http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/10/shark.virgin.birth.ap/index.html
The virgin birth of blacktip shark is no fluke, but a case of asexual reproduction. Apparently, two female sharks who had not been in any contact with male sharks, asexually reproduced one pup each. This article relates to our study of meiosis and evolution because these pups only inherited one set of chromosomes each from the mother shark. This makes sense considering there was no father in the reproduction, but as we learned in our evolution chapter, the mix of chromosomes from the mother and father in sexual reproduction provides genetic diversity. Because these pups didn't get this genetic diversity from two sets of chromosomes, they are less likely to survive in the wild. Also, because of the decrease in shark population, scientists wonder if the population of male sharks continues to decrease, if female sharks will begin to reproduce this way more often in order to adapt to the lack of male mates.
Whoa thats really weird! I had no idea that sharks cold reproduce that way. It's weird to think that in the future if the male population becomes increasingly lower, that this might be the top way for sharks to reproduce.
ReplyDeleteThis article is really interesting and clearly shows that organisms can adapt to changing surroundings and circumstances. But if the individuals who were produced asexually are considered to be less "fit" than those that were produced sexually, wouldn't asexual reproduction have negative effects on the next generation of sharks? It seems that those who were produced asexually would be less likely to survive in the wild meaning that it would not necessarily be an evolutionary advantage to produce asexually.
ReplyDeleteWeird! Let's just hope that it stays to only sharks. It would be weird if everyday mammals started to asexually reproduce.
ReplyDeleteThis confuses me. Is this shark a dude and a girl at the same time. I mean wouldn't the sharks not evolve at all because the same gene are being passed on from shark to shark. Would the shakes be like clones?
ReplyDeleteAubrey