Nature's Efficiency: Female Control Ensures Perfect Gamete Usage in Drosophila
Gametes in nature are used efficiently, with female D. pseudoobscura controlling fertilization strictly. In natural populations, all eggs produce adult progeny, and fertilization is always with one sperm. However, in the lab, egg failure rates are high, suggesting inefficient gamete usage. Only the long sperm type fertilizes in both natural and lab settings.