Question

Developmental Biology

Please answer the following in detail:

It is clear that some amphibians, like salamanders, can reproduce asexually. However, it is unclear if ALL amphibians can reproduce by this mechanism. Propose an experiment for determining whether Xenopus laevis can reproduce asexually. Be sure your response accurately describes the experiment you would use and the expected results.

Answer 1

Ans.) Asexual reproduction is observed in a few species of amphibians and reptiles. Asexual reproduction which is not a very common phenomenon in animals is carried out by regeneration, budding and binary fission. But in amphibians, it is carried out by parthenogenesis (a variety of asexual reproduction that does not involve in male gamete; an unfertilized egg grows into a complete new creature).

Xenopus laevis is a species of aquatic frog commonly found in Sub-Saharan Africa. Their eggs and embryos are a accepted model system for an extensive diversity of biological studies. The common mode of reproduction in this organism is sexual reproduction. To design an experiment to prove that the Xenopus laevis can reproduce asexually, one needs an unfertilized egg. For this technique of artificial parthenogenesis should be applied here.It is generally the process of developing an egg without fertilization.