It would not be proof,however,that this recombination had occurred through fertilisation of a macrogamete (female) by a microgamete (male) in the mosquito. Back in New York, Yoelii had recently published a report claiming that genetic exchange was possible between different parasite species residing in the same red cell during asexual replication in the mammalian host, a phenomenon he termed "synpholia" [9]. It was a controversial claim.