Most species need sex to reproduce and adapt to changes in their environment. Without it, they can face problems with their genes and might even go extinct. But there’s a surprising type of tiny creature called oribatid mites that have been surviving and growing for millions of years without having sex. They continue to evolve and increase in numbers despite not needing sexual reproduction.
The secret behind the mites’ evolution
Researchers have studied a type of mite called Platynothrus peltifer that doesn’t need to mate to reproduce. Instead of having both male and female offspring like most species, these mites can produce only female offspring from unfertilised eggs. Males are either very rare or completely missing in this species.
The study explains that these mites have evolved in a special way because of something called the Meselson effect, which means their two sets of chromosomes have changed and developed differently from each other. The researchers found that some genes in the mites are more active than others, which helps them quickly adapt to changes in their environment. This ability to change quickly helps the mites survive in different conditions without needing males to reproduce.
New genes help mites adapt
Dr. Husna Oztoprak, the lead author of the study, explained that horizontal gene transfer is like adding new tools to a toolbox. This means that the mites can use new genes to help them adapt to their environment. Some of these new genes allow the mites to digest different kinds of food, which gives them more food choices and helps them survive better than other species.
The study gives new information on how asexual organisms like these mites evolve without needing to reproduce sexually. Researchers are hopeful that future studies will discover more ways that organisms can change and adapt without mating.