19 votes

Female California condors can reproduce without mating, joining a list that includes sharks, rays and lizards

Posted by boxer_dogs_dance
Tags: zoology, birds, reproduction.asexual, parthenogenesis, genetics, genomes, species.endangered, condors.california, author.jason bittel, source.national geographic
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/in-extremely-rare-event-two-female-birds-make-babies-without-males

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Title
Endangered birds experience 'virgin birth,' a first for the species
Published
Oct 28 2021
Word count
808 words

7 comments

  1. [3]
    BusAlderaan
    Link
    I wouldn’t call this “New,” it was published in October of 2021. But it’s interesting nonetheless. I volunteer with a wild bird rehab and we work closely with Game and Fish to help rehab the...

    I wouldn’t call this “New,” it was published in October of 2021. But it’s interesting nonetheless.

    I volunteer with a wild bird rehab and we work closely with Game and Fish to help rehab the condor population. They are so beautiful and very interesting, I hope we can bounce their population back to the point that they don’t require so much human intervention.

    It should be noted that this isn’t a scientific breakthrough that Cali Condors can now reproduce asexually. This phenomenon has been observed in other captive birds, this is likely just a similar and “one-of” situation.

    12 votes
    1. [2]
      boxer_dogs_dance
      Link Parent
      Thank you for clarifying. I really appreciate it.

      Thank you for clarifying. I really appreciate it.

      3 votes
      1. cfabbro
        (edited )
        Link Parent
        Edited the title to reflect that. cc: @BusAlderaan (great username, BTW ;)

        Edited the title to reflect that. cc: @BusAlderaan (great username, BTW ;)

        2 votes
  2. unkz
    Link
    In case anyone was wondering how two male birds have no fathers, avian sex chromosomes are reversed from mammals. Avian females are ZW and males are ZZ, whereas mammalian females are XX while...

    In case anyone was wondering how two male birds have no fathers, avian sex chromosomes are reversed from mammals. Avian females are ZW and males are ZZ, whereas mammalian females are XX while males or XY.

    Possibly the duplication of the Z chromosome from the mother led to the early deaths of the offspring?

    6 votes
  4. [2]
    boxer_dogs_dance
    Link
    soft paywall requires an email address

    soft paywall requires an email address

    1 vote