Posted by:
g.gartner
at Fri Apr 14 17:33:01 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by g.gartner ]
Whiptails are a bad example here because of their interesting parthogenetic origins (hybridization). There are instances of snakes, normally viviparous, producing litters parthenogenetically. Specifically, a timber rattlesnake that had never been housed with a male, produced a parthenogenetic litter.
I don't see how it is possible that the litters discussed could be parthenogenetic. I saw the post some time ago, but weren't multiple phenotypes expressed in the offspring? If so, then we can rule out parthenogenesis. Multiple phenotypes would suggest segregation of alleles during meiosis and the production of gametes. If this was a parthenogenetic litter, the babies would be clonal versions of mom (and yes, all female). New gene expression--especially on the order of something that expresses itself obviously--would be extremeley, extremeley rare. Remember, parthenogenetic babies are the result of mitotic cell division and as such, there is no mechanism for different types of phenotypic expression.
Cheers,
Gabriel
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No on parthenogenesis... - g.gartner, Fri Apr 14 17:33:01 2006