GENERAL STUDIES-3
(TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BIO-DIVERSITY, ENVIRONMENT, SECURITY AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT)
Why in News
Researchers from Cambridge University and the California Institute of Technology achieved a groundbreaking feat by inducing parthenogenesis in a sexually reproducing fruit-fly species.
Background:
Model Organisms:
Fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) are favored by genetics researchers for their significance in various biological breakthroughs.
Decades of intensive research have provided insights into genetics, development, behavior, and other biological processes
Understanding Parthenogenesis:
Definition:
Parthenogenesis is the process of reproduction without fertilization by males.
Some fruit fly species, e.g., Drosophila mangebeirai and Drosophila mercatorum, exhibit facultative parthenogenesis
Engineering Asexual Reproduction:
Genetic Manipulation:
Researchers employed genetic engineering to induce asexual reproduction in a sexually reproducing fruit-fly species.
This manipulation showcased the versatility and plasticity of genetic systems.
Parthenogenesis-Related Genes:
Identification of Genes:
Researchers used RNA sequencing to identify 44 genes in D. mercatorum eggs with differential expression during parthenogenetic development.
Manipulation of gene expression in D. melanogaster induced parthenogenesis in approximately 1.4% of eggs.
Role of Polar Bodies:
Chromosome Transmission:
During fertilization, an egg receives one set of chromosomes from each parent, forming polar bodies.
Manipulation of polo, Myc, and Desat2 likely disrupted polar body disposal, allowing their participation in embryonic development.
Genomic Structure and Gene Expression:
DNA and RNA:
DNA composed of two strands with base pairs in a double helix.
melanogaster genome consists of four DNA molecules with approximately 200 million base pairs.
RNA is single-stranded and contains ribose sugar.
Gene Function and Protein Synthesis:
Processes:
Genes contain instructions for synthesizing proteins.
Transcription: DNA sequences transcribed into RNA using complementary base pairing.
Translation: RNA translated into sequences of amino acids, forming proteins based on the genetic code.
Implications:
Biological Insights: Understanding parthenogenesis provides insights into reproductive biology and evolutionary adaptations.
Technological Advances: Breakthrough opens avenues for genetic and developmental research.
Ethical Considerations: Consideration of ethical implications regarding asexually reproducing organisms.
Pest Control Strategies: Unintended consequences of pest control methods discussed.
Asexual and Sexual Reproduction:
Asexual Reproduction:
Mechanisms: Binary fission, budding, fragmentation, and parthenogenesis.
Advantages: Efficiency and conservation of energy.
Sexual Reproduction:
Involves fusion of specialized haploid gametes for genetic diversity.
Advantages: Genetic diversity and evolutionary flexibility.
Comparative Analysis:
Genetic Diversity:
Sexual reproduction promotes genetic diversity, while asexual reproduction produces genetically identical offspring.
Costs and Benefits:
Asexual reproduction is more efficient, but lacks genetic variation. Sexual reproduction requires more energy but offers genetic diversity.
Evolutionary Implications:
Sexual reproduction’s prevalence suggests long-term benefits outweigh those of asexual reproduction.
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