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VIRGIN BIRTH OF A CROCODILE IN A COSTA RICAN ZOO SURPRISES RESEARCHERS
In January 2018, a female crocodile in a Costa Rican zoo laid a clutch of eggs. While this occurrence may be usual, the fact that the crocodile had been living alone for 16 years was unusual. However, when some of the eggs looked perfectly normal, and one of the eggs matured into a stillborn baby crocodile, researchers discovered that the baby crocodile was a product of virgin birth.
PARTHENOSIS IN CROCODILES & BEYOND
In a paper published in the journal Biology Letters, researchers reported that the baby crocodile was a parthenogen, containing only genetic material from its mother. Parthenogenesis has been identified in different creatures such as king cobras, sawfish, and California condors. However, this is the first time it has been found in crocodiles. This phenomenon implies that pterosaurs and dinosaurs might also be capable of such reproductive feats.
THE PROCESS OF VIRGIN BIRTH
A virgin birth happens when an egg cell divides repeatedly to generate a final product containing half of the genes needed for an individual. Three smaller cellular sacs containing chromosomes known as polar bodies are formed as byproducts. In vertebrates that can perform parthenogenesis, one polar body sometimes fuses with the egg, creating a cell with the necessary complement of chromosomes to form an individual.
PARTHENOSIS IN BIRDS & REPTILES
Parthenogenesis happens in birds, lizards, and snakes. This group of animals inherited the ability from a common ancestor. But, crocodiles evolved long before many other modern parthenogenetic animals, so the animal that might have inherited the ability remains a mystery.
POSSIBLE REASONS FOR PARTHENOSIS
Some parthenogens can survive to adulthood and mate, but they are not always the healthiest creatures. Parthenogenesis gives a species the ability to survive extended periods when no mate is available. A fresh individual, bearing largely the same genes as its parent, might live long enough for a mate to arrive, thus allowing sexual reproduction, which tends to produce hardier offspring.
PARTHENOSIS AS A TRAIT THAT DOESN’T HAVE MANY DOWNSIDES
Parthenogenesis might be a trait that does not have many downsides for evolution to weed it out. It is not necessarily a response to stress or even a lack of mates. This is Dr. Booth’s hunch: It’s an ability that can be switched on or off, and it is perhaps controlled by a single gene.
FAQs
What is parthenogenesis?
Parthenogenesis refers to a process of asexual reproduction in which a female individual produces offspring without the need for males.
What animals can perform parthenogenesis?
Parthenogenesis has been confirmed in organisms such as king cobras, sawfish, California condors, birds, lizards, and snakes, and now crocodiles.
Why do animals use parthenogenesis?
Parthenogenesis gives animals the ability to survive extended periods when no mate is available. This trait might be a response to stress or even a lack of mates, and it allows a fresh individual, bearing largely the same genes as its parent, to live long enough for a mate to arrive.
Is parthenogenesis widespread?
The increasing ease of DNA analysis, which makes animals born this way easier to identify, has shown that parthenogenesis is not rare and might be more widespread than people think.
Did dinosaurs also perform parthenogenesis?
Though scientists cannot prove it, the discovery of parthenogenesis in crocodiles suggests that pterosaurs and dinosaurs might have also been capable of such reproductive feats.
Conclusion
The discovery of a virgin birth in a crocodile in a Costa Rican zoo highlights the possibility of such reproductive capabilities in pterosaurs and dinosaurs. Parthenogenesis is a complex phenomenon that might occur for various reasons, such as a response to stress or even a lack of mates. While this system is not a widely known phenomenon, it is much more common in nature than what most people think. Although scientists cannot prove that dinosaurs performed parthenogenesis, the discovery of parthenogenesis in Crocodiles suggests they might have had this ability.
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