Thaindian News

By Ranjan Bhaduri

Feb 24, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Asexual organisms on this earth’s surface are regarded to be one of the rarest of species. It is seemingly strange how they can avoid sex but still procreate in a healthy and bright manner. No matter how far biologists might advance with their theories of evolution and sci -fi creations, the idea of genetic mutation without mating is a striking ideology that demands a deep insight. Moving along the same line, the all female lizard is a species to consider.

According to researcher Peter Baumann, the all female lizard egg holds almost twice the number of chromosomes that might exist in general. This is exactly where theories are clashing into each other. Humans are well at par with 46 chromosomes with the egg & sperm cells containing 23. Their offspring receives its completion with a fresh set of chromosomes. However, the story is seemingly different for all female lizards. The creature begins with two replicated copies of each of the mother’s chromosomes counting 92. These chromosomes pairs with their identical ones, and after two cell divisions, 46 chromosomes are produced. Since crossing-over during the cell divisions occurs only between pairs of identical chromosomes, the lizard that develops from the unfertilized egg is identical to its mother.

The all female lizard itself is a product of fusion between two other lizard species that renders it being genetically diversified. It is alarming because any animal that doesn’t recombine its DNA shall deliver an offspring with genetic weakness. Asexual reproduction is beneficial only for a short life span and the Komodo dragon serves as a fine example to this.