Encyclopedia Herpetanica

[Mendel's Balls]

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....e=Encyclopedia

Does anyone use this resource on here? How old is it? annd how often is it updated? I just found it.....some of the definations/entries could be useful to a newbie.

Though I would change the defination of the word meiosis.....it incomplete and could be confusing.

[Smulkin]

Would welcome your input!

I'm not sure on usage but it has not been updated in the better part of a year - and truth be told until you mentioned it that portion of the site slipped my mind!

[Mendel's Balls]

http://www.ball-pythons.net/modules....content&tid=46

I would add a couple of things to the defination of meiosis.....

The process of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that produces gametes (sperm or egg cells) with exactly half the number of chromosomes as an adult.

I think this defination will prevent people from thinking that mitosis or normal cell division doesnt occur in sexually reproducing offspring.

The defination of mitosis probably is a bit too complicated for the purposes of this site. I would just say it is the process that an organism uses to produce body cells for growth, development, maintenance, and repair. Probably dont need to know the stages of it.
chromosome may be another good word to add......just a suggestion.

Mike

[Smulkin]

Sounds good!

Keep 'em coming - will be nice to return attention to that.

[Mendel's Balls]

If you want to update this here are a couple of others.

Allele-an alternative form or version of a gene.

Mutant-a genetic variation

Chromosome-structures that can be seen during cell division that carry genes. They come in pairs in body cells (one from mom, one from dad).

Locus-(pl. loci) location on a chromosome where a gene resides. Each inidividual has two loci

Co-dominant-the two alternative forms of gene that an heterozygote carries affect the appearance of the organism; a form of morph inheritance where an individual that carries one mutant allele (the heterozygote) looks different than both the normal individual and the individual carrying two mutant alleles (the homozygous mutant). See Super

Super" --the herp-term that essentially means "homozygous codominant". More specifically, when herpers say a trait is the Super form they are referring to an individual that is homozygous for a mutant allele that is codominant with the normal allele in the heterozygote at that locus. Often "Super" is used as a prefix. Example: Having a homozygous Pastel type (PP) produces a SuperPastel, while a Hetrozygous Pastel produces a Pastel (Pp) and pp produces a normal.


I hope people find these helpful. I think the encyclopedia could be used more on here if more people knew about it and added to it more periodically.