Mad scientist, Genetic Engineering, Playing God, Blah, Blah, Blah.

[Mike Cavanaugh]

I can't stand when people refer to what we do as being a mad scientist, genetic engineering, playing god, or anything similar.

These are all very negative terms and for starters I think they are completely and totally inaccurate in regards to what we do. All we are doing is taking the ingredients that nature has provided us (in this case different ball python pattern and color traits) and selectively breeding them with one another.

We aren't cloning anything. We aren't using microscopes and needles to change anyting. We aren't doing anything scientific to alter the naturally occuring trates that we are working with.

Now I am right on this, and anyone who disagrees is wrong. So let the debate begin.

[rabernet]

I'm concerned that perhaps you started this to target a specific member and get them riled up, based on comments made in other threads.

I really don't care what people call it, as long as they are enjoying what they are doing and they're making pretty snakes. I didn't get into ball pythons caring what anyone else's ego is about. I just look after me and mine, and if I make critters that other people want, then that's just icing on the cake.

[xdeus]

We aren't cloning anything. We aren't using microscopes and needles to change anyting. We aren't doing anything scientific to alter the naturally occuring trates that we are working with.

Yes, but how many in the reptile community wouldn't be opposed to using microscopes and needles to get that Super Pastel Clown Champagne Whirly Wizz Bang Ball if they could?

[rabernet]

Yes, but how many in the reptile community wouldn't be opposed to using microscopes and needles to get that Super Pastel Clown Champagne Whirly Wizz Bang Ball if they could?

I'm sure that there are some who would, but for me, that would just take the fun out of it.

The "mystery" of what's going to hatch out is part of the fun of breeding, at least it is for me.

I am more thrilled about the clown that I PRODUCED than I would have been had I just flat out purchased one.

[xdeus]

I'm sure that there are some who would, but for me, that would just take the fun out of it.

The "mystery" of what's going to hatch out is part of the fun of breeding, at least it is for me.

I am more thrilled about the clown that I PRODUCED than I would have been had I just flat out purchased one.

I agree, but it seems that Mike is trying to make it seem that many breeders are above using other techniques other than altering the "naturally occurring traits". I think a lot of people in the reptile community would gladly use advanced methods to get the same results. Also, I'm not sure it wouldn't be just as rewarding to the "mad scientist" to create a special morph using genetic engineering.

[rabernet]

I agree, but it seems that Mike is trying to make it seem that many breeders are above using other techniques other than altering the "naturally occurring traits". I think a lot of people in the reptile community would gladly use advanced methods to get the same results. Also, I'm not sure it wouldn't be just as rewarding to the "mad scientist" to create a special morph using genetic engineering.

Good point - that I missed!

[Simplex]

We are to a certain extent doing all the above.. IMHO. However i dont see an issue with it... But id like to see it stay where it is and not go any further.. Genetically engineered crops started as cross breeding strains and progressed to chemically engineering them with specific traits. I dont want to see this happen. But we are taking rarely naturally occuring morphs/mutations and breeding them in VERY controlled settings to achieve a specific result. This to me is science and gentics.. Call it what you will. But we are breeding based on the end result. Choose are pairings based on what we want to come out.. This control to me is where some can see the negative..

Unless we start housing our snakes communinly in 10,000qt tanks with many females and males.. We are doing something... And to me it can be refered to as all the above terms...

Just my .02

[Simplex]

And I 1000% bet that if zoomed released an all in one pregnancy style test that determins if a het is actually a het.. They would be rich as heck!!

[JulieInNJ]

Selective breeding is NOT being a mad scientist/playing god/etc., whether you're doing it with snakes or doing it with dogs. The AKC wouldn't be here without selective breeding.

[King-Godzilla]

I don't see it as playing God personally. He put the genes in there; we're just bringing those hidden traits to light so to speak.