Posted by:
idealreptiles
at Thu Dec 7 00:48:17 2006 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by idealreptiles ]
Inbreeding is used by breeders of domestic animals to fix desirable genetic traits within a population. This is often called line breeding. For instance an animal with a desirable color is bred back to siblings or parents, on the understanding they may carry the genes for the color without expressing them.
Breeders try to out-breed to increase the level of genetic diversity.
Purebred animals are often inbred; some critics argue the practice is unhealthy. Many dog breeds have genetic diseases associated with their breed from this practice.
Inbreeding is also deliberately induced in laboratory mice in order to guarantee a consistent and uniform animal model for experimental purposes.
Fortunately reptiles have been around for a lot longer then mammals, and you don't have to worry a lot about genetic disorders from line breeding, as you would with say, humans, who have only been around for about 10,000 years...
However, if you have a snake that produces genetic flaws such as spinal kinks, one eyed offspring, scale-less babies, and bobble-heads... one might want to strongly consider out breeding more often then inbreeding...
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RE: Inbreeding? - idealreptiles, Thu Dec 7 00:48:17 2006