Fertilization (parthenogenesis)

The CA is controlled by the following buttons:
Start:  CA are planted.
Hide CA-1 Hide CA-2

Click on Start.  Two zygotes are planted: CA-1 (rule = 600) matures into an ovum, and CA-2 (rule = 624) into a sperm. The sperm  attempts to trigger the ovum to divide. Whenever the CA touch each other,  sperm color  changes. As long as ovum is not fully mature it cannot produce offspring. When the ovum is mature it creates an offspring  (rule=3300).  CA-3  lives for 46 states whereupon it is killed and replaced with a new offspring.

Parthenogenesis

In certain insects and lizards the female can trigger its eggs to divide and create a female offspring which is known as parthenogenesis (Greek: parthenos, virgin + genesis or creation). In the lab unfertilized eggs may be triggered to divide without being fertilized by a sperm. Here the sperm triggers the egg to divide and does not penetrate it.

When the experiment starts, the system exists in a transient which persists as long as the ovum is immature. Sperm triggering advances the system into its final attractor (solution) which is also the most optimal since resources are maximal.