A group of researchers was able to successfully engineer "virgin birth" in fruit flies. "I couldn't believe it," Sperling told the Washington Post. A backup for isolated femalesThe experiment was conducted on fruit flies because they are model organisms, or simple non-human species that are usually studied to better understand biology. "Fruit flies are incredibly special because they are basically the first model organism and have been studied for over 100 years," Sperling told the Post. Virgin births could help certain species and act as a "backup" for isolated females, according to The Guardian.

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Persons: Alexis Sperling, Sperling, Hannah Maude, Nature Organizations: Service, Privacy, University of Cambridge, Washington Post, Imperial College London, Times, Guardian Locations: Wall, Silicon, parthenogenesis