Scientists are familiar with parthenogenesis, which happens in several birds and fish, as well as sharks and reptiles.
But these asexually reproducing chicks have never been observed before. However, experts are keeping a tight eye on them.
And now for a surprise: female chicks can fertilize without the help of male chicks.
This is particularly common when there are few or no men in the population. Even in captivity, female condors had a lot of options.
The fact that the chicks hatched and grew up safely is no less astonishing.
If it hadn’t been for standard testing to confirm paternity, scientists would not have realized anything was wrong with them.
When the condors’ guardians learned of the outcome, they couldn’t even get up — they were stunned.
Two of the birds had DNA that was identical to their mothers’. There was no sign of paternal DNA at all!
Although access to sexual reproduction was not restricted in any manner, this was the first time a female condor produced kids without the help of a male, and the first time a bird ever produced offspring without a male.
What happened to the girls who were not born with a father? They survived long enough to demonstrate that this form of reproduction is viable.
