Since we've got a genetics theme this week, here's another question that's been
on my mind.
Using leopards as an example, since they're being bred in all kinds of colours
and patterns.... is there any trait, good or bad, that's associated with a
particular colour (or pattern)? I'm thinking along the lines of blue-eyed white
cats are deaf, dalmations without at least one eye ringed in black stand a good
chance of hearing impairment, that kind of thing.
Since leopards can be temperature sexed, would it be hard to find a sex linked
colour or pattern? I know high incubation temperatures tend to increase melanin
production, so light coloured (hypo) males can be trickier to produce. Are there
any other sex or incubation linked traits?
Has any of this shown up in other species?
What has me wondering is all this selective breeding for colour and pattern
that's going on. We only see this pretty leopard gecko, but what if any, is the
price the leopard pays for this? Is it really safe to mix and match the colours
to suit our tastes, without taking a minute to see if there's something else
happening 'deep down inside' that could be detrimental?
I'm getting so many of my nagging questions answered on the list this week, it's
great.
Hilde
--
~*~***~*~
If you see Santa, tell him I've been really good.
(and a few more electric outlets would be really nice :)
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