Posted by:
rtdunham
at Fri Nov 5 12:46:11 2004 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by rtdunham ]
I recently had a discussion with an epidermal specialist (Humans!) that does share a common passion for herps, he works with Ball Pythons and was telling me about his analysis of (5) layers of epiderm (skin) ...preliminary research was done on Hypo ... Ghost Ball Pythons. ...He was scientificaly explaining that these five layers of skin were directly or indirectly influenced with different color and shade of pigmentation. On a Hypo ball python the first and second layers are devoid of any pigmentation with underlying layers giving the colors.
On this beautiful Honduran, perhaps we are seeing this hypomelanism mutation influenced on a different layer of epiderm
Marc, thanks so much for sharing this, it gives a whole new framework for considering the different hypo 'looks'. Consider:
1) What if we could have lab analysis done and learn that melanin appears in layers 3,4 and 5 on a normal hondo.
2) if they're looking at single layers in the lab, could they tell us if melanin "fills" each layer--in other words, is each layer black, in the areas of black rings on a normal? Or is each layer filled with SOME melanin, which when layered on top of one another results in black to the observer? (thinking in terms of artwork and color printing, is each layer 100% black? or, say, 40% black, so when all three layers are viewed you see black?)
3) What if analysis of a regular hypo showed the melanin was absent in ONE of those layers. And if on an "extreme" hypo it was absent on TWO of the layers? (or reduced, as the case may be)
Imagine the diagnostic tool we'd then have, if it's not TOO expensive. There are plenty of "regular" hypos around, so that baseline could be established.
It would be more difficult with the "extremes" since they came out of the regular hypo line and might show the effects of both types of hypos-.
But this kind of analysis would tell us where the genetic alteration in color occurs, and the nature of the alteration. Does one hypo type elimin melanin in one layer, and the other hypo type elim it in another layer? or two other layers? Or does one hypo type reduce melanin in all the pertinent layers by 40%, and the other hypo type reduces it by 80% (speaking averages, here) in those same pertinent layers? Or....?
Would you like to put me in touch with this person, or would you like to pursue further research? Or perhaps someone on the forum knows someone seeking a graduate studies research topic?
Collecting samples MIGHT be as easy as punching a biopsy-like skin sample that would capture all the layers for analysis. It might be non-intrusive, even on hatchlings. OR it might be something that could only be done on cadavers.
Can you find out more?
peace
terry
[ Hide Replies ]
- What is it? beautiful hondo jeff a produced - rtdunham, Fri Nov 5 00:22:20 2004
- a few more pix - rtdunham, Fri Nov 5 00:25:11 2004
- Crazy.. - jeph, Fri Nov 5 01:07:10 2004
- RE: Crazy.. - theselectserpent, Sat Nov 6 17:23:33 2004
- INSANE! - bluerosy, Fri Nov 5 08:30:07 2004
- RE: What is it? beautiful hondo jeff a produced - ZFelicien, Fri Nov 5 08:36:59 2004
- Beautiful Hondo - - Adam Willich, Fri Nov 5 09:52:17 2004
- Skin observation... - MarcB, Fri Nov 5 11:27:56 2004
 this is a HUGE insight imho - rtdunham, Fri Nov 5 12:46:11 2004
- AWESOME is what it is!! Here's my theory... - Shane Kinney, Fri Nov 5 13:41:51 2004
- Terry,I still say its a extreme hybino?Makes since to me and when - shannon brown, Sat Nov 6 02:52:48 2004
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