I agree with Paul Hollander's post completely. I had a MUCH BIGGER post than this one nearly completed when Paul's post appeared and decided that there would be no reason to repeat what was written very clearly.



I just want to start this post off with a statement of my intentions. I happen to be a reptile breeder with a VERY open mind not to say that others are not open-minded. Having said that there have been many times that I've "thrown in the towel" and answered a question with the rare words... "I don't know"



Having a hypothesis is a wonderful part of the scientific method. I think many people in this world who are not naturally curious can often confuse the hypothesis with the conclusion. For about 10 years I have tried to learn the complexities of melanin and other pigments and how vastly variable it has been in Squamata. I have made many hypothesese and have drawn only one conclusion... I DON'T KNOW.



Now... I would like to make a hypothesis of my own...



I beleive that if the "Paradigm" mutation is a form of albinism (specifically that melanin is reduced or tyrosinase is present to alter it) then when bred together, a pair of "Paradigms" that are 100% Het. Sharp Albinos will produce a mutation that is homozygous for Sharp Albino also carrying the "Paradigm" trait but appears to be a typical Sharp Albino. Basically I'm saying that the Sharp Albino "Paradigm" may appear to be a regular Sharp Albino.



Another thought... albinism can be defined by several common terms that are thrown around in our industry everyday. They are...



Albino

Amelanistic

Anerythristic

Axanthic

Hypomelanistic

Tyrosinase Positive Albino



Our industry has already accepted the name "Boawoman Caramel Hypo" why not call these "Paradigm" Hypos. After all, they are exhibiting a reduction in black. By definition you could even refer to a Sharp or Kahl strain Albino as Hypomelanistic but you couldn't refer to a Salmon Hypo as an Amelanistic. Just when I'm on track and I think I got this darn melanin thing pegged... BAMMM another "Paradox" Amelanistic. I LOVE THAT NAME! The animal has NO melanin... its amelanistic but wait... it has little brownish black specks all over it.



So what's in a name? Paradigm has a nice ring to it. After all I am a big fan of the "he who makes it first, names it" rule in our industry. Look at it this way, had I had the first "Paradigm" perhaps I would have named it "Confusion Hypo" or wait... maybe the infamous Sean@EbN's "?"



Mike, I really love watching these things develop. I mean no offense to you or your project, after all I have a little "T-positive ?" project of my own. Hopefully you and some of the other people involved in this project will uncover a lot of interesting details over the next few years.



Jeff... you said it well... the more we learn the less we "know"



Bye!






-----
Sean Bradley

Owner : EbN

www.ExoticsByNature.com

www.BallPythonMorphs.com

www.BoaConstrictorMorphs.com

www.CornSnakeMorphs.com

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