It is and is isn't. If something's gone genetically "wrong" while in development, it could have impact on more than one body system. Rather like how a lot of the corns I've seen that look like true piebalds actually had the absence of color associated with a spinal deformity.



So, while it may be nothing, there might also be *something*. Again, I've seen plenty of DIE pictures on the corn snake forums I frequent that are very bizarrely patterned and often highly deformed. The fact that Nautley isn't is a good sign, but other conditions may take a while to make themselves known.





Yes, that is all very true, and certainly can, and does happen from time to time. There are a myriad of different genes that can travel in conjunction with other certain traits for whatever reason(s).



There are TONS of genetic combinations made within an organisms DNA and the way these are sequenced and arranged on the chromosome helix. Literally millions, and even billions of possible combinatins can be made. We know absolutely NOTHING about the vast majority of these either, and we tend to only think about, and relate only to the few characteristics and traits that we can "see", when in fact there are "ZILLIONS" of things that go on that we cannot see.



Some of these are good traits, some are a little less desirable, and only may have a small effect on the snake(lack of size, slight scale anomalies, food preference, behavior characteristis, lack of vigor(lethargy) etc... Look at the "bug-eyed" trait that can often travel right along in tandem with the leusistic Texas Rat gene, and the original line of bloodred corns having a pre-disposition for being very small, less than robust lizard eaters. All this stuff and SOOO much more goes on within the egg that is part of the organisms gene encoding that we know absolutely "diddly-squat" about..LOL!



In any case, yes, almost anything can be a possibility when it comes to the very complex dynamics of an animals genetic makeup.



Another tid-bit came to mind just now too. As weird as this may sound, white dogs that have very light pink skin often have an undesirable gene that expresses deafness, I know this for an absolute fact. Additionally, dogs with extremely light colored eyes can often have a gene associated with it that involves the dogs behavior, and they can often be EXTREMELY fearful of certain things(people, etc..) and can be what are known as "fear biters". This is another thing that I have personally witness many times over the years, because my mother was very renowned for her involvement with dogs, and dealt with thousands upon thousands of them during her very long professional dog career.



In any case, yes, there are many genetic characteristics that can show up together with others to compose desireable traits, less than desirable traits(but not lethal), and very lethal single genes, or combinations of genes. Many breeders just automatically assume that they did something wrong during the incubation process, when in fact the embryo never stood a chance anyway due to a lethal gene that affected it sometime during it's development.





~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

[ Show Entire Thread ]