What process founded the parthenogenetic lineages of *Aspidoscelis*?
Answer
Hybridization between two distinct sexual species
The foundation for the asexual reproduction found in many *Aspidoscelis* lineages stems directly from ancient hybridization events. Specifically, the development of entirely parthenogenetic forms originated from crosses that occurred between two separate, sexually reproducing species within the group. These initial hybrid females were fertile, and crucially, they managed to develop the necessary biological mechanism to completely bypass the standard processes of meiosis and fertilization. This co-option of genetic building blocks inherited from their sexual ancestors allowed them to produce viable, female offspring clonally, marking the evolutionary novelty of asexuality in these reptiles.
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