogenesis facing applications for cell and tissue therapy.

The main advantage of the parthenogenesis in biology It is attributed to the Survival of speciesallowing their evolution. Among the Causes of parthenogenesisscientific studies highlight the need for animals and plants to deal with drastic environmental conditions and the need to increase the number of individuals in their population, being able to survive before resuming sexual reproduction that they usually continue in favorable conditions.

Thus, it is possible to affirm that species capable of reproducing by partenogenesis are benefited from different advantages, such as:

• Survival in habitats with extreme temperature conditions, lack of food and even lack of couples to reproduce.
• A higher speed and ease of reproduction in females, not needing to find male individuals to reproduce, also avoiding the energy wear sometimes the mating process.

However, not everything is advantages in the parthenogenesis. Let’s see in the following loud some of its main disadvantages.

From the point of view of genetic diversity, parthenogenesis, as a type of asexual reproduction, gives rise to Loss of information exchange and genetic variabilitywith the consequent cloning of genetic material in the descendants.

It would be thus an inbreeding process that hinders genetic diversity among organisms, sometimes leading to the parthenogenetic offspring has abnormalities and even suffers early death.

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