The "F" stands for "filial".

Definition of "filial" from www.dictionary.com:
1. Of, relating to, or befitting a son or daughter: filial respect.
2. Having or assuming the relationship of child or offspring to parent.
3. Genetics. Of or relating to a generation or the sequence of generations following the parental generation

Sometimes F1, F2, etc. is used for the number of generations captive bred.

In genetics, where the F numbers originated, it refers to the number of generations after the parental generation. The parental pair are unlike, and their offspring are the F1 generation. F2s are the offspring of a brother x sister (usually) mating of F1s. F3s are the offspring of a pair of F2s. These may or may not come from a brother x sister mating. There is seldom any good reason for going past F2s in a genetics project, and there are good reasons for outbreeding to relatively unrelated stock.

Sometimes, F numbers are used to sound scientific. In such cases, the result is pseudoscientific instead.

I don't have a clue as to the original poster's intent in this case.

Paul Hollander

[ Hide Replies ]

• F3 Super Salmon "Deep Red" - vin russo, Fri Aug 4 15:34:21 2006
• RE: F3 Super Salmon "Deep Red" - T.Exeter, Fri Aug 4 16:36:23 2006
• Not to sound like an Idiot but..... - danktat, Fri Aug 4 16:48:53 2006
• Good question. Answer is ... - Paul Hollander, Sat Aug 5 10:32:46 2006
• RE: Good question. Answer is ... - danktat, Sat Aug 5 20:24:07 2006
• Looking good..... - robertmcphee, Fri Aug 4 16:52:41 2006