As I pointed out, it doesn't matter whether it is inbreeding or linebreeding they will, on average, share 50% of their genetic material. The assumption is with linebreeding that the mother or father does not have recessive mutations that are deleterious. At the same time statistically the brother and sister could be totally unrelated (if you really think about the way that chromosomes segregate during sex cell formation).

Biologically speaking both are good ways to get expression of potentially negative mutations. There really is no difference. I am not saying that linebreeding or even inbreeding is a horrible thing to do in this hobby (this is after all how we prove our interesting mutations). All I am saying is we cannot say one is better than another without genetic evidence and rigorous testing. Theoretically speaking they are exactly the same.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the number of chromosomes is not constant among species. Humans have 23 pairs, mice have 20 pairs, I think, and cows even more than that. Different numbers of chromosomes can modify the impact of inbreeding. So making broad conclusions about inbreeding should always be used with caution. I am unaware of anyone that has looked at inbreeding in snakes scientifically although it would be interesting.
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Kyle

15 Milks and Kings
3 Hognose
4 Kenyan Sand Boas
3 Rat Snakes
2 Geckos

[ Hide Replies ]

• Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - DDedrick, Mon Feb 23 21:23:59 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - RedDevil, Mon Feb 23 22:26:07 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - DDedrick, Mon Feb 23 22:34:01 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - John Q, Tue Feb 24 10:14:28 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - charleshanklin, Tue Feb 24 12:00:39 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - FastDad, Tue Feb 24 13:16:41 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - Don Shores, Tue Feb 24 20:10:56 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - JustinMitcham, Tue Feb 24 12:52:21 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - RedDevil, Tue Feb 24 13:12:32 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - KJUN, Tue Feb 24 16:43:06 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - JustinMitcham, Tue Feb 24 20:18:05 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - KJUN, Tue Feb 24 21:15:17 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - Rextiles, Tue Feb 24 21:16:23 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - MOTORHEAD, Wed Feb 25 06:09:12 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - FastDad, Wed Feb 25 06:15:02 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - Rextiles, Wed Feb 25 06:29:42 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - FastDad, Wed Feb 25 13:12:18 2009
• More on rodents..... - KJUN, Wed Feb 25 13:56:35 2009
• RE: More on rodents..... - FastDad, Wed Feb 25 14:26:08 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snakes - jayfischerherps, Tue Feb 24 16:35:41 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snakes - scaledverts, Tue Feb 24 18:12:42 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snakes - Bolitochrome, Wed Feb 25 10:31:45 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snakes - scaledverts, Wed Feb 25 11:20:05 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snakes - FastDad, Wed Feb 25 12:37:44 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snakes - scaledverts, Wed Feb 25 14:37:11 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snakes - FastDad, Wed Feb 25 15:27:10 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snakes - Bolitochrome, Wed Feb 25 20:12:00 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snakes - FastDad, Thu Feb 26 02:49:30 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - MOTORHEAD, Fri Feb 27 16:37:05 2009
• Personally.... - RedDevil, Fri Feb 27 17:36:40 2009
• RE: Inbreeding snake (Common Misconceptions) - MOTORHEAD, Fri Feb 27 20:04:46 2009