asexual
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Tag archives for asexual
Extra chromosomes allow all-female lizards to reproduce without males
Posted by Ed Yong on February 21, 2010 Whiptail lizards are a fairly ordinary-looking bunch, but some species are among the strangest animals around. You might not be able to work out why at first glance, but looking at their genes soon reveals their secret – they’re all female, every single one. A third of whiptails have done away with males completely, a…
Rotifers find answer to parasites by blowing on the wind
Posted by Ed Yong on January 28, 2010 When our lives are in danger, some humans go on the run, seeking refuge in other countries far away from the threats of home. Animals too migrate to escape danger but one group – the pond-living bdelloid rotifers – have taken this game of hide-and-seek to an extreme. If they are threatened by parasitic fungi,…
Termite queen avoids inbreeding by leaving a legacy of clones
Posted by Ed Yong on March 27, 2009 Termite colonies are families – millions of individual workers all descended from one king and one queen. But the colony itself tends to outlast this initial royal couple. When they die, new kings and queens rise to take their place. These secondary royals are a common feature of some families of termites, and they will…