----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2001 12:26
PM
Subject: blindness & breeding
ethics
I have a friend that offered me a DEH (DEH/REW)
female gerbil with the gene code I would like to have in my breeding
program:
AaC-eeGgPpspsp
There is one problem... she is blind in one eye
and the other eye is not completely opened. Is her blindness
genetic? Would it be hereditary? Would a blind gerbil take a
mate? Would a male gerbil breed with her? Would she pass the
blindness on to her offspring?
NO. You should not risk it. I have
not come across this as a genetic problem in gerbils but there is a well known
genetic problem with small/unopened/blind eyes in hamsters, so it may well be
genetic.
Sue
