We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Biology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is Parthenogenesis?

Michael Anissimov
By
Updated: May 21, 2024
Views: 25,910
Share

Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction whereby females can produce viable eggs without fertilization by males. It is an ability possessed by a wide variety of plant and animal species, including most non-vascular plants (liverworts, hornworts, and mosses), a succulent plant genus in South Africa, assorted invertebrates, especially certain arthropods (water fleas, daphnia, rotifers, aphids, some bees, some scorpions, and parasitic wasps), and a few vertebrates (some reptiles, fish, and in a few instances, birds and sharks). In general, parthenogenesis is rare -- most animals capable of asexual reproduction are very simple -- either sponges or cnidarians (jellyfish, coral, etc), too simple to have sexes.

The process of parthenogenesis should not be confused with the quality of hermaphroditism -- a species with both male and female reproductive parts. In most hermaphroditic species, reproduction is still sexual, and requires two participants. Parthenogenesis is the only way that complex animals can clone themselves. In some cases, it can result in offspring that are genetically distinct from the parents, depending on whether the egg is haploid or diploid. Like any other forms of reproduction, parthenogenesis has its benefits (reproduction without the need for a male) and weaknesses (low genetic diversity, susceptibility to harmful mutations that persist through generations).

Many species that can undergo parthenogenesis are also able to use sexual means to reproduce. This shuffles around the genes through recombination, increasing genetic diversity past a necessary threshold. In some reptiles, most notably the New Mexico whiptail, reproduction is exclusively through parthenogenesis. These species tend to be polyploidal, as in, they have more than two sets of chromosomes, meaning their genomes are combinations from two or more parent lizard species in the same genus. The mechanism by which the mixing of chromosomes among species leads to parthenogenesis is unknown, but that is what is observed. Polyploidy occurs in certain hybrids between two or more species.

Although there are no known natural cases of mammal parthenogenesis, it has been induced artificially in rabbits (Gregory Pincus, 1936) mice (Tokyo University of Agriculture, 2004), and monkeys. Induced parthenogenesis in mice and monkeys often results in abnormal development, because the mother's chromosomes are imprinted in the offspring's genome twice, and many mammals genomes are completely dependent on a mix of genes from both sexes for smooth development. As a result, due to ethical reasons, human live births from parthenogenesis are unlikely to be pursued, though the process can be used to create embryos for experimentation. The South Korean scientist Hwang Woo-Suk achieved this in 2007 while attempting to be the first to clone a human. He was not successful in the cloning, but did produce viable human embryos made via artificial parthenogenesis.

Share
All The Science is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Michael Anissimov
By Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated All The Science contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry, and futurism to his articles. An avid blogger, Michael is deeply passionate about stem cell research, regenerative medicine, and life extension therapies. His professional experience includes work with the Methuselah Foundation, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, and Lifeboat Foundation, further showcasing his commitment to scientific advancement.
Discussion Comments
By anon298591 — On Oct 21, 2012

@anon261779: Not normally, no.

By anon261779 — On Apr 17, 2012

Do abnormalities usually occur in this process of reproduction?

Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov
Michael Anissimov is a dedicated All The Science contributor and brings his expertise in paleontology, physics, biology...
Learn more
Share
https://www.allthescience.org/what-is-parthenogenesis.htm
Copy this link
All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

All The Science, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.