Speciation: Historic, Contemporary & Ideological

[BC in SK]

I guess fish turn into amoeba's somehow, split in half and grow new parts. Who knew....

Nothing to do with the topic of hybrids and no idea wether or not the hybrid fish in the link you provided are able to do so, but it is possible for some animals, including fish, to reproduce asexually!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis

 

[captainahab]

Yea, I know of that phenomena. Very rare. Don't think the gene pool of a population will be effected ! I only know of one confirmed case in humans; happened in Germany during WWII.

It is essentially a female animal cloning herself. Offspring will always be female.

 

[BC in SK]

Offspring will always be female.

No, as you can see from my link, there are more then one form of parthenogensis. As in the case of a reptile with a ZW chromosone system, it can produce males as well.

From further reading on the internet, I beleive that your link (about this hybrid fish that reproduces asexually) is an example of gynogenesis, like the Amazon molly.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_molly

Somewhat similar to parthenogensis, there is also hybridogenesis. Still sexual reproduction, but results are sort of similar to parthenogenesis as no genetic information from the father's side are past to grandchildren or further generations.

Don't beleive parthenogensis has ever been induced on humans. Links??

 

[captainahab]

No links. Working from memory in old genetics books. I didn't read your link and didn't even read the whole link I posted. Not really the point of this thread, just an interesting aside. I know the Poeciliidae have some unusual genetic structures.