Historically, the notion of virgin birth has been tied to religious events such as the birth of Jesus Christ. However, scientists have now uncovered a genetic switch that allows for virgin births in fruit flies. This capability, once triggered, can be inherited by following female generations. If males are absent, the flies may resort to virgin birth to continue the species.
A genetic factor for virgin birth has been pinpointed by scientists for the first time. Upon activation, this trait can be passed down through successive female generations.
Researchers have successfully initiated virgin birth in an animal known for sexual reproduction, namely the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster.
Once this ability is activated in the fruit fly, it’s transferred to future generations, allowing offspring to reproduce sexually if males are present, or through virgin birth if not.
Most animal reproduction is sexual, involving fertilization of a female egg by male sperm. Virgin birth, or ‘parthenogenesis,’ is a method where an egg turns into an embryo without sperm, so no male is required.
Virgin birth offspring are not perfect copies of their mother but are genetically close and are always female.
The genes that control reproduction without fathers in these flies have been determined by scientists. Credit: Jose Casal and Peter Lawrence
Dr. Alexis Sperling from the University of Cambridge, a key researcher and the paper’s first author, said, “This is the first demonstration of engineering virgin births in an animal. It was thrilling to see a virgin fly develop an embryo into an adult, then repeat the process.”
She further stated, “The genetically manipulated flies we studied waited about 40 days for a male, then chose to have a virgin birth.”
In the conducted experiments, only 1-2% of the second-generation female flies with the virgin birth capability produced offspring, and this only happened when no males were around. When males were present, reproduction occurred normally.
Virgin birth can be a one-off survival strategy that ensures the species’ continuation.
Dr. Sperling (pictured left) in the laboratory. Credit: University of Cambridge
The study has been published in Current Biology.
Researchers began by sequencing the genomes of two strains of another fruit fly species, Drosophila mercatorum. One strain requires males to reproduce, while the other reproduces exclusively through virgin birth. The genes responsible for fatherless reproduction were identified.
They then modified the suspected corresponding genes in the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, enabling it to acquire the ability for virgin birth.
This study involved over 220,000 virgin fruit flies and took six years to complete.
One strain of the fly reproduces solely through virgin birth. Credit: Jose Casal and Peter Lawrence
The success of the discovery was largely attributed to the use of Drosophila melanogaster, a ‘model organism’ in genetics research for over a century, whose genes are well understood.
Sperling, now working at Cambridge Crop Science Centre, aims to explore why virgin births may be increasing in insects, especially pest species.
She warns that continued selection pressure for virgin births could cause insect pests to reproduce solely in this manner, potentially doubling their spread and posing a threat to agriculture.
Some egg-laying animals, such as birds, lizards, and snakes, naturally switch to birth without males. However, virgin birth in sexually reproducing animals is rare, often seen in zoo animals, typically occurring when females have been isolated for extended periods with little chance of mating.
Reference: “A genetic basis for facultative parthenogenesis in Drosophila” by Alexis L. Sperling, Daniel K. Fabian, Erik Garrison, and David M. Glover, 28 July 2023, Current Biology.
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.07.006
Funding for the study was provided by the Leverhulme Trust.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: virgin birth
What organisms did scientists study to discover the genetic basis for virgin birth?
Scientists primarily studied the fruit fly species Drosophila melanogaster to uncover the genetic basis for virgin birth. They also sequenced genomes of another species called Drosophila mercatorum to identify the genes responsible for this ability.
How does the ability for virgin birth affect future generations of fruit flies?
Once activated, the ability for virgin birth can be passed down through subsequent generations of female fruit flies. It allows offspring to reproduce sexually if males are present, or by virgin birth if males are absent.
What is virgin birth or ‘parthenogenesis’ in the context of this research?
In this research, virgin birth or ‘parthenogenesis’ refers to the process by which an egg develops into an embryo without fertilization by sperm. No male is required for this form of reproduction, and it’s been induced in fruit flies for the first time.
How could this discovery potentially impact agriculture?
The discovery could have implications for agriculture as virgin births in insect pests could become more common. If females produce only females through this method, their ability to spread could double, potentially becoming a problem for agriculture.
Was the study on virgin birth in fruit flies successful in any other organisms?
The research focused specifically on fruit flies and emphasized that conducting similar studies in other animals would have been incredibly difficult. The success was attributed to the fruit fly being a well-understood ‘model organism’ in genetics research.
Who funded the study and where was it published?
The study was funded by the Leverhulme Trust and published in the journal Current Biology on 28 July 2023.
More about fokus keyword: virgin birth
- Current Biology Journal
- University of Cambridge
- Leverhulme Trust
- Research on Drosophila melanogaster
5 comments
I read the whole thing but still can’t quite grasp what they did with the genes. Anyone able to explain in simple terms
the findings here are mind blowing, but the article could use some more layman-friendly explanations. Also wondering how this could be used in agreculture?
This is truly amazing, how they’ve found a way to make virgin birth in fruit flies. can anyone tell me more about how this could impact other species?
Wow, I never thought science would go this far. this might actually be a game-changer for pest control, but im worried about unintended consequences!
Genetcs continues to fascinate me! This could lead to so many new discoveries and technologies. But the research took 6 years thats a long time!