[I, Librarian]
  • [Photo] Humberto Ortiz Zuazaga • February 11, 2001
    ``Scientists have found the most convincing evidence yet that a parasite can contribute to splitting a species in two, thanks to a phenomenon where a wasp's damaged sperm can be `rescued' or fixed only by mating with particular females. A bacterium called Wolbachia prevents the successful development of embryos in matings between two very closely related wasp species that could otherwise produce viable offspring.

    ``To do this, the parasite alters the sperm of its male host, rendering it infertile when paired with an uninfected female. If, however, the male mates with an infected female, the damaged reproductive cells are `rescued' by the female's parasite.''

    Full story at EurekAlert:
    http://www.eurekalert.org/releases/ur-pse020601.html

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