But before the eggs form, baumann's team discovered, the females' cells gain twice the usual number of chromosomes during meiosis. Gynogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction in which female eggs are activated by male sperm, but no male genetic material is contributed to offspring While this mode of reproduction has not been observed in reptiles, it occurs in several salamander species of the genus ambystoma. But how do they—and the other 70 species of vertebrates that propagate this way—do it without the genetic monotony and disease vulnerability that often results from asexual reproduction? Some lizard species, such as this new mexico whiptail lizard, aspidoscelis neomexicana, reproduce entirely asexually — the species has no males By studying such species, scientists hope to understand more about why sex exists at all, and the costs and benefits of sexual reproduction.
Asexual reproduction in lizards, known as parthenogenesis, is a rare but fascinating occurrence While parthenogenesis is more common in some reptiles like snakes and certain species of geckos, it’s not something that most lizard species exhibit. In addition to sexual reproduction, some lizard species also have the ability to reproduce asexually Asexual reproduction does not involve the fusion of gametes and results in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent. While not very common, some lizard species resort to asexual reproduction methods, like parthenogenesis In simple terms, parthenogenesis allows females to produce offspring without the need for a male.
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