Is it possible for a Humming Bird to fertilize an Ostrich? - breeding, (May/08/2010 )

They are both birds. I wonder whether it is possible for the two to produce viable offspring and whether the offspring could actually be fertile. There would be many technical difficulties, I can imagine, but in principle, is it possible?

yeehi on May 8 2010, 11:11 PM said:

No.

Why isn´t it possible? What would be necessary to enable it?

This isn't like dog breeding. You're talking about two entirely different species that diverged LONG ago. It's safe to say that their genetics are totally incompatible. It's like asking if a human can breed with a spider monkey.

yeehi on May 9 2010, 02:27 PM said:

In very basic terms, their genetic codes are just too different. A hummingbird's sperm cell would not communicate with an ostrich egg cell in order to successfully trigger embryo development.

Sometimes species within the same genus (horse & donkey, dog & coyote) can reproduce because their DNA is similar enough...but that's just not the case with these two birds.

are you going to try doing that?

If U succeed, it will be a big thing in science. If you try, plesase let us know the results.

and also a picture of the offspring!!!!

Doki on May 10 2010, 02:57 AM said:

Doki, do you think that ostrich will taste a little bit more like chicken then? Or are you imaginating to fly on a ostrich sized hummingbird

gebirgsziege on May 10 2010, 04:09 PM said:

All I know about breeding is of mice and that too is not doing well with one of my knockout mice in endagered species list already. Rats and mice do not cross-breed or I should say, I don't know whether they would.

I am not sure how yeehi came up with this thought. It was just an imagination or something he/she wanted to try. If yeehi has resources to attempt such and research/ethical committee permits, then yeehi should make an attempt - I think yeehi is talking about in vitro fertilization. The best and also the worst thing that can happen is it won't work.

geb'z.. . between ostrich and humming bird, where did the chicken come from ?

Doki on May 10 2010, 03:40 PM said:

Perhaps the chicken came from my neighbor's backyard.



Btw back to topic, yeehi, had you start the project yet or you just thought of doing it?