What is Parthenogenesis?

How is gender determined in organisms that do not have sex chromosomes? In species like most kinds of wasps, bees, and ants, fertilization determines gender.

Parthenogenesis is the development of an unfertilized egg into an individual. In organisms that have no sex chromosomes, a fertilized egg will develop into a female. A non-fertilized egg may develop into a male. The female is diploid and contains two sets of chromosomes. The male is haploid.

Additional information:

• Genetics Glossary
  
• Chromosomes and Gender