: Parthenogenesis is an asexual form of reproduction, normally present in various animal and plant species, in which an embryo is generated from a single gamete. Currently, there are some species for which parthenogenesis is supposed but not confirmed, and the mechanisms that activate it are not well understood. A 10-year-old, wild-caught female ball python (Python regius) laid four eggs without any prior contact with a male. The eggs were not incubated and, after 3 days, were submitted to the University of Parma for analysis due to the suspicion of potential embryo presence. Examination of the egg content revealed residual blood vessels and a small red spot, indicative of an early-stage embryo. DNA was extracted from the three deceased embryos and from the mother's blood, five microsatellites were analyzed to ascertain the origin of the embryos. The captive history data, together with the genetic microsatellite analysis approach, demonstrated the parthenogenetic origin of all three embryos. The embryos were homozygous for each of the maternal microsatellites, suggesting a terminal fusion automixis mode of development.

Demonstration of Parthenogenetic Reproduction in a Pet Ball Python (Python regius) through Analysis of Early-Stage Embryos / Di Ianni, Francesco; Albarella, Sara; Vetere, Alessandro; Torcello, Marco; Ablondi, Michela; Pugliano, Mariagiulia; Di Mauro, Susanna; Parma, Pietro; Ciotola, Francesca. - In: GENES. - ISSN 2073-4425. - 14:9(2023), p. 1744. [10.3390/genes14091744]

Demonstration of Parthenogenetic Reproduction in a Pet Ball Python (Python regius) through Analysis of Early-Stage Embryos

Sara Albarella
Methodology
;
Mariagiulia Pugliano
Formal Analysis
;
Pietro Parma
Data Curation
;
Francesca CIOTOLA
Writing – Review & Editing
2023

Abstract

: Parthenogenesis is an asexual form of reproduction, normally present in various animal and plant species, in which an embryo is generated from a single gamete. Currently, there are some species for which parthenogenesis is supposed but not confirmed, and the mechanisms that activate it are not well understood. A 10-year-old, wild-caught female ball python (Python regius) laid four eggs without any prior contact with a male. The eggs were not incubated and, after 3 days, were submitted to the University of Parma for analysis due to the suspicion of potential embryo presence. Examination of the egg content revealed residual blood vessels and a small red spot, indicative of an early-stage embryo. DNA was extracted from the three deceased embryos and from the mother's blood, five microsatellites were analyzed to ascertain the origin of the embryos. The captive history data, together with the genetic microsatellite analysis approach, demonstrated the parthenogenetic origin of all three embryos. The embryos were homozygous for each of the maternal microsatellites, suggesting a terminal fusion automixis mode of development.
2023
Demonstration of Parthenogenetic Reproduction in a Pet Ball Python (Python regius) through Analysis of Early-Stage Embryos / Di Ianni, Francesco; Albarella, Sara; Vetere, Alessandro; Torcello, Marco; Ablondi, Michela; Pugliano, Mariagiulia; Di Mauro, Susanna; Parma, Pietro; Ciotola, Francesca. - In: GENES. - ISSN 2073-4425. - 14:9(2023), p. 1744. [10.3390/genes14091744]
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
genes-14-01744.pdf

accesso aperto

Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 252.87 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
252.87 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11588/944639
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 0
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 0
social impact