The genome ofDiploscapter pachys , a flyspeck roundworm , has been sequence for the first time . This lilliputian critter is quite special – it reproduces asexually ( so its young are clones ) and belong to a species that originate 18 million years ago . Miniscule and transparent , it forms one of the oldest known lineages of asexual animals .
The study , carried out by scientist at New York University and Duke University , and published inCurrent Biology , is extremely interesting as it sheds light on how nonsexual mintage can conform to change in the surroundings and survive hurtful variation in their desoxyribonucleic acid . More surprisingly , the louse has just a single chromosome pair .
“ scientist have been trying to understand how some animals can survive for billion of years without sex because such hard-and-fast , longsighted - term abstention is very rare in the creature world , ” say co - author Professor David Fitch , in astatement . “ This phenomenon is a significant one in understanding evolutionary genetic science because it runs counter to the widely accepted aspect that sexual reproduction is required to wipe out injurious sport and for adaptation to a changing environment . ”
The worm ’s close life relatives have between five and seven chromosome pairs and reproduce sexually . get a individual chromosome is fairly rarefied in the animal kingdom and only two other metal money have this transmissible setup – an ant and a leechlike ringworm .
SequencingD. Pachys ' single chromosome proved that this feature film is central to its survival of the fittest . The species has flux its six chromosomes into a single one so its DNA does n’t recombine during meiosis , guaranteeing high transmitted diversity . Meiosis is the summons that form sperm and egg cells .
“ Thus , the mystery of its seniority seems mostly purpose : D. pachysovercomes the disadvantages of asexual reproduction by exert genetic variation , and with it , complementation , ” Professor Fitch clear up . “ Ironically , this is carry through by making trusted there is no recombination between the factor copy . If there were , the differences between the gene copies might be lost . In fact , D. pachyshas mother free of several of the factor required to make the recombination machinery that exist in sexual organisms . ”
This live picayune animal , just one - third of a millimeter ( 0.01 inches ) in sizing , prove that as long as you ’ve got sound genes to start with , you’re able to endure a lot .
