Endangered Condor Hatches Chicks Without Male Fertilization

Scientists have recorded the first known “virgin birth” in California Condors. Two chicks have hatched without male fertilization.

Researchers tested the chick’s genomes and were surprised to find no traces of male DNA. This is a rare example of asexual reproduction called parthenogenesis, which occurs when spontaneous embryonic development occurs in an unfertilized egg. This allows for a virgin birth where no male species is required.

Although this rare occurrence has been documented in domesticated birds, this is the first instance recorded in a wild species.

Study co-author Cynthia Steiner, an associate director in Conservation genetics at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, said, “When animals reproduce sexually, females and males contribute to the genetic makeup equally. But in these two condors, we couldn’t find any contribution coming from any male we had in our database. That was a red flag. At that point, it was like a ‘Eureka!’ moment when we figured out that parthenogenesis was a possibility. The only way that we could explain the genotypes of these two individuals was by having a contribution that is 100% from the female, with no paternal contribution.”

In the 1980s breeding programs were started by conservationists in order to keep the populations alive. In 2020, there were 502 condors recorded, with 329 of them being wild. This new discovery can have a significant impact on the California condor population, as it was not long ago that the species was on the brink of going extinct and they are still considered to be an endangered species. 

Related Content:

• Parthenogenesis: How Some Animals Can Reproduce Without Mating
• DDT, the California Condor, and a Decades-Long Battle with a Banned Pesticide
• Wisdom, the World’s Oldest Wild Bird, Hatches Another Chick

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily. Subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Lastly, being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!