Biologists have analyzed the genome of Ambystoma, a six-million-year-old salamander that produces only female offspring. Most of its genetic profile is made up of equal contributions from males of Ambystoma laterale, Ambystoma texanum, and Ambystoma tigrinum (three different species of salamander).
The unisexual Ambystoma salamander engages in mating, but with a slightly different purpose. The female gets the male's genes and only keeps some, discarding others. This is known as kleptogenesis, or “the theft of genetic material from male donors for reproductive purposes.”Using a specimen from the lab of Ohio State University biologist, there was analyzed nearly 3,000 genes in a unisexual female with three genomes. Of that total, they found 72% of the genes provided by the three male partners were expressed equally.
The female salamanders chose to use roughly the same number of genes from each salamander species.They have created a balance ratio of genes from the males.I didn’t know much about salamanders in general, but after reading this, I am very surprised to learn that the female salamander mate with various males and are able to create a perfect mix of the male genes for her offspring.
That is very interesting that the species of salamander only produces female offspring. How would this be useful in keeping the species alive, since the species is dependent on other species to reproduce, genes get mixed with those of other species, so wouldn't the species eventually have so many characteristics of other species that might alter its genetics?
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting how the this particular species is able to essentially pick and choose its genetic makeup to create a primarily female species yet manages to maintain the male genes for the offspring
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