this post was submitted on 13 May 2024
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Science Memes

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[–] [email protected] 122 points 6 months ago (4 children)

This is called parthenogenesis and is a known phenomenon, albeit rare in vertebrates. Some species, like the New Mexico whiptail, rely on it (all New Mexico whiptails are female).

Here is a paper from 2007 that talks about parthenogenesis in hammerhead sharks..

[–] [email protected] 49 points 6 months ago (3 children)

The New Mexico whiptail is also an F1 hybrid. If they go extinct, you can make more by hybridizing a little striped whiptail and a western whiptail. In case anyone thought that 'species' was a solidly defined word.

[–] [email protected] 30 points 6 months ago

F1 hybrid

Plug-in formulas

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago
[–] [email protected] 19 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Wasn't this also like the inciting incident for the original jurassic park movie?

[–] [email protected] 17 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Nah.

That one was dinosaurs changed gender to male, citing the frog DNA they completed the chain with as having that potential.

So what was supposed to be an all-female park to prevent reproduction became co-ed and then nature happened.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

I'm still confused on the difference

Edit: thank you to everyone who replied, I understand the difference now

[–] [email protected] 22 points 6 months ago

Jurassic Park’s version is still sexual reproduction. Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 6 months ago

Parthenogenesis - egg just becomes embryo, no male required

Jurassic Park - one individual turned from female to male and started making babies

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

One was direct development of an egg into an embryo, the other was conversion of an animal from one sex to another to facilitate mating.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Genomic imprinting says no. It wouldn't produce a fetus that is in congruence with the possibility of life. It could at most start growing and developing, but it would die in the womb. More akin to a tumor than to a baby.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago (1 children)

How comes it's possible for a bird or a fish, but not a human? If this article explains why, it is a bit obscure for non specialists.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 6 months ago

No worries the whole concept of parthenogenesis is a really obscure and obtuse one.

Here's a SciShow link that does a really good job of describing it in a less obtuse and confusing way.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 6 months ago

Good to know. Didn't expect a serious reply

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago

And with our votes combined, we will push this good scoop to the top! Thanks, friend!