Darevskia unisexualis explained
Darevskia unisexualis is a lizard species in the genus Darevskia. It is found in Armenia, Georgia, and Turkey.
D. unisexualis is capable of parthenogenetic reproduction by oogenesis in female only lineages.[1] During the prophase I stage of meiosis homeologous chromosomes (originally inherited from two different parental species) undergo synapsis.[1] A protein MLH1 employed in DNA mismatch repair also appears to be involved in this meiotic process.[1]
Notes and References
- Spangenberg V, Kolomiets O, Stepanyan I, Galoyan E, de Bello Cioffi M, Martynova E, Martirosyan I, Grishaeva T, Danielyan F, Al-Rikabi A, Liehr T, Arakelyan M. Evolution of the parthenogenetic rock lizard hybrid karyotype: Robertsonian translocation between two maternal chromosomes in Darevskia rostombekowi. Chromosoma. 2020 Dec;129(3-4):275-283. doi: 10.1007/s00412-020-00744-7. Epub 2020 Oct 30. PMID 33123817