Artificial Gynogenesis and Its Application in Genetics and Selective Breeding of Fishes

Abstract

Gynogenesis, a process related to parthenogenesis, is the development of an ovum after penetration by a spermatozoan, but without syngamy. Gynogenesis is a natural mode of reproduction in a few fishes. It can be achieved artificially using various manipulations of events in fertilization and early development. The objectives of these manipulations are: first, to eliminate male inheritance by destroying DNA in the spermatozoa; and second, to restore diploidy to the ovum by interfering with either meiosis or cell cleavage.