Posted by:
topnotchboas
at Mon Dec 19 14:02:03 2005 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by topnotchboas ]
"Now, introduce an outside gene from a white/black individual and the offspring would be mixed (average of the 2)Right? This will gradually be removed from the genome if it doesn't help them or No other dominate way to express itself>>>another dose(another outside sourse)..."
Natural selection "filters" out individuals with traits that hinder, not the other way around.
Hypothetical Example: A sporadic mutation "Albinism" pops up in boas in the wild. This hurts their chances of surivival in the wild, therfore the individuals with the trait are weeded out.
Another sporadic mutation "Motley" pops up in boas wild. They retain the dark look and pattern that allows them to blend in. This neither hurts nor helps them versus the wild type, therfore they are not weeded out. Im not saying this example is 100% solid, maybe motley pattern in the wild does hinder them... Its just an example to get a point accross.
Natural selection does not work on the basis of whether or not a trait helps them but rather whether or not it hinders them.
People arent getting taller because short people cant surivive the conditions... there are various factors to consider in that regard. Like I said before, maybe the ladies are generally more attacted to tall guys so they get more "action" therfore producing more offspring? Dunno... lots of things to consider. Sorry but that aspect has nothing to do with survival.
But, I do agree that natural selection and the (micro) evolution of animals is an interesting field that surely can be applied to boas (as with any animal). It has very little to do with whether or not the hog island phenotype is a single gene mutation however. The premise that a single gene mutation will add information to genome increasing its chances survival versus the wild type is not observable science, its an unsubstantiated hypothesis. Scientific observation has proven it generally always a lesser chance of survival but occasionally an equal. This is not to say that its not possible for a mutation to completely overtake an island. The likely scenario for that to be possible would be if the island started off with only that mutation and no wild type to contend with. Its possible that there were both and the mutation flourished/prospered versus the wild type... just highly unlikely. It's possible, no doubt. The problem with the theory that the hypo phenotype present in hog islands is a single gene mutation is that there have been numerous cross breedings that prove otherwise. The hypo sonoran has been brought up because of its similiar appearance to hogs. If the single gene hypo form of a sonoran looks similiar to a hog does that automaticly mean hogs are a single gene mutation? NO. A comparable analogy would be sabogoe (sp?) boas. Since sabogoe boas look similiar to the hypo form of colombians, does that mean they are a single gene mutation? Of course not. Outcross them and prove it to determine so (not reccomended anyway due to the limited number, just making a point). A phenotype similarity doesnt prove a thing. Again, there have been plenty of hog outcrossings to determine with confidence that it is not a single gene mutation. If someone wants to come along and suggest otherwise they better have numerous breeding trials under their belt with solid results. Until that happens this whole issue is merely comical speculation with suspicious (sales-ploy) intentions that are unfortunately common in this hobby.
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