In a groundbreaking achievement, scientists have successfully engineered “virgin birth” in female fruit flies by targeting specific genes responsible for this phenomenon.
Typically, fruit flies reproduce through sexual reproduction, with the egg being fertilized by sperm.
Researchers from the prestigious University of Cambridge have identified key genetic factors that are activated or deactivated when female fruit flies reproduce without male involvement.
Dr Alexis Sperling expressed her excitement at witnessing the successful development of an embryo from a virgin fly and its ability to reach adulthood, demonstrating the potential for repeated occurrences.
This breakthrough research involved the genetic manipulation of another species of female fruit flies, resulting in their ability to give birth without the presence of males.
Dr Alexis Sperling, a researcher affiliated with the University of Cambridge, stated, “We are the first to demonstrate that virgin births can be engineered in animals. The sight of a virgin fly producing an embryo that can grow into an adult, and then repeat the process, was truly extraordinary and exhilarating.”
Virgin birth, scientifically known as facultative parthenogenesis, has been observed in various species such as birds, fish, lizards, snakes, and recently, crocodiles.
This phenomenon involves the development of an embryo from an unfertilized egg.
Although the offspring resulting from virgin births are not exact clones of their mothers, they exhibit significant genetic similarities, and they are consistently female.
Virgin birth is believed to serve as a survival strategy for species that reside in isolated environments and face the threat of extinction.
To conduct this study, the researchers performed genome sequencing, a technique used to identify the complete genetic makeup of an organism, on two different strains of fruit flies, specifically Drosophila mercatorum.
The first strain reproduces sexually with males, while the second strain solely relies on virgin birth for reproduction.
Through this analysis, the research team successfully pinpointed the specific genes responsible for the occurrence of virgin birth.
Subsequently, the researchers manipulated the genes of a different species of fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, in an attempt to induce virgin birth.
Dr Sperling elaborated that the female flies “initially waited for a male for approximately 40 days, which accounts for half of their lifespan, but ultimately proceeded to give birth without any male involvement.”
Furthermore, the researchers discovered that up to 2% of the second generation of female flies possessed the capability for virgin birth and showcased this ability only when no males were present.
However, these flies did mate and reproduce when male flies were available.
Dr Sperling expressed her intention to further investigate the rising prevalence of virgin birth in insects, particularly in pest species.
She stated, “If there is a continued selection pressure for virgin births in insect pests, as current indications suggest, it may eventually lead to their exclusive reliance on this method of reproduction. This could pose a significant challenge for agriculture, as female pests exclusively produce female offspring, consequently doubling their ability to spread.”
The study, which involved over 220,000 virgin fruit flies and spanned six years, has been published in the renowned scientific journal Current Biology.
Dr Hannah Maude, a Research Associate specializing in regulatory genomics and metabolic disease at Imperial College London’s Department of Metabolism, Digestion & Reproduction, remarked that this phenomenon is unlikely to occur in humans.
She added, “Our genetic diversity serves as protection. Having two copies of DNA not only acts as a backup for harmful DNA variations present in all individuals but is also crucial for imprinted regions that are specifically activated by either maternal or paternal DNA copies.
“However, this groundbreaking research significantly contributes to our understanding of animal reproduction within the animal kingdom.”
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