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Nature’s Marys — When Females Produce Offspring Without Sex
So, a recent science headline caught my attention. Scientists accidentally create a new species? How did that happen?
It turned out they were trying to get female sturgeons to lay eggs without the presence of a male, a phenomenon variously called parthenogenesis and gynogenesis (gynogenesis means sperm is present to activate the egg but no genetic material passes on from the male, while parthenogenesis is reproduction without male involvement at all). In order to induce this, they used sperm from a very unrelated species, the American paddlefish, on the assumption that the two species could not hybridize.
They were, uh, wrong. (Don’t worry, the fish will be well taken care of).
But Isn’t Sex Vital For Reproduction?
Myths and legends of virgin birth aside, there is no historical record of natural parthenogenesis in humans or, for that matter, in any mammals. (Also, if this really could happen, because of mammalian sex determination, the offspring would be entirely female).
Because of this we are forgiven for thinking that sex is always, every time, needed for the reproduction of any kind of larger creature.
Parthenogenesis in mammals has been managed in the lab, but it’s very, very hard…